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UAE Golden Visa routes and fees
The Golden Visa is long-term UAE residency for five or ten years with no sponsor. We match you to the right category, check the threshold and prepare your file.
- Five or ten years, with no sponsor required
- Nomination pre-approval costs AED 100
- Spouse and children can be sponsored
Find your Golden Visa route
Which describes you best?
You need property worth at least AED 2,000,000. The Dubai Land Department (DLD) issues 10 years on this route, while the federal guide states 5 years for real estate.
- Threshold
- AED 2,000,000 property value
- Visa length
- 10 years through DLD
- DLD all-in fee
- AED 9,884.75
This is a guide only. The issuing authority decides every application, and fees and criteria are revised periodically.
The Golden Visa, in brief.
The UAE Golden Visa, officially called Golden Residency, is long-term residency for five or ten years with automatic renewal and no sponsor required. Holders can live, work, study and invest in the UAE and can sponsor their family.
It suits property owners, investors, company owners, senior executives, entrepreneurs, specialised talent and outstanding students who meet a set threshold. My Eloah Business Hub confirms your category, checks your evidence against the threshold and prepares the application for the right authority.
- Length
- 5 or 10 years, depending on category
- Sponsor
- None required
- Issued by
- ICP, GDRFA Dubai or Dubai Land Department
- First step
- Free eligibility check, then nomination
Every category and its threshold.
Your category sets the visa length, the evidence you need and the authority that handles your file.
| Category | Visa length | Threshold | Key evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor in public investments | 10 years | AED 2,000,000 fund deposit, company capital or share value, or AED 250,000 annual tax | Letter from an accredited investment fund, or trade licence and Memorandum of Association, or a Federal Tax Authority (FTA) letter |
| Real estate investor | 10 years through DLD; 5 years in the federal guide | Property worth AED 2,000,000, one or more properties | Title deed or e-Certificate of Title, or a land registration letter confirming ownership |
| Retiree, Dubai property route | 5 years | Age over 55 and AED 1,000,000 property, paid in full and unmortgaged | Title deed; certified marriage contract if spouses share one property |
| Entrepreneur | 5 years | Project value of at least AED 500,000 | Auditor's letter, plus a letter from the relevant authority or an accredited business incubator |
| Executive director | 10 years | Salary of at least AED 50,000 a month and 5 years' experience | Certified degree, experience certificate, employment contract and salary certificate |
| Doctors, scientists, inventors, creatives, athletes | 10 years | Accreditation or recommendation from the relevant UAE body | Ministry of Health, Emirates Council of Scientists, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Culture and Youth, or General Sports Authority |
| Specialists in priority scientific and engineering fields | 10 years | Certified PhD or university degree | Degree certificate, employment contract and passport copy |
| Outstanding students | 10 years for university; 5 years for high school | University GPA of 3.8 or above within two years of graduation; high school score of 95% or above | University recommendation or graduation certificate; Ministry of Education recommendation |
| Humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes | 10 years | Five years with humanitarian organisations or 500 volunteer hours; AED 2,000,000 support for humanitarian initiatives | Certificates of appreciation, proof of involvement, passport copy and health insurance |
Entrepreneurs also need a passport copy and proof of residence in the UAE. Students must show they can provide financial support and accommodation for family members. Criteria are revised periodically, so we confirm them on the authority's live page before you apply.
What the Golden Visa gives you.
These are the benefits the authorities publish for Golden Residency holders.
Residency in your own name
Golden Residency runs for five or ten years with automatic renewal and no sponsor required. You can live, work, study and invest in the UAE.
Sponsor your family
You can obtain residence permits for your spouse and children for the same duration as your own, with no salary requirement. The DLD investor route also extends to parents.
180 days after expiry
Golden Residency holders and their family members get a 180-day grace period after expiry or cancellation. Standard residence permits get 30 to 90 days.
What the authorities charge.
The federal route is priced item by item. The Dubai property route has one all-inclusive price from the Dubai Land Department.
| Item | Government fee (AED) |
|---|---|
| Golden Residency nomination (pre-approval) | 0 application and issuance, plus 100 smart services fee |
| Entry permit, investor in public investments | 247 (100 application, 47 issuance, 100 smart fee) |
| Entry permit, other golden categories | 300 (100 application, 100 issuance, 100 smart fee) |
| Six-month multiple-entry visa to complete Golden Residency procedures | 100 application, 1,000 issuance, 100 smart fee |
| Golden residence permit | 1,100, plus 10 knowledge, 10 innovation, 20 delivery and 500 if you apply in-country |
| Emirates ID | 100 per year, plus 100 smart fee |
| DLD Golden Visa, investor, 10 years, all-inclusive | 9,884.75 |
| DLD Golden Visa, retiree, 5 years, all-inclusive | 6,984.75 |
| DLD family or parent residence permit, per person | 5,774.50 (10-year) or 4,968.50 (5-year), plus 318.75 one-off file opening and 100 per sponsored person |
An extra AED 100 per year applies where the residency exceeds two years. The DLD all-inclusive price covers the medical examination, Emirates ID, residency permit confirmation, DLD fees and administrative fees. These are government fees and are revised periodically. My Eloah Business Hub's service fee is quoted separately on WhatsApp.
Documents for the Dubai property route.
This list covers the applicant and family members on the DLD route. Other categories use the evidence shown in the eligibility table.
Four points that catch applicants out.
Checking these early saves time and government fees.
The authorities publish different property rules
The federal guide states 5 years for real estate and asks for property without loans. DLD issues 10 years and accepts a mortgaged property with a bank no-objection letter.
Dependants are priced separately
The principal applicant's fee does not include family members. A principal plus spouse on the 10-year DLD route comes to AED 15,978 in government fees.
DLD applications are in person
On the Dubai property route the applicant must be inside the UAE and attend the centre personally. Escorts and representatives are not allowed.
There is no official 24-hour service
The DLD route usually takes 7 to 10 business days. Federal entry permits typically take 2 days and residency issuance 5 days.
Six steps to your Golden Visa.
The first two stages cost almost nothing, so we always complete them before you pay the main government fees.
Start on WhatsApp →Confirm your category
We identify the category that fits you, because it sets the visa length, the evidence and the authority.
Run the free eligibility check
ICP offers a free online eligibility checker that needs no login and takes minutes.
Apply for nomination
The nomination request is the pre-approval stage, costs AED 100 in smart services fees and typically takes 2 days.
Choose the right authority
Federal categories go through ICP online, Dubai applications can go through GDRFA Dubai, and Dubai property applications go to a DLD centre.
Complete the visa stage
You apply for the entry permit and then the residence permit, with the medical examination and Emirates ID.
Add your family
We prepare the sponsorship file for your spouse, children and, on the DLD investor route, parents.
UAE Golden Visa questions, answered.
Ask anything else on WhatsApp and we will answer for your company.
What is the minimum property value for a UAE Golden Visa?
The minimum is AED 2,000,000, held in one or more properties. On the Dubai retiree route the minimum is AED 1,000,000 for applicants over 55.
Is the property Golden Visa for 5 or 10 years?
The Dubai Land Department issues a 10-year Golden Visa on property worth AED 2,000,000. The federal Golden Residency Guide states 5 years for real estate, so the length depends on the authority you apply through.
Can I get a Golden Visa with a mortgaged property?
In Dubai, yes. DLD accepts a mortgaged property with a bank no-objection letter showing the paid amount and the balance, while the federal documents ask for property valued at AED 2,000,000 without loans.
What salary do I need for a Golden Visa?
Executive directors need a salary certificate showing at least AED 50,000 a month. They also need a certified university degree, a five-year experience certificate and an employment contract.
How much does a UAE Golden Visa cost?
The DLD property route costs AED 9,884.75 all-inclusive for the 10-year investor visa and AED 6,984.75 for the 5-year retiree visa. On the federal route, nomination costs AED 100, the entry permit AED 247 to AED 300, and the residence permit AED 1,100 plus extras.
How long does a Golden Visa take?
The DLD property route usually takes 7 to 10 business days. On the federal route, nomination typically takes 2 days, the entry permit 2 days and residency issuance 5 days, and no official 24-hour service exists.
Can I sponsor my family on a Golden Visa?
Yes. You can sponsor your spouse and children for the same duration as your own visa with no salary requirement, and the DLD investor route also covers parents.
Can a business owner get a Golden Visa without buying property?
Yes. A company owner can qualify with company capital of AED 2,000,000, a share worth AED 2,000,000, or an FTA letter confirming annual taxes of at least AED 250,000.
Find out which route fits you
Send us your details on WhatsApp and we will tell you your category, the threshold and the government fees that apply.