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UAE Golden Visa: who qualifies, and for how long

A renewable 5- or 10-year residence visa with no sponsor, for investors, entrepreneurs, exceptional talent, outstanding students and humanitarian pioneers. The categories and main requirements from the official portal.

By MyGuide AE Editorial 2 min read

The Golden Visa is a long-term, renewable residence visa valid for 5 or 10 years. Its holder needs no sponsor, can stay outside the UAE for more than six months without losing residency, and can sponsor family members, including a spouse and children.

Who is eligible

Category Duration Main requirements
Investors 10 years (public investments); 5 years (real estate) Minimum capital of AED 2 million; property ownership, or a contribution to an establishment paying at least AED 250,000 a year in taxes
Entrepreneurs 5 years Proof of an innovative or technical project, documents proving its value, and a letter from a business incubator or the relevant authority in the emirate
Exceptional talent and rare specialisations 10 years Doctors, scientists, inventors, creatives in culture and the arts, executives, athletes, PhD holders and specialists in priority science and engineering fields. Each group has its own requirements, such as recommendation letters, experience or accredited degrees
Outstanding students 5 years (high school); 10 years (top university students) Certificates of excellence and recommendation letters from the school or university
Humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes 10 years Certificates of appreciation, documentation of humanitarian work, or at least five years of service

The table is the one the UAE government portal publishes, sourced to ICP. The detailed documents for each group are on ICP’s own pages.

What changes compared with a normal residence visa

  • No sponsor. Residency does not depend on an employer.
  • Time abroad. A normal residence visa needs you back in the UAE within six months; the Golden Visa does not have that limit.
  • Family. You can sponsor your spouse and children.

How to apply

  • Check your eligibility and apply through ICP, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.
  • In Dubai, Golden Visa services are also offered by GDRFA Dubai; in Abu Dhabi, through TAMM.
  • Creatives apply for a recommendation through the Ministry of Culture first.

The Blue Visa

A separate 10-year residence visa for people who have made an exceptional contribution to protecting the environment and sustainability, inside or outside the UAE: members of international organisations, companies, associations and NGOs, global award winners, and distinguished environmental activists and researchers. Applications go to ICP, or through nomination by a competent UAE authority.

If you are working in the UAE on a normal visa, your rights at the end of a contract are in the gratuity calculator and notice period in the UAE.

Checked against the UAE government portal (u.ae) on 24 September 2026. Requirements and fees are set by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and can change; confirm with ICP before you apply. See our editorial policy.

Sources we checked

The official bodies where these figures and rules are kept up to date. Where an official page disagrees with us, the official page is right.

Prices are what we last paid or last verified, in dirhams. Opening hours change on public holidays and during Ramadan — always confirm on the venue’s own site before you travel. Our editorial policy

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