Golden residency is one of the services provided by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security. Under this service, people who meet the conditions can apply for a long-term residency for a period of five to ten years. This new system in the UAE allows residents, foreign expatriates and their families to come to work, live and study in the country, and to have the possibility of enjoying a long-term residency without the need for a sponsor within the country, and it is automatically renewed. Furthermore, this system enhances the environment that supports business growth and success in the country.
As part of the authority’s keenness to support the golden residency system, the long-term residency visa system has been activated by a decision of the Council of Ministers, which aims to attract the investor who invests his money in the country, the entrepreneur who runs an economic project, and the talented or skilled person, or the leader in different fields of science, knowledge or sports, and the outstanding students who graduated from high school or from accredited universities in the country with a GPA of 3.8 or more, and all PhD holders, doctors and engineers in the fields of computer engineering, electronics, programming, electricity and biotechnology, and those who hold specialized degrees in artificial intelligence, big data or epidemiology and viruses.
Golden Visa
Benefits
The UAE’s ‘Golden visa’ is a long-term residence visa which enables foreign talents to live, work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits which include:
- an entry visa for six months with multiple entries to proceed with residence issuance
- a long-term, renewable residence visa valid for 5 or 10 years
- Resident visa through family sponsorship
- the ability to stay outside the UAE for more than the usual period of six months in order to keep their residence visa valid
- the ability to sponsor their family members, including spouses and children regardless of their ages
- the ability to sponsor unlimited number of domestic helpers
- the permit for family members to stay in the UAE until the end of their permit duration, if the primary holder of the Golden visa passes away.
Requirements
Doctors and Scientists
- Provide an approved letter from the Ministry of Health - UAE to practice the medical profession (doctors).
- Valid passport copy.
- Valid health insurance.
Athletes
- Provide a recommendation letter from the General Sports Authority or one of the Sports Councils.
- Valid passport copy.
- Valid health insurance.
Requirements
Inventors
- Provide a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Economy.
- Valid passport copy.
- Valid health insurance.
Creative People of culture and art
- Provide an approved letter from the Department of Culture and Arts in the relevant emirate..
- Valid passport copy..
- Valid health insurance.
Requirements
Executive Directors
- Provide an attested university degree.
- Provide experience certificate (minimum 5 years of experience).
- Provide a salary certificate (not less than 30,000 AED).
- Valid work contract.
- Valid passport copy.
- Valid health insurance.
Doctoral Degree Holders
- Provide an attested copy of the PhD certificate from the Ministry of Education in one of the priority disciplines.
- Valid passport copy.
- Valid health insurance..
Requirements
Pioneers of humanitarian works
A candidate should be a pioneer in humanitarian work within one of the following categories:
- Members who have worked in international and regional organizations, or outstanding employees, for a minimum of five years.
- Members of civil associations and institutions of public interest, or outstanding employees, for a minimum of five years.
- Individuals who have received an appreciation award from a local, regional, or international organization that specialized in humanitarian work.
- Awarded to outstanding humanitarian volunteers with at least five years of service or at least 500 hours of volunteer service.
- Funders of humanitarian work provide the value of the support not less than (2,000,000) million UAE dirhams or its equivalent.
- All other categories of humanitarian work are agreed upon between the authority and the Ministry.
- A minister can also nominate pioneers of humanitarian work.
- Holding a university degree.
- Completing other requirements imposed by a ministry or authority.
Requirements
Investors in Public Investments
Requirements
Real estate investors
Real estate investor owning a property the purchase value of which is equal to or more than 2 million AED at the time of purchase, to apply for a 10-years renewable residence permit. The husband or wife, children and parents can be sponsored. In the event that a mortgaged property, a bank letter indicating 2 million AED paid amount as a proof to be provided.
Requirements
Entrepreneurs
Requirements
Graduates of Accredited Universities in UAE
- A recommendation letter from the university stating that his GPA is not less than (3.8).
- Duration should not exceed two years since graduation.
Requirements
Graduates of Accredited Universities Outside UAE
- The university ranking should not be less than the top 100 universities in the world according to the international classification approved by the Ministry of Education.
- PA is not less than (3.5) for bachelor students.
- Duration should not exceed two years since graduation.
- Approved certificate from the Ministry of Education.
Requirements
Frontline Workers
Frontline heroes include nurses, medical assistants, lab technicians, pharmacologists and other cadres approved by the Frontline Heroes Office