How to Master the Pathway to a 10 Year Dubai Visa: The Complete Guide
The United Arab Emirates, with its remarkable economic and welfare development over the past many years, is now one a very desirable residency option. Fortunately, the government grants a long-term residency program also known as the Golden UAE Visa which offers the right to reside and work in the state to individuals who meet specific requirements. This provides long-term stability and greater freedom for investors, skilled professionals, and their families that are choosing to live in the UAE.
Here, in this article by Dxboffplan we have gathered everything you need to know about the Emirates Golden Visa. For more information, you can and are welcomed to get in touch with our experts.
Benefits of Getting the Emirates Golden Visa
For long-term living and working within the UAE, it is very beneficial to have the 10-year Dubai visa. The most prominent benefits of the Emirates Golden Visa include:
- Easy Renewals: Not only does the Emirates Golden Visa grant foreign individuals long-term residence permission in the UAE, but it also allows them the facility for renewals.
- Quality of Life: With world-class facilities, healthcare, education, and culture, the long term residents can maintain a high quality of life in the UAE.
- Employment Freedom: The beneficiaries of the Emirates Golden Visa are free to pursue self-employment within the UAE without a working permit or employment contract.
- No Local Sponsorship Required: The Emirates Golden Visa is not sponsored or supported by a sponsoring employer or a local sponsor.
- Availment of Services: The Golden UAE Visa holders can access government services including healthcare, education, and the provision of essential public utilities.
- Tax advantages: Residents under the Golden Visa enjoy the same tax privileges as UAE nationals.
- No travel ban: It is an extremely beneficial option for those who travel frequently and like spending most of the year abroad in a second home because with the UAE Golden visa, unlike other UAE residency visas, you can be out of the UAE for a longer duration even more than 6 months and are not required to give up your residency.
- Residency for Dependents: The Golden Visa also applies to dependents, allowing visa holders peace of mind and the ability to keep families together.
How to Get the Emirates Golden Visa in a Step-by-Step Guide
To get the Emirates Golden Visa, follow the following steps meticulously:
- Download the GDRFA-Dubai application from official app stores such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Establish your user account.
- Select your preferred type of visa.
- Log in to your account, input the details, and upload the necessary documents.
- Then, record yourself for two minutes, upload the recording to the site, and pay the relevant fee.
- Within 30 days, your eligibility for the 10-year visa for Dubai will be decided.
- Once there is confirmation of the approval of the visa, issue the visa.
- Send the required identification and nationality determination papers to the appropriate authority.
Within one month of the confirmation e-mail date, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship will consider and process your application.
It must be noted that the most effective way of attaining the Emirates Golden Visa is by consulting professional experts in the sector to ensure one does not make mistakes that will hinder the attainment of the visa.
Key Documents to Obtain the Emirates Golden Visa
In general, certain papers are needed in order to obtain the Emirates Golden Visa, including:
- Valid passport
- Copy of a previous UAE visa, if any
- Recent pictures with a plain white background
- Qualification documents, in accordance with the chosen category
- Financial evidence
- Health insurance
- If currently in Dubai, documents to verify residency status
- Certificate of no criminal record
It is also crucial that based on your category, the UAE officials might ask for further documents.
Eligible Candidates for the Emirates Golden Visa
The Emirates Golden Visa is granted based on talent, category of residency, and profession of the applicants. Some of the individuals who qualify for this visa include:
Investors in Public Investments
When you invest in an investment fund, you will be entitled to a 10-year Golden Visa with no sponsor required. You will be required to:
- Invest at least 10 million AED in the private company shares or public investment funds.
- At least 60% of the investments must be made in businesses.
- The investment must not be done using loans.
- Hold the investment for at least three years.
Investors in Real Estate
Those with one or more assets and who invest in Dubai developments are eligible to receive a five-year Golden Visa. The visa can be renewed under the same conditions and without the need for a sponsor, which simplifies the process of negotiating the best deal. This is subject to:
- Submission of a letter by the land department of the said emirate attesting to the property or properties of not less than the value of 2 million dirhams.
- Purchasing property through borrowing from authorized local banks with the help of the concerned local authority.
If you are looking to qualify through property investment, make sure to call us at Dxboffplan for the latest property prices in Dubai to make you eligible for a Golden Visa!
Entrepreneur in UAE
As an entrepreneur in UAE, you are eligible for a five-year Golden Visa when you possess an innovative economic project of a technical or futurist character. Here are the conditions:
- Suggest a future or technical economic project for a 5-year visa.
- The amount of the project must be attested by a UAE audit and must be no less than 500,000 AED and must be technical or futuristic.
- Professionals with the necessary credentials and skills beneficial for future growth in Dubai, such as doctors, artists, scientists, etc.
Outstanding Students
Talented students enrolled via the renowned educational institutions or universities of Dubai. The students must hold a minimum GPA of 95% or equivalent for the secondary school students and GPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent for the university students, and their academic certificates must be from one of the world’s 500 top universities.
Retire
The Emirates Golden Visa is accessible for the retired individuals after certain conditions and a level of financial stability. Here are the conditions:
- Must be aged 55 or above at the time of application.
- Should have one of these:
- A minimum of AED 1 million in savings
- Own property in the UAE valued at no less than AED 1 million
- Have a monthly income of at least AED 20,000
- The visa is typically issued for 5 years and is renewable, subject to maintaining financial criteria.
Leaders in Humanitarian Work
To qualify as a pioneer in the field of humanitarian activities, you must fall under one of the following categories:
- Members and model employees with a service of five years or more in regional or international organizations.
- Members and outstanding employees with a minimum of five years’ service at civil organizations and public interest groups.
- People who are awarded by a national or international organization founded to serve humanitarian goals.
- Humanitarian sponsors with a level of sponsorship not less than two million UAE dirhams or its equivalents.
Artists Working in the Art and Cultural Industries
For Emirates Golden Visa, a letter of approval from the respective emirate’s department of culture and arts is needed. Here are the other conditions:
- Recognized contribution to the field of art, music, literature, heritage, or cultural preservation
- A track record of excellence or innovation, such as winning awards, publishing significant works
- The applicant’s work must align with the cultural and artistic values of the UAE
- May be subject to an individual assessment by a specialized committee reviewing the artist’s achievements
Outstanding Skills
Under the new UAE reforms, UAE grants 10-year visas to individuals with extraordinary skills. With that said, if you fall under one of the following categories, you can try your chance at the UAE Golden visa:
- Doctors and scientists
- Innov
- Executive directors and professionals
- Sportspeople
- CEOs and Executives
Here are the conditions these groups have to comply with:
- The executives should have a minimum of 5 years of uninterrupted working experience in their chosen profession.
- Was offered 30,000 AED per month by a company in the UAE.
- Have valid health insurance.
- Heroes on the Frontline
Such courageous citizens who have displayed unwavering dedication during a crisis like the COVID-19 crisis can also receive the Golden Visa.
The Validity Period and the Fees for the Emirates Golden Visa
The prices of the Emirates Golden Visa vary with the kind and duration for which you are applying.
It also depends on whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UAE.
Total Cost Breakdown
- For applicants inside the UAE: the total cost (including medical exams, Emirates ID, and processing) generally ranges from AED 2,800 to AED 4,800.
- For applicants outside the UAE: the total cost is approximately AED 3,800 to AED 4,800.
Here is how it rounds up:
- Entry permit: AED 1,150 (outside UAE)
- Medical test: AED 700–900
- Emirates ID: AED 1,070 (10-year)
- Visa stamping: Around AED 500–800 depending on category
For exact prices for your case, you are advised to consult professionals who handle the issue. Fees can vary based on emirate and updates from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP) or GDRFA.
The approval and application process for an Emirates Golden Visa typically lasts 30 days. Upon approval, you proceed to the following procedures for the Golden Visa. The process for the Golden Visa lasts two to three months.
Are you Allowed to Start your own Business under Emirates Golden Visa?
There are a number of visas in Dubai, such as the Emirates Golden Visa and the Freelancer Visa, that permit you to open or even own a business. Although you might be required to register for a license based on your activity. Dubai is one of the most business-friendly cities in the region, here is what you need to know:
- Golden Visa holders can establish businesses freely
- Freelance Visa includes business licensing rights
- Business setup requires a trade license from DED or Free Zone
- 100% foreign ownership allowed in many sectors
- Business bank accounts can be opened
- Minimal paperwork for small-scale startups
- E-commerce, tech, and creative sectors are favored
- Legal consultation is advised for license category
Does the Emirates Golden Visa Lead to Permanent Residency or Citizenship?
The path to citizenship in Dubai is not very well defined at the moment. The long visas such as the Emirates Golden Visa are however protective. Here are what you need to know:
- UAE does not have a permanent residency program in name
- Citizenship possible only by nomination (rare cases)
- No automatic path from long-term visa to citizenship
- No naturalization through marriage or residency duration
- Children born to Emirati fathers get citizenship
- Recent reforms allow for some foreign professionals to be considered
Visa holders can stay indefinitely if renewals are maintained.
UAE Comparison With Other Arab Countries’ Visas
One of the best Arab countries for immigration, the visa policies of UAE are also more relaxed than the majority of other countries in the Arabian Peninsula. That extends to tourists and business visitors as well. The UAE grants many nationalities a visa-on-arrival and encourages long-term residency schemes such as the Golden Visa. Some Arabian countries have more closed or even more restrictive laws. Here is a brief overview for comparison:
UAE (Dubai):
- Visa-on-arrival for 70+ countries
- Long-term Golden Visa options
- E-visa application available
Saudi Arabia:
- E-visa for tourism introduced recently
- More conservative entry requirements
- No long-term residence visas for most foreigners
Qatar:
Visa-free entry for 95 nationalities
Residence permits mostly for workers
Oman:
- E-visa system available
- Short-term visas only, limited long-term options
Overall, Dubai stands out for ease of entry, business-friendly policies, and long-term stay opportunities.
Final Words
In brief, since 2019 when the Emirates Golden Visa was launched, many people have made the exciting leap of obtaining 5 and 10-year residency in the UAE. To be a part of the booming community, you need to fulfill a couple of basic conditions like financial stability or the holding of valid educational certificates. And the icing on the cake? With processing times as brief as 30 days, you can be enjoying the wonders of the vibrant way of life of Dubai sooner than you think. If you are interested in purchasing one of the top-seller UAE off-plan projects and want to make the most out of the chance of obtaining a residence visa in the emirate, be aware that the professional team at Dxboffplan are at your disposal to assist you with achieving the perfect deal. So go ahead and make the leap towards this golden chance now and let our experts do all the hard work for you!
frequently asked questions
Emirates Golden Visa offers 10-year residency with no renewal intervals each year. That ensures stability for the individual and family as well. After the initial 10 years, if you meet the criteria, you could extend your visa.
The conditions for eligibility are that the individual must invest a minimum of AED 10 million in a business venture. Or one can purchase a property with a value of a minimum of AED 2 million. They can also secure an employment contract that provides them a salary of at least AED 12,000.
The conditions for eligibility for the Emirates Golden Visa vary, but typically include the following: investor, entrepreneur, professional, exceptional student, retiree, property investor, skilled professional, CEO, and other senior-level executives.