Why Apply for the UAE Golden Visa?

The UAE Golden Visa grants long-term residency with numerous benefits. It allows you to live, work, and study in the UAE without the need for a local sponsor. The visa is issued for 5 or 10 years and can be renewed. Holders can stay outside the UAE for more than six months without losing residency status. It also enables sponsorship of spouses, children (with no age limit), and an unlimited number of domestic workers. In the event of the visa holder’s passing, family members can remain in the UAE until the permit expires.

What is the UAE Golden Visa?

The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence permit designed to attract investors, entrepreneurs, highly skilled professionals, outstanding students, and exceptional talents. It offers a pathway for individuals who wish to make the UAE their long-term home while contributing to the nation’s economic growth and innovation.

Types of UAE Golden Visa

The UAE issues Golden Visas across multiple categories, including:

• Investors in public investments or real estate
• Entrepreneurs and startup founders
• Exceptional talents such as scientists, innovators, inventors, and creative professionals
• Skilled professionals meeting salary or occupational criteria
• Outstanding students and graduates
• Humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes

Each emirate may have its own sub-categories and specific requirements for approval.

UAE introduces 10-year Golden Visa for professionals

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently decided to issue a 10-year golden visa to professionals that will include engineers, physicians, Ph.Ds. who are from UAE accredited universities who have scored Grade Point Average or GPA of 3.8 and above. The motive behind issuing this visa is to retain ‘talented people and great minds’ in the country.

The golden visa was introduced in 2019 as a long-term residency program by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. After its launch, more than 400 investors, businessmen and some of their family members have been granted the visa.

About the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates – Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Khaimah, and Fujairah.

Together the seven emirates make up the Federal Supreme Council.

The federal capital lies at Abu Dhabi, the largest among all the emirates that make up the UAE. Abu Dhabi takes up more than three-fourths of the total land area of the UAE.

With the presence of many multinationals amidst several skyscrapers, the port city of Dubai is the capital of the emirate of Dubai.

The UAE has an estimated population of around 9.9 million individuals.

Prominent cities in the UAE include –

• Dubai
• Zayed City
• Sharjah
• Abu Dhabi
• Dibba
• Al Ain
• Ajman
• Ras Al Khaimah
• Fujairah
• Um Al Quwain
• Khor Fakkan

Reasons for introducing the UAE Golden Visa

The reason for introducing the golden visa was to project the UAE as a destination for business investment and encourage business development in the region. The visa was introduced to recognize residents who have been here for the long-term and their contribution to their country’s development.

The golden visa is a means to recognize their contribution and to thank them with a log-term visa that is valid for ten years and can be renewed.

Who can apply for the Golden Card?

Five categories of non-residents can apply for the golden card, these include entrepreneurs, chief executives, investors, meritorious students and scientists.

Requirements to apply for UAE Golden Visa

A) Foreign investors

They must fulfil at least one of the following conditions:

• Must make a deposit of up to 10 million dirhams in an investment fund in the UAE.
• Must be an owner of a company with 10 million dirhams as capital investment or must be a partner in a company with a share of up to 10 million dirhams.

Apart from this, the following conditions must be fulfilled:

• Investment funds should be fully owned rather than be funded through a loan and adequate proof must be given
• The applicant must have held the investment for at least three years
• The applicant must have an insurance document for themselves and their family members

B) Entrepreneurs:

• Applicants must be owners of a project that has a value of 500,000 dirhams or above in a field certified in the UAE
• Applicant must be approved as a certified business incubator and a founder of the project
• Applicant must have health insurance coverage for himself and his family members

C) Specialists

• Applicant can be a professor from any one of the top 500 international universities that is approved by the ministry of education
• Applicant with an award or certificate of appreciation for his area of specialization can also apply
• Scientists who have made major contributions to an area of study
• Ds. with 20 years of practical experience in their field of expertise
• Applicants who are specialists in fields significant to the UAE

D) Chief Executives:

• Must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
• Must have experience of five years and above
• Must be earning a salary of 30,000 dirhams or more in the UAE and have a valid job contract
• Must be covered by health insurance which includes family members

E) Others

As for the criteria for inventors, they must have a patent that should be of value to UAE’s economy and should have the approval of the patent from the ministry of economy.

Apart from this, the program includes art and culture specialists who must be approved by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development in the UAE.

Processing Time for the UAE Golden Visa

The processing time varies depending on the emirate, category, and completeness of documentation. On average, it takes around 2 to 4 weeks for most applications. However, cases requiring nomination or additional verification may take up to 90 days.

Processing Fee for the UAE Golden Visa

The government fees depend on the type of visa and emirate of application. The approximate cost ranges between AED 2,800 and AED 4,800, excluding the cost of medical tests and Emirates ID. Additional charges may apply for specific categories or endorsements. Applicants should verify the latest fees before submission.

How Can Y-Axis Help You Get the Golden Visa from India?

Y-Axis offers complete support for your UAE Golden Visa application, including:

• Eligibility assessment: We identify the right category for your profile.
• Documentation support: We assist with preparation, translation, attestation, and verification.
• Application filing: Expert handling of forms and submissions through the appropriate UAE channels.
• Medical and biometric coordination: Guidance for health tests and Emirates ID enrolment.
• Dependent visa services: Assistance for your spouse, children, and domestic staff applications.
• Continuous updates: Real-time information on processing status, policy changes, and renewals.

With Y-Axis, you can confidently navigate the entire UAE Golden Visa process from India, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and peace of mind.