Residence Visas – UAE
UAE has following few residence visas in UAE, which allow the eligible foreign nationals to stay in UAE and sponsor family members including spouses, children, and support staff to UAE. This provides long term residency without any local sponsor. These are multiple entry renewable visas.
Golden Visa
The UAE Golden Visa gives eligible residents the renewable permit to stay for 10 years without sponsor.
To qualify, individuals must meet certain criteria, depending upon the category.
Qualification criteria:
- Investors in Public Investments
- Submission of a letter from an investment fund accredited in the UAE stating that the investor has a deposit of two million dirhams.
- Or submission of a valid commercial license or industrial license and a memorandum of the association stating that the investor’s capital is not less than two million dirhams.
- Or to be a partner in a company’s capital with no less than two million dirhams.
- Or submission of a letter from the Federal Tax Authority stating that the investor pays the government no less than AED (250,000) dirhams annually
- Or submission a letter from the Federal Tax Authority stating that he is a partner in an establishment that pays tax to the government, and his share in the tax is at least (250,000) dirhams annually.
- Real Estate Investors
- Owns a property the purchase value of which is equal to or more than 2 million AED at the time of purchase
- In the event of a mortgaged property, a bank letter indicating 2 million AED paid against the loan amount as a proof to be provided.
- Entrepreneurs
- A Letter from an auditor registered in the UAE stating that the project value is not less than (500,000) dirhams (project owner)
- In the event of a mortgaged property, a bank letter indicating 2 million AED paid against the loan amount as a proof to be provided.
- Provide a letter from the authorities in the emirate stating that the project is of a technical or future nature in which leadership is achieved (project owner).
- Provide a letter from an accredited business incubator in the UAE to establish the proposed activity in the country (founder of a project).
- Professionals
- A Master’s or PhD in specialized fields like engineering, technology, life sciences, or natural sciences. Degrees from top global universities are highly valued.
- A strong track record in your field, demonstrated through work experience, publications, patents, or industry recognition.
- A minimum monthly salary of AED 30,000, excluding allowances.
- A valid employment contract reflecting your specialized role.
- Exceptional Talents & Rare Specializations
- Doctors: Approval letter from the Ministry of Health to practice the profession.
- Scientists: Recommendation letter from the UAE Council for Scientists or a Scientific Excellence Award.
- Inventors: Recommendation letter from the Ministry of Economy.
- Creatives in culture and arts: Approval letter from the Ministry of Culture and Youth or the Department of Culture and Arts.
- Executive Directors: Attested university degree, minimum 5 years of experience, employment contract, and a salary certificate of no less than AED 50,000.
- Athletes: Recommendation letter from the General Sports Authority or one of the sports councils.
- Specialists in priority scientific and engineering fields: Attested PhD or university degree, employment contract, and passport copy.
- Students with exceptional Academic record
- High school students: Recommendation letter from the Ministry of Education and proof of achieving ≥ 95%.
- University students: Recommendation letter from the university or graduation certificate, with a GPA ≥ 3.8 (for accredited universities), and within two years of graduation.
- Proof of financial capability and housing to cover the family.
Green Visa
A 5-year renewable visa for skilled professionals, freelancers, and investors that doesn’t require a traditional corporate sponsor.
Qualification criteria
- Freelancers and/or self-employed – People who wish to apply for a green visa need People who wish to apply for a green visa need to submit:
- a freelance/self-employment permit from Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
- proof of a bachelor’s degree or a specialised diploma
- evidence of annual income from self-employment for the previous two years amounting to not less than AED 360,000, or proof of financial solvency throughout their stay in the UAE.
- Skilled employees: To apply for a Green visa, skilled employees must:
- have a valid employment contract
- be classified in the first, second or third occupational level as per Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
- hold a minimum of bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- have a salary of not less than AED 15,000 per month and worked with the same employer for continuous period of 5 years
Retirement Visa
A retired foreign national will be given a residence permit without a sponsor or host within the country for five years, renewable under the same terms as when first granted.
Qualification criteria
- The period of service of the foreigner before his retirement is not less than (15) fifteen years, whether inside or outside the country, and he has completed (55) fifty-five Gregorian years of age.
- One of the two conditions must be met:
- To be the owner of one or more real estate within the country, the value of his real estate or the total value of his real estate is not less than (1,000,000) million Dirhams, whether this value is the purchase or market value, provided that the competent authority in the emirate carries out the evaluation, and that he has a deposit of Its value is less than (1,000,000) million Dirhams inside or outside the country, provided that it is transferred and deposited in any financial institution in the country within (60) sixty days from the date of issuance of the residency, except for the event that he invests the value of the deposit inside the country.
- The fixed annual income of the retiree shall not be less than (240,000) two hundred and forty thousand Dirhams or its equivalent in foreign currencies, whether the source of the income is inside or outside the country, provided that a bank account statement for the last (6) six months from the date of applying for obtaining the residency
How to apply for a Residence Visa?
Applying for a Residence Visa involves several straightforward pathways and options depending on your eligibility:
- You can apply for residency visa on official online portals – Use the ICP Smart Services https://icp.gov.ae/en/services/ (for all Emirates) or GDRFA Dubai https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en (for Dubai-specific applications) to submit your documents and pay the fees.
- You can do In-person submissions at registered Tasheel or Amer centers, or via authorized concierge/visa service agencies.
- You would need to book appointment for document verification and biometric.
- Documents required:
- Valid passport copy.
- Valid health insurance in UAE
- Proof of housing in the country (home ownership/house rental contract)
- Supporting documents based on the category under which you are applying the visa as mentioned in the Qualification criteria.
- You can track the status of your visa application on the same website thru which you have applied the visa.