FIND OUT IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE

The first thing to do is to find out if you are eligible for the Golden Visa. As there are several categories that have been announced in the latest update in the visa system, you would first need to find out which category you can apply under. Abu Dhabi Residents Office (ADRO), which is a department dedicated to helping new residents settle into Abu Dhabi, has created an online tool that could be of help. Answer these 17 questions to find out if you are eligible for the Golden Visa. Even if you are applying for a visa from another Emirate, this tool might be a good starting point to find out about your eligibility.

In the updated Golden Visa scheme, the eligible categories were expanded to include the following:
1. Investors:
• Public investment
• Real estate investment

2. Entrepreneurs:
• Owners of registered successful start-ups
• Those who have an approved idea for a start-up
• Previous founders of a successful start-up that was sold inside or outside the UAE

3. Exceptional talents in the fields of:
• Culture and art
• Investors and innovators
• Sports
• Digital technology
• Other vital fields

4. Scientists and professionals
• Scientists
• Chief executives and senior officials
• Science professionals
• Engineering professionals
• Health professionals
• Education professionals
• Business and Administration professionals
• Information technology professionals
• Legal, social and cultural professionals

5. Outstanding students and graduates
• Best performing students in secondary schools
• Best graduates from UAE universities
• Graduates of best 100 universities worldwide

6. Humanitarian pioneers
• Distinguished members of international and regional
organizations
• Outstanding members of associations of public benefits
• Recipients of recognition awards in humanitarian fields
• Distinguished volunteers and sponsors of humanitarian
efforts

7. Frontline heroes
• Frontline workers who made extraordinary efforts during
the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you have been wondering whether you are eligible for the Golden Visa in the UAE, there is an easy tool provided by the Abu Dhabi Residents Office (ADRO).

The office has provided an online eligibility tool on its official website, which can help you find out easily if you qualify to apply for the UAE Golden Visa.

The questions that you would need to answer are as follows:

1. Are you an investor who owns a deposit or a business or company or a share in a company worth at least Dh2 million?

In order to fully qualify, you have to provide evidence of paying taxes and give further documentation about the company/business/deposit, according to the website

2. Are you a seasoned professional working in a management position for an investor who is eligible for the Golden Visa?

The management position refers to any employee who assumes the position of an Executive Director and performs similar duties in the executive management.

3. Are you a real estate investor who fully owns property worth at least Dh2 million without mortgage?

Mortgage is allowed for property worth more than Dh2 million, subject to conditions. Please refer to the visa category for more details.

4. Are you an entrepreneur who owns a successful project in the UAE in a field that is approved by competent authorities of a value of at least Dh500,000?

5. Are you a senior professional working in a management role for an entrepreneur who is eligible for the Golden Visa?

The management position refers to any employee who assumes the position of an Executive Director and performs similar duties in the executive management.

6. Are you an outstanding high school graduate who is one of the leading students in a UAE-based high school?

You can also check if you qualify as a student for the Golden Visa by following these steps.

7. Are you an outstanding university graduate who has graduated with a GPA of at least 3.8 from a UAE-based university?

GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale. Alternative grading equivalents are eligible as well, according to the website.

8. Are you a medical doctor who is licensed to practice medicine in Abu Dhabi and is currently working in the profession?

Golden Visa for doctors: Here's how you can apply for a professional license.

9. Are you a specialist in engineering and science who is currently working in one of the priority disciplines?

The priority disciplines include: epidemiology and virology, artificial intelligence (Al), big data, computer engineering, electronics, software engineering, power engineering, genetic engineering and biotechnology engineering.

10. Are you a scientist endorsed by the Emirates Scientists Council or awarded the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction?

The announcement was made by the Umm Al Quwain Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Committee on August.

11. Are you a creative individual with tangible artistic production and contributions to art and culture specialty areas in the UAE or abroad?

Specialty areas include: visual arts, publishing, performance arts, design and craft, electronic games and sports, media and more.

12. Are you an inventor who has a patent that adds value to the UAE's economy?

13. Are you a seasoned Executive Director working in the public or private sector in Abu Dhabi?

In order to fully qualify, you have to have at least a Bachelor degree, earn at least Dh50,000 per month and have at least five years of work experience.

14. Are you a specialist in one of the rare educational specialties with priority in the UAE?

In order to fully qualify, you have to have at least a Bachelors degree in the priority field. This includes education, training, managing and caring for people with special needs.

15. Are you a specialist in the field of early childhood and child development education with at least three years of work experience in the field?

The early childhood and child development disciplines include childhood-related psychological consultancies, family support related social consultancies, speech and language therapy, breastfeeding and delivery consultancies, child hematology and oncology, child pulmonary diseases and others. Certain disciplines also cover professionals who are not licensed to
practice medicine.

16. Are you a talented sportsman, trainer, referee, sport therapist, physician or a sports public figure with tangible achievements in the UAE or abroad?

The sports categories include: players, trainers, referees, sports therapists and physicians, sport talents, celebrities and local and international public sports figures. Each sports category has a unique list of requirements, please refer to the visa category for more details.

17. Are you a PhD holder in one of the emirate's priority disciplines who is currently working in the field?

Based on your responses, if you are eligible for the Golden Visa in a category, you will be provided with more details on the eligibility criteria, document requirements and the application process.
To access the eligibility tool, visit the ADRO website link in below.

https://adro.gov.ae/golden-visa

Once you have understood the category under which you may be eligible for the long-term visa, the next step is to find out how you can get the necessary documents in place. Certain categories may require you to get a recommendation from the relevant government department. For example, if you are applying under the category of a ‘creative professional’, you would need to get a recommendation from the Ministry of Culture and Youth or the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) if you are applying in Dubai.

If you want to get a list of all the documents you may need for your category, you can contact the Amer service in Dubai on 800 5111.

Amer centres visa applications on behalf of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai.

If you are applying for the GoldenVisa in Abu Dhabi, you can reach out to ADRO on 800 555.

For all other Emirates, you can contact the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) on 600522222

3. Start your application

Once you have ensured that you fulfil the criteria for your category of the Golden Visa, you can then start the application process. For this step, you can choose to either do it online or by visiting an Amer centre in Dubai or an ICP customer happiness centre.

Online – Dubai 

If you are applying for the visa in Dubai, GDRFA allows applicants to use their online service to start the process.

1. Visit https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/servicesid=71ea8dd6-56c3-11ea-0320-0050569629e8 and select the category for Golden Visa that you want to apply under.

2. Log in using your GDRFA account, if you already have one. Alternatively, you can log in using your UAE Pass.

3. Start filling out the form by providing the details of your current residency, like your residence visa number, UID number as well as your registered tenancy contract and International Bank Account (IBAN) number.

• You will then be asked to attach all the required documents, including your passport copy, Emirates ID copy and documents supporting your eligibility for the category of Golden Visa.
• Make the payment – you will then be asked to pay the required fees for the application.

Once you have completed the application, you will receive an SMS in case there are documents that are missing. Applicants should attach the required documents within 30 days, after which the application will be cancelled.

If your application is approved, you will be notified through SMS and email.

Fees 

Residency visa fees – Dh2,790
Emirates ID fees – Dh1,070

Amer centre – Dubai
You can also apply for the Golden Visa through an Amer centre, by following these steps:

1. Head to one of the Amer Centre service branches.
2. Select the required service at the reception.
3. Submit the required documents to the service employee.
4. Pay the fees.
Once you have completed the application, you will receive an SMS in case there are documents that are missing. Applicants should attach the required
documents within 30 days, after which the application will be cancelled.
If your application is approved, you will be notified through SMS and email.

Fees
Residency visa fees – Dh2,790
Emirates ID fees – Dh1,070

Online – Other Emirates

You can start the application process for your Golden Visa by following these steps:

1. Apply for the service ‘Request for Golden Visa nomination’. In Abu Dhabi, you can do so by visiting the
following link:

https://www.tamm.abudhabi/journeys/obtain-a-golden-visa?lang=en

For all other Emirates, you can do so by visiting the following link:

https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/goldenServicesDashboard

2. Log in and start filling out the form by providing the details of your current residency as well as your
registered tenancy contract and International Bank Account (IBAN) number.
3. You will then be asked to attach all the required documents, including your passport copy, Emirates ID
copy and documents supporting your eligibility for the category of Golden Visa.
4. Make the payment for the application.

Once you have completed the request, you will receive a tracking number to follow up on the request status. Once your application
is approved, you will be directed to visit an ICP customer happiness centre to complete the application process. On completing the application, you then need to wait for a notification from ICP on whether your application has been approved.

4. Get your medical fitness test completed

Once your application is approved by the concerned immigration authority, you then need to get a medical
fitness test completed.

5. Apply for your Emirates ID

The next step is to apply for your Emirates ID, which you can do by visiting an ICP customer happiness centre.
You can find an ICP customer happiness centre near you by visiting the following link: https://icp.gov.ae/en/customer-happiness-centers

1. “NOC” letter from the company that does not mind the golden residency, also mentioned that the service period is not less than 5 years as a general manager – executive director – chairman of the board of directors.

2. Attested degree (bachelor's degree or higher)

3. Salary certificate (not less than 50,000 DHS Monthly) 4. Labour contract with the same profession and salary at the salary certificate.

5. bank statement (last 6 months)

How to Apply for Golden Visa –

1. Apple store/Play store or from the website – gdrfad.gov.ae – Select Services – Select Residency Services – Select Category of Golden Visa

2. Register a new user account (in case there is no account registered)

3. Select the required service 4. Attach the required documents

5. Pay the fees due for the service

6. Submit the request

1. Submission of a copy of a university degree accredited by Ministry of Education with educational attainment not less than a bachelor's degree. 

2. Submission of a letter of experience of no less than (5) years holding the same position. 

3. Submission of a salary certificate with a salary of at least AED (50) Fifty thousand. 

4. Submission of a valid work contract.

Investor:

Investor in an investment fund (commercial investor) 1. Company's financial report for the previous year (Made by the company's financial auditor) 

2. Company's Trade license and photocopy of the List of Partners' Names 

3. Copy of the sponsored residency.

4. Company's bank statement (last 3 months) 

5. Company's (VAT Return) for the previous year

Investor in an investment fund (deposit)

1. A letter from the bank in Arabic form showcasing a “fix deposit”. A note must be mentioned in the letter. (The fix deposit will not be broken for the next two years, OR in case the fix deposit was broken for any reason, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai must be notified 

2. Copy of the sponsored passport. 

3. Tenancy contract. 

Investor in (Tax Return Investor) 

1. A letter from the Federal Tax Authority. 

2. Company's Trade license and photocopy of the List of Partners' Names. 

3. Copy of the sponsored residency. 

An Investor in an Investment Fund: 

An investor in an investment fund is granted a Golden Visa for a period of (10) years without a sponsor if one of the following conditions is met: 

1- Submission of a letter from an investment fund accredited in the UAE stating that there is a deposit of AED (2) Two Million. 

2- Or submission of a valid commercial license or industrial license with investor’s Memorandum of Association of his/her company provided that the investor capital is not less than AED (2) Two Million. 3- or submission of a letter from the Federal Tax Authority stating that the investor is the owner of a company that pays the government no less than AED (250) Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Annually. 

4- Applications by the submission of other types of licenses are not accepted, only commercial or industrial licenses are approved. 

5- In case the license is issued from free zones or special development zones, a “To Whom It May Concern Certificate” issued from the relevant free zone authorities is required. 

6- Conditions for granting a Golden Visa to family members of an investor: The family members of the investor stated in the Cabinet Resolution (husband or wife and children from the category of unmarried daughters and unmarried sons) are granted a Golden Visa for a period of (10) years. 

Senior Employees of an Investor in Public Investments 

The executive director or the advisor appointed by an investor in public investments is granted a Golden Visa for a period of (10) years without a sponsor and for one person only, according to the following conditions: 

1- Submission of a letter from the Investor in public investments stating that the executive director or the advisor has been appointed for a period of (10) years.

 2- Conditions for granting a Golden Visa to family members of an Executive Director or an Advisor: The family members of the Senior Employee of the Investor in Public Investments stated in the Cabinet Resolution (husband or wife and children from the category of unmarried daughters and unmarried sons) are granted a Golden Visa for a period of (10) years.

 Real-Estate Investor

The owner of a property or a group of properties is granted a Golden Visa for a period of (5) years, renewable on the same conditions and without a sponsor if one of the following conditions is met: 

1- Submission of a letter from the Real Estate Registration Department in Dubai Emirate stating that the investor owns one or more properties whose value is not less than AED (2) two million, stating that the property is not subject to a loan. 

2- The value of these real estate investments is permitted to be a loan for what exceeds the value of AED (2) two million. 

3- Conditions for granting a Golden Visa to family members of a Real Estate Investor: The family members of the Real Estate Investor stated in the Cabinet Resolution (husband or wife and children from the category of unmarried daughters and unmarried sons) are granted a Golden Visa for a period of (5) years