UAE Golden Visa:
Eligibility, Documents and Application
The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence visa of 5 or 10 years that lets you live, work or study in the UAE without a sponsor. It covers investors, entrepreneurs, people with exceptional talent, outstanding students and humanitarian pioneers, each with its own requirements. Maven& checks which category you qualify for, prepares your file and manages the application with the authorities.
- 5 and 10-year renewable residence
- Self-sponsored, with family options
- Eligibility checked before you pay
- Get your free setup quote
- UAE Golden Visa partner
Years maximum validity
Golden Visas last 5 or 10 years and are renewable, depending on the category.
Main categories we assess
Investors, entrepreneurs, exceptional talent, outstanding students and humanitarian pioneers.
Team for your visa file
One consultant checks your category, prepares your documents and tracks the application.
- Eligibility
Who can apply for the UAE Golden Visa
Property and capital investors
Investors with property or capital of AED 2 million or more, or a stake in an establishment that meets the tax contribution rule. Usually a 10-year visa.
Entrepreneurs
Founders with an innovative or technical project, backed by proof of project value and a letter from a business incubator or the relevant authority. 5 years.
Exceptional talent and specialists
Professionals with rare or exceptional skills, recognised by the relevant authority. 10 years.
Outstanding students
Students with certificates of excellence and recommendation letters from their school or university.
Humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes
People with certificates of appreciation, documented humanitarian contribution or at least 5 years of service. 10 years.
What does the Golden Visa application involve?
Requirements differ by category and are set by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and the relevant authority. We confirm the current rules for your case before you apply.
- Category proof: title deed or valuation for property, company documents for investors, or an incubator letter for entrepreneurs.
- Application channel: applications go through ICP smart services, and some routes need approval from another authority first.
- Residence formalities: medical fitness, biometrics and Emirates ID follow approval, as with other residence visas.
- Family: the holder can usually sponsor a spouse and children, and in some cases parents.
- Not lifetime: the visa is renewable and depends on continuing to meet the conditions.
- Golden Visa vs standard visa
Golden Visa vs standard UAE residence visa
A Golden Visa gives longer, self-sponsored residence. A standard visa is tied to an employer or your own business and renews more often.
| Feature | Golden Visa | Standard residence visa |
|---|---|---|
| Validity | 5 or 10 years, renewable | Usually 2 or 3 years |
| Sponsor | Self-sponsored | Employer, company or family sponsor |
| Eligibility | Set categories with defined thresholds | Linked to a job, company or family relationship |
| Renewal | Every 5 or 10 years | Every 2 or 3 years |
| Family | Spouse and children, with extra options for some holders | Under the sponsor and income rules |
| Best for | Long-term investors, founders and specialists | Employees and company owners |
See the investor and partner visa or browse all visa services.
- Common routes
Three common Golden Visa routes for investors and founders
Investor
For UAE property owners
- Property worth AED 2 million or more
- Title deed and valuation needed
- Usually a 10-year visa
- Mortgaged and off-plan rules differ
Final cost depends on the category, visa duration and family members, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
Investor
For owners and investors
- Capital of AED 2 million or more, or a qualifying tax contribution
- Company and ownership documents
- Often linked to a UAE company
- We structure the file for ICP
Final cost depends on the category, visa duration and family members, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
For founders of innovative projects
- Project proof and value
- Letter from an incubator or authority
- Usually a 5-year visa
- Suits startups and technical ventures
Final cost depends on the category, visa duration and family members, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
How much does a UAE Golden Visa cost?
Government fees depend on the category, the visa duration and your family members, so there is no single price. Maven& lists each fee and our service fee in an itemised quote before you commit.
- Application and approval fees
- Property or company verification fees, where applicable
- Medical fitness test and Emirates ID
- Dependent visas, if your family joins
- Document translation or attestation, if needed
- Maven& service fee
- How it works
How to get a UAE Golden Visa in 5 steps
Check your category
We review your property, capital, project or profile against the current ICP and authority requirements.
Prepare your documents
We collect and check proof for your category, such as title deed, valuation, company documents or an incubator letter.
Submit your application
We submit through ICP smart services and any approving authority, and track the status.
Complete residence formalities
After approval, you complete the medical fitness, biometrics and Emirates ID steps.
Visa issued and family added
Your Golden Visa is issued, and we help add eligible family members.
Documents required for a UAE Golden Visa
The documents depend on your category. This list covers what most applicants prepare first, and we confirm the full list for your route.
- Valid passport copy
- Passport-size photograph on a white background
- Current UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, if you live in the UAE
- Property title deed and valuation, for the property route
- Company licence and ownership documents, for investors
- Project proof and incubator letter, for entrepreneurs
- Certificates and recommendation letters, for talent and student routes
- Marriage and birth certificates, if adding family, attested where required
- Why Maven&
Why choose Maven& for your UAE Golden Visa
One dedicated consultant
One consultant handles your trade licence, visas, Ejari and bank account introductions, so you never repeat yourself to a new team.
Transparent, itemised pricing
Every quote lists government fees, office, visa and service costs line by line, with no hidden extras after you sign.
Eligibility checked before you pay
Golden Visa rules and thresholds change. We check your category and the current requirements first, so you do not pay for an application that will not qualify.
Licence, visas and bank in one process
Company formation, residence visas, corporate tax registration and bank introductions are handled as one coordinated plan.
- Golden Visa FAQs
UAE Golden Visa: frequently asked questions
The Golden Visa is a long-term residence visa of 5 or 10 years that lets you live, work or study in the UAE without a sponsor. It is open to investors, entrepreneurs, people with exceptional talent, outstanding students and humanitarian pioneers.
Eligibility depends on the category. Investors need property or capital of AED 2 million or more, or a qualifying contribution to an establishment. Entrepreneurs need an innovative project with an incubator or authority letter. Talent and student routes need certificates and recommendations.
For the property route, the usual threshold is AED 2 million or more. Rules on mortgaged and off-plan property can vary, so we check your property against the current requirements before you apply.
It is valid for 5 or 10 years, depending on the category, and it is renewable. Entrepreneurs usually receive 5 years, and most investor, talent and humanitarian routes receive 10 years.
Usually yes. A holder can generally sponsor a spouse and children, and the 10-year visa can extend to other dependants in some cases. We confirm the options for your category.
The cost depends on the category, duration, verification fees and the number of family members, so there is no single price. Maven& gives you an itemised quote before you commit. Try the cost calculator.
The timeline depends on the category and how fast verification is completed. Property and investor routes have verification stages, and approvals from other authorities add time. We give you a timeline for your case. See the 5-step process.
No. A standard investor or partner visa is shorter, usually 2 or 3 years, and tied to a business or property. The Golden Visa is a longer, self-sponsored visa with set category thresholds.
Residency conditions depend on the category and the rules in force, so check them before you plan long stays abroad. We explain the conditions that apply to your route.
Yes, in some cases. Investors who own or contribute to a UAE establishment that meets the capital or tax rules may qualify. We review your business first. See business setup in Dubai.
Reviewed by the Maven& corporate setup team. Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules and fees change, so we confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before you commit.
Ready to apply for your UAE Golden Visa?
Get an eligibility check and an itemised quote built around your category. Talk to a Maven& consultant today.
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