The UAE Golden Visa is a 10-year renewable residence permit that needs no employer or local sponsor. Most European founders qualify through one of three money routes: AED 2 million in property, AED 2 million in a deposit or company stake, or a salaried job paying at least AED 30,000 a month. Government fees for the main applicant come to roughly AED 4,000 to AED 10,000 on the published fee lines, depending on route and emirate, and the visa doesn't by itself end your tax residency at home.
Below: each category with its published threshold, the fee lines, timing, and where the visa stops helping. Figures were checked on ICP, GDRFA Dubai, Dubai Land Department, u.ae and Federal Tax Authority pages on 15 October 2026.
UAE Golden Visa requirements by category
The ICP Golden Residency Guide (last updated 10 September 2026) lists 10-year residence for every category below. The government portal u.ae still shows 5 years for property investors in its summary table, but ICP, GDRFA Dubai and the Dubai Land Department all describe the property route as 10 years.
| Category | Official threshold | Key conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Property investor | AED 2,000,000 in one or more UAE properties | Registered in your name; off-plan allowed if bought from an approved developer; a mortgage from an approved UAE bank is allowed |
| Bank deposit investor | AED 2,000,000 deposit with a UAE bank or investment fund | Not borrowed money; Dubai requires the deposit to be frozen and not withdrawn during the residency |
| Company investor or partner | AED 2,000,000 capital, or a share worth AED 2,000,000 | Certified financial report from a UAE audit firm; valid trade licence |
| Tax-paying investor | AED 250,000 a year in federal taxes paid by your company or your share of it | Letter from the Federal Tax Authority |
| Entrepreneur | UAE-registered SME with AED 1,000,000 annual revenue, or prior ventures sold for AED 7,000,000 | Approval from an accredited incubator, the Ministry of Economy or a local authority |
| Skilled professional | Salary of AED 30,000 a month | MOHRE occupational level 1 or 2, bachelor's degree, valid UAE work permit |
| Scientists and specialists | No money test | Recommendation from the relevant body, such as the Emirates Scientists Council or Ministry of Health and Prevention |
| Exceptional talent | No money test | Culture and arts, inventors, athletes, digital talent; awards, recognition or endorsement |
| Outstanding students | 95% at a UAE secondary school, or GPA 3.5 (3.8 for Category B UAE universities) | Graduates of top-100 world universities qualify with GPA 3.5 within two years of graduating |
| Humanitarian pioneers | AED 2,000,000 in contributions for financial supporters | Or five years with an international organisation or non-profit |
| Frontline heroes | No money test | Certificates of appreciation or at least five years of service |
Property: the route most Europeans look at first
ICP asks for property worth at least AED 2,000,000 in total, registered in your name. You can combine several units. Off-plan purchases count if the developer is approved by the local authority. The property can be financed with a loan from an approved local bank.
Dubai adds its own detail. GDRFA Dubai accepts joint ownership only if your share alone is worth AED 2 million, values the property through a Dubai Land Department certificate or a DLD-licensed valuer, and places a lien on it so you keep ownership for the life of the visa. The DLD service page says the purchase value must be at least AED 2 million at the time of purchase and, for mortgaged property, asks for a bank letter showing the amount you have paid. Its service description puts that paid amount at AED 2 million. Plan on equity, not just a price tag.
Deposit and company routes
The deposit route needs AED 2,000,000 with a UAE bank or investment fund, and ICP says the capital must be fully yours, not borrowed, with proof of source. GDRFA Dubai goes further: the bank certificate must show the deposit frozen for at least two years, and withdrawal is not permitted during the 10-year residency. That money is parked.
The company route needs AED 2 million of capital or a stake worth that much, proven by a certified financial report from an accredited UAE audit firm, plus a trade licence, company bank statement and tax registration. GDRFA also assesses the business's investment, staffing and solvency before final approval. A newly formed shell with paper capital is unlikely to pass. If you're still setting up, our free zone setup guide covers the steps.
Skilled professionals and entrepreneurs
Employees qualify at AED 30,000 a month with a bachelor's degree, a valid work permit and a job classified at MOHRE level 1 (chairs and chief executives) or level 2 (specialists). Entrepreneurs need either a UAE-registered SME with at least AED 1 million in annual revenue or a track record of ventures sold for at least AED 7 million, plus approval from an incubator, the Ministry of Economy or a local authority. In Dubai, GDRFA routes entrepreneurs through a nomination from the Dubai Future Foundation.
UAE Golden Visa cost: what you actually pay
There's no single price, because each emirate adds its own charges. Here's what the official pages list for the main applicant.
| Fee line | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ICP application fee | AED 100 | ICP, Issuing Residency Permit |
| ICP Golden Residence issuance | AED 100 per year (AED 1,000 for 10 years) | ICP |
| ICP smart service fee | AED 100 | ICP |
| Emirates ID | AED 100 per year of residence, plus AED 100 smart service fee | ICP, New Identity Card Issuance |
| GDRFA Dubai residence permit | AED 1,100, rising AED 100 for each year over two; plus AED 20 in Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams, AED 500 if applying inside the UAE, AED 20 delivery | GDRFA Dubai |
| Dubai property route, all-in government package | AED 9,884.75 (medical AED 700, Emirates ID AED 1,153, residency AED 2,856.75, DLD fee AED 4,020, admin AED 1,155) | Dubai Land Department |
| Each family member, Dubai property route | AED 5,774.50 per 10-year permit, AED 318.75 to open a family file, plus AED 100 per person | Dubai Land Department |
| Health insurance | Mandatory for you and your family; price depends on age and plan | ICP |
| Adviser or typing centre fees | Not regulated; ask for a quote that lists government fees separately | Market |
For the Dubai property route, the DLD figure of about AED 9,900 is the cleanest number you'll find, because it bundles the medical test, Emirates ID and residence permit into one published package. For deposit, company and salary routes processed through GDRFA or ICP, the government lines add up to a few thousand dirhams before medical and insurance. Family members cost extra per head, and Dubai's investor family permits are priced separately from yours.
Adviser fees sit on top and vary a lot. Ask for an itemised quote. And be careful with shortcuts: in July 2025 ICP called reports of a AED 100,000 "nomination-based" golden visa "false rumours", said all requests go through official government channels inside the country, and said no consultancy has the authority to process the visa, as The National reported. A good adviser prepares your file. Nobody sells approval.
How long it takes
The government step is quick once your evidence is in order. GDRFA Dubai lists an expected completion time of 5 days for its investor, entrepreneur and talent golden residence services, and 48 hours for specialised scientists. The DLD property service lists 7 to 10 business days, and the applicant must be inside the UAE.
The slow part is everything before that: property transfer and title deed, the audit report for a company, the bank freeze letter for a deposit, or a nomination letter for talent routes. Then the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics. If you're abroad, ICP grants eligible applicants a six-month multiple-entry visa, renewable once for another six months, to finish the process. Those steps depend on banks, auditors, developers and nominating bodies, not on ICP, so start them first.
What the Golden Visa gives you, and what it doesn't
According to ICP and u.ae, you get:
- 10 years of residence, renewable if you still meet the conditions, with no sponsor.
- Residence for your spouse and children regardless of age, and for your parents. You can also sponsor domestic workers.
- No six-month limit abroad. GDRFA Dubai says the permit is void only if it expires while you're outside the country.
- If the holder dies, family members can stay until their own permits expire.
What it doesn't do:
- It isn't citizenship and doesn't lead to it.
- It isn't a trade licence. To invoice clients you still need a UAE company, mainland or free zone.
- It isn't permanent. GDRFA says holders must be able to support themselves and their family without government support, and the authority can check that you still meet the conditions. Sell the property or release the deposit and the basis for the visa goes.
Golden Visa and tax residency: what changes at home
This is where most plans go wrong. A residence permit and tax residence are separate things.
On the UAE side, the Federal Tax Authority issues a Tax Residency Certificate to individuals under three tests: 183 days or more in the UAE; 90 to 182 days plus a UAE job, business or permanent place of residence; or your usual residence and centre of financial and personal interests in the UAE. The Golden Visa helps with the 90-day test because it gives you legal residence and lets you rent or own a home. It doesn't count days for you. An individual without a corporate tax registration pays AED 1,000 for the certificate plus a AED 50 submission fee.
On the home side, nothing changes automatically. The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands and Hungary each apply their own residence rules, and if you keep a home, family or business base there, you can stay a tax resident even with a UAE visa and a UAE certificate. Where a tax treaty applies, its tie-breaker looks at permanent home first, then where your personal and economic ties are closer, then where you habitually live. That's why the treaty detail matters: see our posts on the Czech-UAE treaty and the Slovak-UAE treaty.
Two more traps. If your UAE company is really run from Europe, the home tax office may treat it as managed there. And leaving can itself trigger tax on unrealised gains in some countries; check the exit tax rules before you deregister. Our UAE tax residency page sets out what evidence holds up on both sides.
Common questions
How much money do I need for a UAE Golden Visa?
For the investor routes, AED 2 million in property, a bank deposit or a company stake. A salaried professional needs AED 30,000 a month instead, and entrepreneurs can qualify through AED 1 million in annual revenue or past exits worth AED 7 million. Government fees come on top.
Can I get a Golden Visa with a mortgaged property?
Yes. ICP allows financing from an approved UAE bank. Dubai Land Department asks for a bank letter showing how much you have paid, and its service description puts the required paid amount at AED 2 million.
How much does the UAE Golden Visa cost in fees?
On the Dubai property route, Dubai Land Department publishes a package of AED 9,884.75 for the main applicant, including the medical test and Emirates ID. Other routes cost less in government fees. Family members, health insurance and adviser fees are extra.
Does a Golden Visa make me a UAE tax resident?
No. Tax residency depends on days and ties: 183 days, or 90 days with a UAE home or job, or your main residence and interests in the UAE. You also need to stop being resident in your home country under its own rules.
Can I live outside the UAE and keep the Golden Visa?
Yes. Golden Visa holders are exempt from the rule that cancels ordinary residence permits after six months abroad. You still need to meet the qualifying conditions for the whole 10 years.
How long does the Golden Visa take to process?
GDRFA Dubai lists 5 days for investor applications and DLD lists 7 to 10 business days for the property route. Gathering the documents usually takes longer than the approval itself.
Planning a move rather than only a visa? Our moving to the UAE page covers the rest, and you can book a free assessment.
Sources
- ICP, Golden Residency Guide, last updated 10 September 2026, checked 15 October 2026: icp.gov.ae
- ICP, Issuing Residency Permit and New Identity Card Issuance service cards (fees), checked 15 October 2026: residency permit, Emirates ID
- u.ae, Golden visa, updated 28 July 2026, checked 15 October 2026: u.ae
- GDRFA Dubai, Issuing a golden residence permit (investors), checked 15 October 2026: gdrfad.gov.ae
- GDRFA Dubai, Issuing a golden residence permit (entrepreneurs), checked 15 October 2026: gdrfad.gov.ae
- GDRFA Dubai, Issuing Golden Residence Permit (Specialized Scientists), checked 15 October 2026: gdrfad.gov.ae
- Dubai Land Department, Golden Visa application (Investor), page updated 14 October 2026, checked 15 October 2026: dubailand.gov.ae
- Federal Tax Authority, Issuance of Tax Residency Certificates, updated 15 October 2026, checked 15 October 2026: tax.gov.ae
- The National, ICP statement on golden visa rumours, 9 July 2025 (secondary source; the ICP statement itself was not found online): thenationalnews.com