Introduction
The UAE Golden Visa offers long-term residency to every eligible individual. It could be investors, professionals, and talent. The good news? There’s no need for a UAE sponsor.
Officials expanded eligibility, cut investment thresholds, and simplified renewals in the current year (2025). This makes it easier than ever to gain residency. In the meantime, you can work, study, or raise a family in the UAE. What else is better than this?
If you’re launching an innovator startup or a top-performing professional, this guide is written specially for you. KPM PRO walks you through the latest categories, benefits, costs, and application process. All can be discussed in a single guide. Therefore, without skipping any part, be ready to discover with us how to get a golden visa in the UAE.
What Is the UAE Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa grants foreign nationals a renewable residence permit for 5 or 10 years. This allows them to live, work, study, and operate with no local sponsorship.
Visa holders can include spouses, children of any age, parents, and even unlimited domestic workers. This makes it ideal for both individuals and families. It permits unlimited time outside the UAE. The Golden visa eliminates the need for employer-based sponsorship. It supports visa-free travel to 133 countries.
Why Apply for a Golden Visa in 2025?
The following list can apply for a UAE Golden visa in 2025:
- Freedom from employer or sponsor constraints
- Long-term residency stability is renewable after 5 or 10 years
- Family access for spouse, children, parents with no age limits
- Tax advantages: no personal income tax, double-tax treaties, no inheritance or capital gains tax
- Flexibility to live abroad indefinitely without losing residency status
Who Qualifies for the Golden Visa in 2025?
UAE officials widened eligibility this year. Enabling more professional categories to include and reducing financial barriers. New and refined categories include:
- Real Estate Investors with property worth ≥ AED 2 million, including off‑plan purchases (50% paid or bank‑guaranteed)
- Public Investors contributing AED 2 million+ to approved funds or companies held for at least two years, plus evidence of FTA contributions of AED 250,000/year
- Entrepreneurs or SME owners in UAE-registered businesses with annual revenue ≥ AED 1 million. Similarly, venture capital funding ≥ AED 500,000, or recognized by incubators
- Outstanding talents such as scientists, creatives, inventors, athletes, PhD holders, and engineers. Endorsed by relevant UAE bodies such as the Ministry of Culture, the Emirates Scientists Council, or the patents office
- Skilled professionals earning ≥ AED 30,000/month (basic) and holding a degree in fields like tech, education, medicine, with a free zone salary certificate and NOC from the authority
- Outstanding students graduated with a GPA ≥ 3.8 from a top‑100 university; may include parents and siblings in sponsorship
- New eligible groups introduced in 2025 include long‑serving healthcare workers, educators, e‑sports professionals, digital creators, yacht owners, and frontline heroes nominated by authorities
If you’re seeking how to get the golden visa in the UAE, we’ve discussed this in detail later in the blog; keep reading!
Golden Visa Type Comparison Table
Different categories fall into different Golden visa types. We compare them briefly in the form of a table:
| Category | Qualifying Criteria (2025) | Residency Term | Family Inclusion |
| Real Estate Investors | AED 2M+ property (paid or partially paid, mortgaged OK) | 10 years | Spouse, children, etc. |
| Public Investors | AED 2M+ in approved fund; FTA tax contribution ₹250K/year | 10 years | Includes the executive team |
| Entrepreneurs / SMEs | AED 500K startup or AED 1M+ turnover; incubator endorsement | 5 or 10 years | Spouse, children, parents |
| Outstanding Talents | Endorsement from the council/authority in science, arts, and patenting | Usually 10 years | Full family rights |
| Skilled Professionals | Basic salary ≥ AED 30,000; employer NOC; university degree | 5 or 10 years | Immediate family |
| High‑Performing Students | GPA ≥ 3.8 from top 100 universities + MoE/KHDA nomination | 5 or 10 years | Parents, siblings under sponsorship |
Golden Visa Fees & Costs (2025 Estimates)
While listed costs vary by applicant origin and visa route, here’s a general idea based on the official fee structure and news updates:
- Application processing: AED 2,800–3,800 (in‑UAE); AED 3,800–4,800 (abroad)
- Document clearance (e.g., equivalency, translation, medical): AED 3,000–5,000 depending on category
- Other costs: If applying via investment firms (e.g., Hayah Saver Plan): AED 6,000–8,000 admin fee beyond investment itself
Real estate investment route requires purchase of AED 2M+ property, plus mortgage eligibility; public investment mandates full fund ownership, no loans.
Step‑by‑Step Application Process
Thinking, how to get a golden visa in the UAE? The following are the steps of the application process to obtain your UAE Golden visa:
Step 1 – Choose Your Category
Match yourself to the right path (investor, entrepreneur, talent, student, educator).
Step 2 – Gather Supporting Documents
- Passport copy, passport‑style photo
- Academic certificates and degree equivalency (if required)
- Proof of investment/property ownership or fund deposit
- Bank statements, salary certificates, NOC, incubator letters, FTA tax contribution letter, depending on category
Step 3 – Submit Nomination / Pre‑Approval
Apply via the ICP UAE portal or the GDRFA Dubai website. Upload documents and pay the application fee. Once authority issues pre‑approval, you can proceed to residency issuance.
Step 4 – Medical Check & Emirates ID
Undergo health screening at approved centers. Apply for and receive an Emirates ID card when prompted.
Step 5 – Residency Visa Stamping
If on a valid UAE residence (work or other), you may switch visa status. Free zone applicants will need an official NOC from the zone authority. Residency stamp and Emirates ID finalize the process.
Step 6 – Receive Golden Visa Residency
After final biometric clearance, your Emirates ID and visa appear in the smart ICP app, confirming your long-term permit.
Key Requirements & New 2025 Updates
- Property route now allows off-plan purchases once ≤ 50% is paid or bank guaranteed
- Entrepreneurs benefit from lower thresholds (AED 500K startup, incubator endorsement)
- Tech, AI, and digital professionals are often fast-tracked under government talent programs
- Educators and nurses with long service are now eligible, often via institutional nomination via KHDA or healthcare authorities
- Free zone salary NOC is mandatory, and recent updates require 2-year employment continuity in some cases
How to Renew and Extend Your Golden Visa
Golden Visas now allow online renewal. You can check eligibility using the portal. The renewal requires continued compliance. You should have maintained investment, sustained revenue, a valid job and salary if professional, or continued contribution in talent streams. There’s a renewal fee of around AED 5,000–10,000. It depends on the visa category.
Benefits Beyond Residency
The Golden visa comes with many perks. Under this visa, your spouse and children, regardless of age, remain covered. Unlimited absences from the UAE won’t affect visa validity. It means if you’re outside of UAE, your visa will remain valid. It is ideal for business travel or global professionals
The visa provides access to healthcare, education, the UAE job market, and property ownership freedom. You can experience visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to many global destinations
No personal income tax is involved with favorable double-tax treaties, and no inheritance or capital gains taxes in most cases
Common Pitfalls & Tips
- Don’t mix category rules: Property investors must meet AED 2M alone. It is not combined with public investment unless separate criteria apply.
- Use approved fund/investment: Not all funds count toward the public investment threshold; insist on a certified deposit letter.
- Check free zone NOC timelines: Obtaining the official NOC can take 4–6 weeks in zones like DIFC, DIC, DMCC. Plan early.
- Degree equivalency: MOE/AESRAS attestation remains mandatory, even for digital or creative professions.
- Plan family documents ahead: Attested marriage certificate, birth certificates, and dependent IDs speed the sponsorship process.
Conclusion
Securing the UAE Golden Visa in 2025 has become more accessible. With this visa, you can purchase a property, launch a startup, be recognized in technology or academia, or excel in the arts or healthcare. The 10-year program offers long-term stability. You don’t even need local sponsorship.
Apply confidently today and enjoy all the benefits that this visa offers. All you need is smart preparation and accurate documentation. The advantages are huge, from family inclusion to tax advantages, global mobility, and secure residency.
Hire the services of KPM PRO to obtain your Golden visa if you want to get it without facing any hurdles or delays. The expert consultants at KPM PRO have years of experience and have already helped several clients in obtaining their visas quickly and fast.
FAQs on UAE Golden Visa (2025)
Q: Can I stay outside the UAE without invalidating my Golden Visa?
A: Yes. Golden Visa holders can stay abroad indefinitely without losing residency, unlike standard residency rules.
Q: Do I need a mortgage-free property to qualify?
A: No. You may use mortgage financing, provided you pay ≥ 30% down and submit bank letters or NOCs. Off-plan purchases with ≥ 50% bank guarantee count too.
Q: Has salary eligibility changed for professionals?
A: Basic salary ≥ AED 30,000/month remains required, but allowances don’t count. Free zone applicants need a salary certificate issued by the zone authority and an NOC. A two‑year continuous working history may now be checked.
Q: Can I include family members over 18?
A: Yes. Golden Visa holders can sponsor spouses, children of any age, parents, and unlimited domestic workers. Document requirements still apply.
The article is written to shed light on how to get a golden visa in the UAE. If you get any value from this article, kindly let us know your feedback. Check more similar topics at the KPM PRO website.
