UAE Golden Visa
Overview
Authorities signalled an expansion of nomination-based Golden Visa eligibility to additional specialised professions, administered through designated federal and emirate-level nominating bodies.
Who is affected by the latest change
- Foreign investors meeting the investment requirements
- Entrepreneurs with qualifying innovative or technical projects
- Doctors, scientists and researchers meeting the relevant requirements
- Inventors and people with exceptional specialised skills
- Creative professionals in eligible cultural and artistic fields
- Executives and qualifying athletes
- Outstanding university students and graduates
- Outstanding secondary-school students
- Humanitarian pioneers
- Frontline heroes
- Eligible family members sponsored by Golden Visa holders
What changed in the latest version
Before
- The Golden Visa was first mainly for investors, business owners, specialised talented people, researchers, and outstanding students. - Applicants had to qualify under one of the specific categories. - Residence periods depended on the category. - The programme was mainly presented as a way to attract investment, specialised skills, and exceptional talent.
After
- The Golden Visa now includes a wider range of categories that qualify. - The category for exceptional talent and specialised professionals covers fields such as medicine, science, invention, culture and arts, executive leadership, sport, and important scientific and engineering specialisations. - Outstanding students and graduates can qualify if they meet specific academic rules. - Humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes are also recognised categories. - Investors and business owners still qualify under separate rules. - The Golden Visa continues to give 5- or 10-year residence, depending on the category.
The Golden Visa offers eligible foreign people a more stable way to live in the UAE than a regular residence permit sponsored by an employer. It can provide: - long-term residence for 5 or 10 years - residence without the usual employer sponsor - the ability to stay outside the UAE for longer than the normal time allowed for residence visas - the ability to sponsor eligible family members. For professionals and other applicants, the important change is that more types of people can potentially qualify if they meet the specific rules for their category.
Version history
- v1Effective 1 Jan 2026AnnouncementMedium impactUAE expands Golden Visa eligibility categories
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has added more types of professionals and specialised talented people who can qualify for its ten-year Golden Visa programme.
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