Do You Qualify for a UAE Golden Visa?
Answer the questions that apply to you and leave the rest at zero to see which residence visas you are likely to qualify for, what you are missing for the others, and the main fees.
Check your eligibility
Main thresholds
| Visa and category | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Golden — skilled professional | Skill level 1 or 2, a bachelor's degree, AED 30,000 a month and a valid contract |
| Golden — property investor | One or more properties worth AED 2 million (AED 2 million paid up in Abu Dhabi) |
| Golden — investor | A deposit, fund or company capital of AED 2 million, or AED 250,000 in taxes a year |
| Golden — entrepreneur | Annual revenue of AED 1 million, a previous project sold for AED 7 million, or approval from an accredited incubator |
| Golden — students and graduates | High school 95%, a UAE university GPA of 3.5 (A) or 3.8 (B), or a top-100 university with 3.5, within two years of graduating |
| Golden — by nomination | Scientists, talents in the arts, sport and technology, inventors, humanitarian workers and frontline heroes |
| Green — skilled employee | Skill level 1 to 3, a bachelor's degree and AED 15,000 a month |
| Green — freelancer | A freelance permit, a bachelor's or specialised diploma, and AED 360,000 income over the previous two years |
| Green — investor or partner | A contribution of at least AED 1 million |
| Retirees (5 years) | Age 55 or 15 years of service, with AED 1 million in property or deposits, or AED 240,000 a year in income |
Family, absence and grace period
- Golden: sponsor your spouse, children "regardless of age" and parents, and domestic workers according to your means; you are exempt from the 180-day absence rule, and your family can stay after your death until their permits expire.
- Green: spouse, sons up to 25, unmarried daughters, children of determination and first-degree relatives, with a 180-day grace period after cancellation.
- Retirees: 5 years, renewable, with health insurance; Dubai's grace period is 60 days.
Examples:
An engineer at skill level 1 with a bachelor's and a basic salary of AED 32,000: Golden Visa as a skilled professional, and the Green Visa too. With a basic of 20,000 and a gross of 32,000, the Golden Visa is possible but needs checking, because Dubai reportedly uses the basic salary.
An accountant at skill level 2 earning AED 18,000: Green Visa as a skilled employee, not Golden.
A 56-year-old retiree with a paid-off property worth AED 1.2 million: retirement visa under the regulations; Dubai's page also asks for 15 years of service.
This is an estimate: the official portal's Golden Visa pages still show old rules (5 years for property, AED 50,000 for managers), so we rely on the regulations and the 2026 pages of the federal authority, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The decision rests with the authority when you apply. For the cost of buying property in Dubai, see the Dubai mortgage and purchase fees calculator. Prefer Arabic? Use the Arabic version.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Golden Visa requirements for employees in the UAE?
A valid employment contract, skill level 1 or 2 under the Ministry of Human Resources classification, a bachelor's degree or equivalent, and a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000, with bank statements for the last 6 months. According to consultancies, Dubai requires the basic salary alone to reach AED 30,000.
What property value do I need for a Golden Visa?
At least AED 2 million, and several properties can be combined, including mortgaged property with a local bank and off-plan units from approved developers. Abu Dhabi requires AED 2 million to be paid up, and the Dubai Land Department's page asks for a bank letter showing AED 2 million paid, while press reports say Dubai has dropped that condition.
What is the difference between the Golden and Green Visas?
The Golden Visa lasts 10 years, exempts the holder from the 180-day absence rule and covers children of any age. The Green Visa lasts 5 years without a sponsor, for skilled employees earning AED 15,000 at skill levels 1 to 3, freelancers earning AED 360,000, or investors with AED 1 million; it covers sons up to 25 and unmarried daughters.
What are the requirements for the UAE retirement visa?
Age 55 or 15 years of service under the regulations (Dubai's residency page requires both), plus one of: property worth AED 1 million (paid up to AED 1 million if mortgaged), a AED 1 million deposit, or a fixed annual income of at least AED 240,000. It lasts 5 years and is renewable.
How much does a UAE Golden Visa cost?
The federal authority's fee is AED 1,100 for the residence (AED 100 application and AED 1,000 issuance), and with services and a 10-year Emirates ID about AED 2,200 for applicants inside the country, before the medical test and insurance. In Dubai, the Land Department's package for the property Golden Visa is AED 9,884.75 all-in.
Can students get a UAE Golden Visa?
Yes, once: high-school graduates with 95% or more, graduates of UAE universities with a GPA of 3.5 (category A) or 3.8 (category B), or graduates of a top-100 university worldwide with a GPA of 3.5, within two years of graduating.
Sources
- Cabinet Resolution 65/2022 — Executive Regulations of the Law on Entry and Residence of Foreigners (in force 3 October 2022)
- Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship — UAE Golden Residency (September 2026)
- Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship — UAE Green Residency (September 2026)
- GDRFA Dubai — Golden Residency for investors
- Dubai Land Department — Golden Visa request for property investors (October 2026)
- Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development — Golden Visa for skilled professionals (October 2026)
Figures and formulas on this page were last reviewed on 2026-11-03.