The UAE Golden Visa 2022

The UAE Golden Visa 2022

The UAE Golden Visa offers ten years residency, self-sponsorship, automatic renewal, and extended time outside the UAE.

The UAE Golden Visa 2022In April 2022, the UAE cabinet announced a new set of executive regulations regarding Golden Visa entry permit and long-term residence which officially has been enforced since 3 October 2022. They broadened the qualifying criteria of applying for the UAE Golden Visa, while also widening the number of people who can apply for this long-term visa, in various categories and professions.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has revealed that 151,600 Golden Visas were issued between 2019-2022 and since the new changes.

What Is the UAE Golden Visa?

UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residency visa which was launched in 2019 and allows investors, entrepreneurs and talented individuals to live, work, study and invest in the UAE. This visa is issued for a renewable period of up to ten years, depending on the visa category.

The Golden Visa enables residents to live, work and study in the UAE without an Emirati or UAE national sponsor. It also empowers investors with the ability to take full ownership of their business in the UAE.

The Golden Visa holder is allowed to stay outside the UAE beyond the typical six-month limit to maintain the validity of the residence visa. The family members of the Golden Visa holder can live and work in the UAE as well.

New changes to the Golden Visa

Since 3 October 2022, the UAE announced reforms of its Golden Visa rules, paving the way for more people to apply for golden residence visa. With the revised rules, the conditions of applying for 10-year visa have been eased, and made it available to a wider variety of applicants.

UAE golden visa allows the holders to sponsor their spouse and children, regardless of their age. Children who have special needs or extenuating medical conditions are also granted a residence permit, with no age limit.

Benefits of the Golden Visa

  • Issuing entry visa for six months with multiple entries until the long-term residence visa is issued;
  • Long-term, renewable residence visa valid for up to 10 years;
  • No sponsorship required by an employer;
  • Ability to stay outside the UAE for more than the usual restriction of six months to keep their residence visa valid;
  • Sponsoring spouse and children;
  • The ability to sponsor unlimited number of domestic helpers;
  • Allowing family members to stay in the UAE until the end of their permit duration, if the primary holder of the Golden Visa passes away.

There are other Golden Visa benefits specific to Dubai emirate, which are as follows:

Dubai Golden Visa

According to the authorities, Golden Visa holders in Dubai who have a driving license from their home country can now take the UAE driver’s license test without having to take any additional lessons.

Furthermore, Dubai Golden Visa holders who have a driver’s license from one of the 32 authorised countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, New Zealand, Qatar, Kuwait, and Ireland, will be immediately eligible for a UAE driver’s license.

Outstanding students and their families as well as being granted a 10-year Golden Visa in Dubai, will benefit from scholarship to study in international university branches in Dubai, to further their education.

Dubai Golden Visa holders will also be gifted the coveted Esaad privilege card which is issued by the Dubai Police and offers its members a host of exclusive offers and discounts.

Who is eligible under the new Golden Visa rules 2022?

  • Investors
  • Entrepreneurs and Start-up owners
  • Executive Directors
  • Outstanding students and graduates
  • Scientists
  • Specialists in Engineering and Science
  • Doctors
  • Exceptional talents (Culture & Art, Inventors & Innovators, Athletes)                 

Investors

Under this category, an investor can be granted the Golden Residency Visa for 5 or 10 years. It is automatically renewed if the same conditions are met.
Requirements:

Investor in an investment fund (commercial investor)

  • Applicant would require the company’s financial report for the previous year, made by the company’s financial auditor;
  • The company’s trade license and a copy of the list of partners;
  • A copy of the sponsored residency;
  • The company’s bank statement for the last 3 months;
  • The company’s VAT return for the previous year.

Investor in an investment fund (deposit)

  • A letter from the bank in Arabic form revealing a “fix deposit”. A note must be mentioned in the letter. (The fix deposit will not be broken for the next two years, OR in case the fix deposit was broken for any reason, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai must be notified);
  • A copy of the sponsored passport;
  • Tenancy contract.

Real estate investors

Real estate investors can receive the Golden Visa by investing AED 2 million into the country’s property market. This has prompted many Dubai residents to invest in real estate in order to obtain the Golden Visa long-term residency.

The new amendments also allow investors to obtain the Golden Residence when buying a property with a loan from a certain local bank. Furthermore, the Golden Visa can be obtained when investors purchase one or more off-plan properties from approved local real estate agencies for no less than AED 2 million.

The approval of the Ministry of Economy or the competent local authorities is required for initiatives or ideas.

Entrepreneurs and Start-up owners

This category is designed for global entrepreneurs and start-up investors seeking to relocate in the UAE and secure a long-term stay in the country. To be eligible for a UAE Golden Visa under this category one of the following requirements must be met:

  • Start-up investors can now receive a Golden Visa if their company is registered in the UAE and falls into the category of small and medium enterprises (SME) with annual revenues of AED 1 million or more.
  • You have obtained approval for a start-up idea from an official business incubator, the Ministry of Economy, or from a competent local authority.
  • The Golden Residence for Entrepreneurs can be earned if the individual is the founder or one of the founders of a previous entrepreneurial initiative that was sold for at least AED 7 million.

Executive Directors

Executive Directors can be granted a Golden Residency Visa for a period of 10 years without a sponsor and subject to renewal, if they meet the following criteria:

  • Executive Directors would require an “NOC” letter from the company that does not mind the golden residency, also mentioned that the service period is not less than 5 years as a general manager, executive director, or chairman of the board of directors;
  • Attested bachelor’s degree or higher degree;
  • Salary certificate which should not be less than AED 50,000 monthly;
  • Employment contract with the same profession and salary at the salary certificate;
  • Bank statement for the last 6 months.

Outstanding Students

Golden Residency Visa is granted to outstanding students for a period of 5 or 10 years, with automatic renewal, if the same conditions are met.

Requirements for a high school graduate:

  • A recommendation letter from the Ministry of Education;
  • Copy of the sponsored residency, applicable only for Dubai residents;
  • Copy of the sponsored passport.

Requirements for a university graduate:

  • Attested degree (bachelor’s degree or higher) along with the academic transcript;
  • Copy of the sponsored residency, applicable for Dubai residents only;
  • Copy of the sponsored passport.

Scientists

Scientists can be granted a 10-year Golden Visa if they meet the following criteria:

  • Have a PhD or Master’s degree from one of the world’s top universities in engineering, technology, life sciences, or natural sciences;
  • Applicants would require a recommendation letter from “Emirates Scientists Council” or a letter from “Rashid Award for Scientific outstanding” that he/she has been awarded the Medal of Scientific outstanding.

Specialists in Engineering and Science

Specialists and engineers in different fields who wish to obtain a 10-year Golden Visa must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicants would require an attested degree (bachelor’s degree or higher), or a letter of equivalency for the academic degree from the Ministry of Education (for certificates from outside the country);
  • A copy of the sponsored residency;
  • A work contract in one of the following disciplines: Epidemiology and Viruses, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Computer Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Genetic Engineering, Biotechnology Engineering.

Doctors

Doctors who wish to obtain a 10-year Golden Visa must provide the following documents, without a sponsor and subject to renewal.
Requirements:

  • Applicants would require a copy of their labour card;
  • A copy of labour contract from MOHRE;
  • A copy of the sponsored residency.

Exceptional talents (Art, culture, athlete, inventors)

Individuals with outstanding talent in the fields of art, culture, sports, innovation, medicine, and etc, are eligible to apply for the 10-year Golden Visa.

In order to apply for this visa a federal or local government entity’s recommendation or approval is required.

How much does the UAE Golden Visa cost?

The government fee of issuing a 10-year Golden Visa for candidates currently in the UAE is between AED 2,800 and AED 3,800, depending on the type of service and visa category. Applicants from outside the UAE will have to pay between AED 3,800 and AED 4,800.

In addition, there will be expenses for medical test, UAE health insurance, Emirates ID card, and possible professional fees.

The UAE Golden Visa scheme helps high-potential people easily make a home in the UAE along with their family members. For those already living in the UAE, the Golden Visa is a convenient step closer to exploring the full potential of their start-up idea.

Shanda Consult will be happy to assist you in obtaining a UAE Golden Visa. Please contact us through the contact form below.

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