UAE Golden Visa

UAE Golden Visa support, with our partner UAE law firm on the legal work.

The UAE Golden Visa is open to investors with UAE property or a public investment of at least AED 2 million, and to senior skilled professionals earning at least AED 30,000 a month, among other categories (ICP, checked 18 October 2026). The UAE Golden Visa is a self-sponsored, renewable 5- or 10-year residence visa that lets investors, entrepreneurs, talents, and their families live in the UAE without an employer or local sponsor. We map your category, prepare the evidence with you, and organise the ICP or GDRFA filing steps with our partner UAE law firm.

Movingto is a Portugal-first immigration firm that publishes its fees. On UAE cases, the legal work is done by our partner UAE law firm.

Updated .

First call: leave with your likely category, the evidence each one needs, the ICP or GDRFA path, medical and Emirates ID dependencies, family scope, and the next decision mapped.

Researching the route first? Read the full UAE Golden Visa guide

What you get

What we handle on your UAE Golden Visa.

The main risk is committing to a property or a route before the category, evidence, and filing path have been checked. We map the category decision and the filing sequence with our partner UAE law firm, so the order is right.

01

Category-fit memo

Profile, budget, salary or investment, family scope, and timeline organised against the investor, public-investment, talent, skilled-professional, and entrepreneur routes for legal review.

02

Evidence and document brief

Property title or DLD valuation, fund or company proof, salary or nomination letters, attestations, health insurance, and family records mapped to the chosen category.

03

ICP or GDRFA filing path

Federal ICP versus Dubai GDRFA route, entry permit, status change, and the document dependencies sequenced before submission so nothing stalls.

04

Emirates ID and family plan

Medical fitness, Emirates ID, residence issuance, and sponsorship of spouse, children, parents, and domestic staff kept in one path, with renewal planned from the start.

Category fit

Which UAE Golden Visa category fits you?

The AED 2 million property route, the public-investment route (an AED 2 million deposit or company stake, or at least AED 250,000 a year in federal tax), and the talent and salary routes each need different evidence. Those questions need review before a deposit or a contract.

Self-sponsored

Do you have to live in the UAE on a Golden Visa?

No minimum stay applies. The Golden Visa is self-sponsored, the UAE Government Portal confirms holders can stay outside the UAE for more than the usual six months, and GDRFA Dubai says holders are exempt from the 180-day rule. Health insurance for you and your family must stay valid.

Tax

No personal income tax

The UAE levies no personal income tax on salaries: Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 taxes businesses, and individuals only on business activity. A qualified tax adviser handles corporate tax, VAT, and home-country obligations.

Filing steps

How the UAE filing is prepared

We map the category decision, prepare the evidence with you, and organise the filing sequence with our partner UAE law firm.

Professional scope

Specialist property and tax review

We map the route and evidence. Property advice, investment advice, and tax advice stay with the relevant specialists.

Who this fits

Why use Movingto for a UAE Golden Visa case?

A UAE Golden Visa case can stall when a property or a category is chosen before the evidence and filing path are checked. Movingto is useful when category fit, document readiness, and the ICP or GDRFA filing need to stay connected in one sequence.

Good fit for

  • Investors comparing the AED 2 million property route against public investment or fund routes
  • Skilled professionals and executives weighing the salary route (at least AED 30,000 a month) or a talent nomination
  • Founders and entrepreneurs checking SME, startup, or exit-founder eligibility
  • Families that need spouse, children, parents, and domestic-staff sponsorship mapped alongside the main file
  • Applicants comparing the UAE with Portugal, Greece, or Italy golden-visa routes

Not the right fit for

  • Anyone seeking property investment advice or rental-yield forecasts from Movingto
  • Applicants wanting a visa approval guarantee or a fixed authority processing promise
  • People seeking UAE or home-country tax advice directly from Movingto
  • Cases with unclear property title, valuation, or category eligibility
  • Applicants who want legal opinions issued by Movingto rather than by our partner UAE law firm

Service scope

How the route is managed.

You get a managed route, evidence plan, and filing handoff. Property, legal, tax, and authority decisions are handled by the proper professionals, institutions, or authorities.

Included workstreams
4
Professional scope
Clear
Delivery scopeMovingto delivery and specialist scope
Managed by Movingto

UAE Golden Visa category assessment

We map profile, budget, salary or investment, family scope, timing, and route alternatives against the current ICP and GDRFA categories.

Managed by Movingto

Evidence and document planning

We organise property valuation, investment proof, salary or nomination letters, attestations, insurance, and family records for the chosen category.

Managed by Movingto

ICP or GDRFA filing steps and Emirates ID

We organise the entry permit, status change, medical fitness, Emirates ID, and residence issuance with our partner UAE law firm, in the right order.

Managed by Movingto

Family sponsorship and renewal roadmap

We keep spouse, children, parents, and domestic-staff sponsorship, plus maintained-eligibility evidence and renewal timing, visible from the start.

Handled by the relevant specialist

Property, tax, or investment advice

Property suitability, tax treatment, financial planning, rental-yield forecasts, and investment recommendations are handled by the qualified specialist responsible for that scope.

Handled by the relevant specialist

Authority outcome guarantees

Movingto does not control ICP or GDRFA decisions, appointment availability, processing times, or issuance and renewal outcomes.

Case path

How does the UAE Golden Visa process work?

Each stage ends with a decision, evidence list, or legal handoff so the investment and the residence file do not drift apart.

Case path05 managed stages
  1. Step 1 of 5

    Confirm category fit

    Check profile, budget, salary or investment, family scope, and timing, and confirm which Golden Visa category fits before any deposit or contract.

  2. Step 2 of 5

    Assemble category evidence

    Gather property valuation or investment proof, salary or nomination letters, attestations, insurance, and family documents with our partner UAE law firm.

  3. Step 3 of 5

    File via ICP or GDRFA

    Choose the federal ICP or Dubai GDRFA path, lodge the application and entry permit, and sequence any status change for applicants already in the UAE. ICP grants eligible applicants outside the UAE a six-month multiple-entry visa, renewable for six more months, to complete the steps.

  4. Step 4 of 5

    Complete medical and Emirates ID

    Sequence the medical fitness test, Emirates ID enrolment, and residence issuance, then add family and domestic-staff sponsorship.

  5. Step 5 of 5

    Plan renewal and maintenance

    Keep maintained-eligibility evidence, family residence, insurance, and renewal timing on the plan so the five or ten-year term stays clean.

Eligibility

What are the UAE Golden Visa requirements by category?

CategoryMain thresholdTerm
Real-estate investorOne or more UAE properties worth at least AED 2,000,000 in total, in your name; off-plan from an approved developer, or financed by an approved local bank, can count10 years (ICP guide); u.ae lists 5 years
Public investorAED 2,000,000 deposit with an investment fund or UAE national bank, or AED 2,000,000 company capital or stake, or a company paying at least AED 250,000 a year in federal tax; capital not from a loan10 years
Skilled professionalSenior occupational level (MoHRE level 1 or 2), bachelor's degree, valid UAE work permit and contract, monthly salary of at least AED 30,00010 years
EntrepreneurUAE SME with annual revenue of at least AED 1,000,000, an approved business idea, or past ventures sold for at least AED 7,000,00010 years (ICP guide); u.ae lists 5 years
Talent and specialistsRecommendation from the relevant authority, for example for scientists, healthcare, education, culture and arts, or athletes10 years

Source: ICP Golden Residency Guide and the UAE Government Portal (u.ae) Golden visa page, checked 18 October 2026. Health insurance is required for the holder and family members.

Government fees

What does a Dubai property Golden Visa cost in government fees?

Dubai Land Department fee itemAED
Medical examination700
Emirates ID (10 years)1,153
Residence permit confirmation (10 years)2,856.75
Dubai Land Department fees4,020
Administrative fees1,155
Total for the investor9,884.75
Family member or parent permit (10 years), each5,774.50
Family sponsorship file opening318.75
Added per sponsored person100

Source: Dubai Land Department, Golden Visa application - Investor, checked 18 October 2026. Government fees only, separate from Movingto's fee. GDRFA Dubai's own investor-permit service lists different fees.

Evidence

Evidence you can check.

Scope, professional ownership, and credential claims stay tied to source pages instead of sitting as unsupported marketing copy.

Source
Golden Residency Guide: categories, AED 2 million investor and AED 30,000 salary tests

ICP, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port SecurityChecked 18 October 2026

View source
Source
Issuing a golden residence permit (investors)

GDRFA DubaiChecked 18 October 2026

View source
Source
Golden Visa application - Investor (AED 9,884.75 fees)

Dubai Land DepartmentChecked 18 October 2026

View source
Source
Golden visa: 5 or 10 years, eligible categories

UAE Government Portal (u.ae)Checked 18 October 2026

View source
Source
Cabinet Decision No. 116 of 2022: 0% up to AED 375,000 of taxable income

UAE Ministry of FinanceChecked 18 October 2026

View source
Source
Corporate tax in the UAE (Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022, 9% rate)

UAE Ministry of FinanceChecked 18 October 2026

View source
Source
Value Added Tax: standard rate of 5%

UAE Ministry of FinanceChecked 18 October 2026

View source

Common questions

Questions before you engage.

What is included in the UAE Golden Visa service?

The service covers category-fit review, document and evidence planning, the ICP or GDRFA filing path, entry permit and status change, medical and Emirates ID sequencing, family and domestic-staff sponsorship, and renewal planning. The filing is prepared with our partner UAE law firm, and tax and property advice stay with the relevant specialists.

Which Golden Visa category do I qualify for?

Common routes are UAE property worth at least AED 2 million; a public investment, such as an AED 2 million deposit or company stake, or a company paying at least AED 250,000 a year in federal tax; a skilled professional at a senior occupational level (MoHRE level 1 or 2) with a bachelor's degree and a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000; an entrepreneur with a UAE SME earning at least AED 1 million a year, an approved business idea, or past ventures sold for at least AED 7 million; or a talent nomination (ICP, checked 18 October 2026). We map your profile to the current categories before you commit.

How much do I need to invest?

The property and public-investment routes start at AED 2 million (ICP). Off-plan units bought from an approved developer and property financed by an approved local bank can count; for a mortgaged Dubai property, Dubai Land Department asks for a bank letter showing AED 2 million paid. Public-investment capital must not come from a loan. The exact evidence depends on the route and is confirmed with our partner UAE law firm before funds move.

Do I need to live in the UAE?

The Golden Visa has no minimum-stay requirement and, unlike standard UAE residence visas, is not cancelled after six months abroad, provided insurance and obligations stay current. Tax residency is a separate question and needs adviser review.

Can I include my family?

Yes. ICP lists residence permits for a spouse and children, regardless of their age, and for parents, and holders can sponsor domestic workers under the applicable rules. We map identity and family records, insurance, and timing before relying on family scope.

Will I pay tax in the UAE?

The UAE levies no personal income tax on salaries. A 9% corporate tax applies to taxable income above AED 375,000 (Cabinet Decision No. 116 of 2022), and VAT is 5% (UAE Ministry of Finance, checked 18 October 2026). Your home-country tax obligations are separate, so confirm your position with a cross-border tax adviser.

How long does the process take?

Timing depends on the category, document readiness, the entry permit, medical and Emirates ID steps, and authority processing. Dubai Land Department lists 7 to 10 business days for its investor Golden Visa service, and GDRFA Dubai lists an expected 5 days for its investor permit, once the file is complete. We map the expected sequence before filing, but do not promise a fixed authority timeline.

Is the UAE Golden Visa valid for 5 or 10 years?

It depends on the category and the authority. The UAE Government Portal lists 5 or 10 years, with 5 years for real-estate investors, while ICP's Golden Residency Guide, GDRFA Dubai, and Dubai Land Department give property investors a 10-year permit, renewable while the conditions are met (checked 18 October 2026). We confirm the term for your category before you file.

What are the government fees for a Dubai property Golden Visa?

Dubai Land Department lists AED 9,884.75 for the investor's 10-year permit: AED 700 medical, AED 1,153 Emirates ID, AED 2,856.75 residence permit, AED 4,020 Dubai Land Department fees, and AED 1,155 administration. Each family member or parent costs AED 5,774.50, plus AED 318.75 to open the family file and AED 100 per sponsored person (checked 18 October 2026). These are government fees, separate from Movingto's fee.

Do I need to be in the UAE to apply?

For Dubai Land Department's investor service, yes: the applicant must be inside the UAE and attend in person, and a representative cannot apply for you. ICP grants eligible applicants who are outside the UAE a six-month multiple-entry visa, renewable for six more months, to complete the Golden Residency steps.

How much does Movingto charge for the UAE Golden Visa?

The UAE Golden Visa is priced per case: Movingto's pricing page lists it as Get a quote. It is a fully managed service, with the legal work done by our partner UAE law firm. The first consultation is free, and your written quote confirms the fee and scope before you commit. Government fees are separate.

Private advisory call

Get your UAE Golden Visa route reviewed before you commit.

Bring your budget, salary or investment, family scope, property ideas, and timing. We will confirm the likely category, the evidence each one needs, and the filing path with our partner UAE law firm.

First call covers

Leave with a clearer category decision, evidence plan, and next steps.

Route fit
Country, visa category, family members, and timing.
Scope
Documents, legal work, tax points, and investment boundaries.
Next steps
What to prepare for the Movingto team and any relevant specialists.
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