Key Points 

  • Introduced in 2019, the Golden Visa allows a long-term residence pathway for highly talented or skilled individuals

Overview  

In 2019, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)introduced a new pathway for long-term residence visa holders, known as the Golden Visa. This visa allows foreign nationals to live, work and study in the UAE without the need for employer sponsorship. These visa types have a validity period of five to 10 years and can be renewed automatically. The Golden Visa can be granted for the  following categories of applicants: 

  • Inventors; 
  • Entrepreneurs; 
  • Specialized talents and researchers in various fields of science and knowledge; 
  • Highly talented students with promising scientific capacities 

For additional information concerning eligibility and conditions, click here. The application for the Golden Visa can be found here.  

What are the Changes? 

The government of the UAE introduced the Golden Visa in 2019 to provide a long-term residence pathway to entrepreneurs, investors, and individuals holding special talents and skills. In addition, applicants do not require employer sponsorship to be eligible for this visa type.

Looking Ahead  

Continue to check the government of the UAE's website and Envoy's website for the latest updates and information.  

Originally published 18 February 2022

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.