What is the UAE Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa for Skilled Professionals is a 10-year renewable residence permit for employed professionals classified at Level 1 or 2 by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
Unlike standard employment visas, it is self-sponsored — not tied to any employer. You can change jobs, start a business, or become self-employed without affecting your residence.
The visa requires a minimum basic salary of AED 30,000 a month (allowances excluded), a bachelor's degree attested by the UAE Ministry of Education, and evidence of maintaining this salary. Final approval comes from the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
Note: This information is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
Do you qualify?
You must meet four requirements for the Golden Visa (Skilled Professional category). All four must be met simultaneously — missing any one means the application will be refused.
Your MOHRE-registered contract must show a basic salary of at least AED 30,000 per month (allowances excluded), evidenced by 6 months of matching bank statements. The salary rules and common pitfalls are covered in the FAQs.
Your job must be classified by MOHRE at Level 1 (managers and executives) or Level 2 (professionals in science, engineering, health, education, business, IT, law and culture).
You must hold at least a bachelor's degree, attested by the UAE Ministry of Education. Foreign degrees need an equivalency certificate (mu'adala) — the most common cause of delays.
Regulated professionals — doctors, pharmacists, teachers, engineers and similar — must hold a valid UAE practising licence from the relevant authority.
The 2026 salary requirements
The Golden Visa salary threshold is straightforward but strictly enforced. Only basic salary counts, and the enforcement is exact.
What counts as basic salary: only the figure in the Basic column of your MOHRE-registered contract. Housing allowance, transport allowance and all other benefits are excluded. If your basic pay is AED 28,000 with AED 7,000 in allowances (total AED 35,000), you do not qualify — the basic figure alone must be at least AED 30,000.
The bank statement trap: GDRFA reviews your bank statements for the previous 6 consecutive months. If your monthly transfer falls even slightly short of AED 30,000 — because of bank fees, a half-day deduction for leave, or a payroll timing issue — your application can be denied. Ensure your bank credits match your contract exactly for 6 months before applying.
Note on figures: the UAE has zero income tax. AED 30,000 a month basic is approximately USD 8,170 or GBP 6,450. At this level, total compensation with allowances is typically AED 40,000–55,000 a month.
What you need to apply
You apply through the ICP or GDRFA portal, or through an Amer service centre in Dubai. The employer does not file this application — you do, with the employer's cooperation for salary verification.
This information is for guidance only and does not constitute immigration advice. Requirements change — verify current figures at the official government source before applying.
Application timeline
From gathering documents to receiving the Golden Visa typically takes 2–6 weeks. The main variable is degree attestation and Ministry of Education equivalency — if not already completed, this step can add 4–8 weeks.
Most common delay: degree attestation and Ministry of Education equivalency. This is the single biggest bottleneck. If your degree is not already attested and equivalency-certified, the process involves multiple government bodies across two countries and can take 4–8 weeks. Start this well before applying.
Confirm your MOHRE contract shows AED 30,000+ basic salary and Level 1 or 2 classification. Verify your degree has full UAE Ministry of Education equivalency. Collect 6 months of bank statements showing exact salary matches. Obtain a salary certificate from your employer.
Handled by: you
Apply through the ICP portal, GDRFA (Dubai), or the TAMM portal (Abu Dhabi). Government and Amer processing fees typically exceed AED 10,000 in total, including medical, Emirates ID and service centre fees where applicable.
Handled by: you
The ICP or GDRFA reviews the application, verifying salary, classification, qualification and professional licence where applicable. Processing typically takes 1–3 weeks.
Handled by: ICP / GDRFA
On approval, the 10-year Golden Visa is issued and linked to your Emirates ID. Your existing employer-tied residence visa is replaced. You are now self-sponsored — your residence is no longer tied to any employer.
Handled by: you
Frequently asked questions
Yes — this is the Golden Visa's defining advantage. Your residence is self-sponsored and not tied to any employer. You can change jobs, start a business, become self-employed, or take a career break without affecting your residence status.
If you take a job with a UAE company, the employer still needs to issue a MOHRE work permit, but the process is faster than a standard employment visa because the medical, Emirates ID and visa stamping steps are already done.
Yes. Golden Visa holders can sponsor spouse and dependent children. You must maintain comprehensive health insurance for all dependants.
Family members receive their own long-term residence visas linked to the Golden Visa holder.
No. The Golden Visa is a 10-year renewable residence visa, not a pathway to citizenship. UAE citizenship is granted at the discretion of the government and is extremely rare for expatriates.
The Golden Visa provides the most stable long-term residence available to non-citizens, but it is not permanent in the legal sense — it must be renewed and can be cancelled if eligibility conditions change.
Budget AED 10,000–15,000 for the application. This covers government processing fees, Amer service centre fees in Dubai, medical examination (AED 500–700), Emirates ID (AED 370), and typing/service centre fees (AED 200–500).
Add degree attestation costs if not already completed (AED 750–2,000 for home country attestation, plus UAE-side MOFA and Ministry of Education fees). This is a candidate cost — the employer does not pay for the Golden Visa.
No. Only the basic salary on your MOHRE-registered contract qualifies. If your basic is AED 25,000 with AED 10,000 in allowances (total AED 35,000), you do not meet the threshold.
Speak to your employer about restructuring the contract to increase the basic component — some employers will do this to help employees qualify.
Yes. The Golden Visa is a federal programme and applies regardless of whether you work on the mainland, in a Free Zone, or in a government entity.
The AED 30,000 basic salary, MOHRE Level 1–2 classification and degree attestation requirements are the same. Free Zone employees may process through the Free Zone's service centre or directly through ICP/GDRFA.
The Golden Visa threshold is AED 30,000 basic monthly salary with no flexibility. If you are below this level, the standard employment visa — mainland or Free Zone — is the available route.
As your salary grows you can apply for the Golden Visa later; there is no restriction on applying while already resident on an employment visa.
Every job listed on Workbeyond is from employers who sponsor international talent to work in the United Arab Emirates. Use the filters to find roles that match your criteria and salary goals.
Find visa sponsored jobs in UAE
Every job listed on Workbeyond is from employers who sponsor international talent to work in the United Arab Emirates. Use the filters to narrow by profession, city and seniority level to find roles that match your criteria.
If the Golden Visa is your goal, filter for senior roles and check the basic salary component in any offer — not just total compensation. That single figure determines eligibility.
Planning a move? See the UAE destination guide, or read how to move to Dubai with a job and a visa.
Other visas you may qualify for
The UAE's standard employer-sponsored work visa. Fast 2–4 week processing, zero income tax, and all visa costs paid by the employer by law.
The UAE's employment visa for Free Zone companies. Faster and cheaper than the mainland route, with zero income tax — but work is restricted to your Free Zone.