You can obtain a ten-year Golden Visa upon buying a property (built or Off-Plan property) with a value of no less than AED 2 million, and visas can also be issued to the holder’s spouse and children.
FAQs
- Can I get a visa if I have an off-plan property? Yes you can, if it is paid up to AED2m
- What are the costs to get the Golden Visa? About AED2,500 but you will also need health insurance for all visa holders (including your family).
- Can I get a Golden Visa if my property is Mortgaged? Yes, if you have equity in it of 2m.
- Can I get a Golden Visa if I am abroad? Yes, you can apply from outside, but you will need to visit Abu Dhabi to complete the process.
- Can I get a Golden Visa if I have never been a resident of the UAE? Yes, you can, but you will need to visit Abu Dhabi to complete the process.
Benefits of the golden visa:
- A real estate investor can obtain golden visa for 10 years.
- The golden visa is a long-term residence visas enables successful applicants to live, work, study and invest in the UAE without an Emirati or UAE national sponsor.
- Golden visas present the additional benefit of enabling bearers to attain 100% ownership of their business on the UAE mainland.
- Upon receiving the golden visa, applicant may begin the process to sponsor family members.
- Golden visa holders are exempt from the rule which states that residents cannot be outside of the UAE for more than six consecutive months, however, golden visa holders cannot stay outside of the country for more than one year
- No travel bans for golden visa holder.
Conditions of obtaining the golden visa:
- Mortgage is permitted for real estate property (Off-plan or built) worth more than AED 2,000,000. The value of the investor’s capital needs to be at least AED 2,000,000. For instance, if a property is worth AED 5,000,000, the outstanding mortgage principal cannot exceed AED 3,000,000.
- Must fully own a real estate property or properties of a minimal value of AED 2,000,000 without a mortgage.
- Must maintain the investment for at least 3 years after the issuing of the Golden Visa.
- In the event where the property is sold; the real estate investor must produce evidence that they have purchased another property within six months following disposal of the property, or they may transfer the Golden Visa to another category provided that they satisfy the legally established conditions for the other category.
Granting a visa is subject to the following conditions:
- The investor must invest in a property of a gross value of not less than AED 2 million.
- The amount invested in real estate must not be on loan basis.
- The property must be retained for at least three years.
- That the investor’s financial liability is not burdened by civil claims or judgments that detract from his financial solvency.
Documents required to obtain the golden visa:
- A copy of a passport, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A coloured photo
- Identity receipt
- Health fitness certificate approved by the ministry
- A copy of health insurance
- Lease contract
- Proof of eligibility for golden residence
- Proof of ownership of the property
- Real Estate Registration Department
The following process applies for domestic customers inside the country:
Nomination request for golden residency (ICA price – AED 55)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- Proof of eligibility for golden residency is required
- Proof of ownership of the property is required (pre-registration for Title Deed, obtained through ADM using SPA)
- Real Estate Registration Department (to prove that the real estate is not loaned or mortgaged) in the relevant emirate, including property valuation
Issuance of golden visa (ICA price – AED 305)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A colored photograph is required
- Proof of ownership of the property is required
- Real Estate Registration Department (to prove that the real estate is not loaned or mortgaged)
Issuance of change visa status (ICA price – AED 555)
- Original Emirates ID is required (requires in-person visit by customer)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A copy of the previous visa or residency
Issuance of Emirates ID for resident (ICA price – AED 554, fast track – AED 150)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A copy of the entry visa or change visa status document
- A copy of the Emirates ID is required, if any
Medical examination (MOH fees – AED 150, VIP – AED 500)
- This must be completed by the customer in person
- There are VIP services available to make the process smoother (pick-up and drop-off)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A copy of the entry visa or change visa status document
Issuance of health insurance (fee depends on companies and packages)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A copy of the entry visa or change visa status document
- A colored photograph is required
- Emirates ID receipt is required
Issuance of golden residency (ICA price – AED 305)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A colored photograph is required
- Emirates ID receipt is required
- Health fitness certificate approved by the ministry is required
- A copy of health insurance is required
- Lease contract is required
- Proof of eligibility for golden residency required
- Proof of ownership of the property is required
- Real Estate Registration Department (to prove that the real estate is not loaned or mortgaged) in the relevant emirate, including property valuation
The following process applies for international customers outside the country:
Nomination request for golden residency (ICA price – AED 55)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- Proof of eligibility for golden residency is required
- Proof of ownership of the property is required (pre-registration for Title Deed, obtained through ADM using SPA)
- Real Estate Registration Department (to prove that the real estate is not loaned or mortgaged) in the relevant emirate, including property valuation
Issuance of golden visa (ICA price – AED 305)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A colored photograph is required
- Proof of ownership of the property is required
- Real Estate Registration Department (to prove that the real estate is not loaned or mortgaged)
Issuance of Emirates ID for resident (ICA price – AED 554, fast track – AED 150)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A copy of the entry visa or change visa status document
- A copy of the Emirates ID is required, if any
Medical examination (MOH fees – AED 150, VIP – AED 500)
- This must be completed by the customer in person
- The customer is required to fly into the country to complete this process if they are not already here as part of the fly-in program
- There are VIP services available to make the process smoother (pick-up and drop-off)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A copy of the entry visa or change visa status document
Issuance of health insurance (fee depends on companies and packages)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A copy of the entry visa or change visa status document
- A colored photograph is required
- Emirates ID receipt is required
Issuance of golden residency (ICA price – AED 305)
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A colored photograph is required
- Emirates ID receipt is required
- Health fitness certificate approved by the ministry is required
- A copy of health insurance is required
- Lease contract is required
- Proof of eligibility for golden residency required
- Proof of ownership of the property is required
- Real Estate Registration Department (to prove that the real estate is not loaned or mortgaged) in the relevant emirate, including property valuation
Documents required for the issuance of an entry permit to a real-estate investor in the UAE, based on the purchase of a property valued at no less than AED 2 million (benefits extend to spouse and children):
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A recent passport photograph
- A letter from the Real Estate Registration Department in the relevant emirate stating that the individual owns one or more properties valued at no less than AED 2 million, and that the property is not subject to a loan
- Proof of property ownership in the UAE
Documents required for the issuance of a residency permit to a real-estate investor in the UAE, based on the purchase of a property valued at no less than AED 2 million (benefits extend to spouse and children):
- A passport copy is required, valid for a period of no less than 6 months
- A recent passport photograph
- Medical examination certificate declaring individual as medically fit
- Health insurance is valid for no less than one year, and is renewable
- Copy of Emirates ID card registration form
