Golden Visa criteria are set by the UAE authorities and can change. Confirm your eligibility with the Dubai Land Department before you buy.
What the Golden Visa is
The Golden Visa is a long-term, renewable UAE residence visa for qualifying investors, entrepreneurs, professionals and others. Investors can qualify through real estate. The property route grants a long-term renewable residence permit (issued for 10 years through the Dubai Land Department).
The property route
- Minimum value: property worth at least AED 2 million, which may be met by one property or several, owned in the applicant's own name.
- Off-plan: off-plan purchases may qualify under current rules; eligibility is confirmed by the DLD at the time of application.
- Mortgaged property: can qualify with a no-objection letter from the bank stating the amount paid and the balance.
- Joint ownership: jointly owned property is assessed on each owner's share, with specific rules for spouses. Confirm before buying.
Typical steps
- Confirm the criteria that apply to your situation with the official authorities.
- Choose a property that meets them and is a sound investment in its own right.
- Complete the purchase and its registration with the Dubai Land Department.
- Apply through the official channels with the documents requested.
My advice
Do not let the visa decide the property. A project bought only to reach a threshold can be a weak investment. I short-list projects that qualify and also pass the five qualification questions, so the residency comes with an asset you would want to own anyway.
Where to confirm
Check current requirements with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA), and the Dubai Land Department.
This guide is general information, not immigration or legal advice. Talk to me about Golden Visa-eligible projects.