UAE Golden Visa: the 10-year residency, explained
What you get
The Golden Visa is a 10-year, self-sponsored UAE residency. No employer sponsor is needed, you can switch jobs freely, and you sponsor your family for the full duration. For skilled professionals it is the strongest residency the UAE offers.
Who qualifies as a skilled professional
The commonly applied route for employed professionals:
- Monthly salary of AED 30,000 or more
- Bachelor degree or higher (attested)
- Employment in a priority field such as IT, engineering, healthcare or finance
- Valid UAE employment contract
Documents and process
Core documents: passport, attested degree, salary certificate, employment contract and health insurance. Government fees are indicative at roughly AED 2,800; processing typically takes 3–4 weeks. Investors, entrepreneurs and outstanding students have separate Golden Visa routes with their own criteria — verify the current list with ICP.
Frequently asked questions
What salary do I need for the Golden Visa?
For the skilled-professional route, AED 30,000 per month is the commonly applied threshold, combined with a degree and a priority profession.
Can Golden Visa holders change jobs?
Yes — the visa is not tied to an employer, so you can switch jobs without losing residency.
Does my family get residency too?
Yes, you can sponsor spouse and children for the full 10 years.
Am I Golden Visa material?
Run StayBuddy’s free eligibility check — it maps your salary, field and experience to the likely route in 2 minutes.