UAE Golden Visa Explained: Rules, Eligibility, And How To Apply In 2025

The United Arab Emirates has become a top destination for expats, offering a variety of visa options designed to attract global talent. Since 2019, the UAE Golden Visa programme has allowed long-term residency—valid for five or ten years—with benefits such as multiple entry visas, renewable residency, and the ability to sponsor family members and domestic staff. Until now, Indians seeking the Golden Visa typically had to invest at least AED two million in property or make a substantial business investment in the UAE. However, the UAE government recently introduced a new nomination-based Golden Visa, allowing qualified individuals to obtain residency without the hefty investment, though some conditions still apply.Under this new nomination-based visa policy, Indians can now secure the UAE Golden Visa for life by paying a fee of AED 100,000 (around Rs 23.30 lakh), according to a report in PTI. Over 5,000 Indians are expected to apply within the first three months.India and Bangladesh have been selected for the initial phase of this visa rollout, with consultancy firm Rayad Group appointed to manage the process in India. According to the PTI report, Rayad Kamal Ayub, Managing Director of Rayad Group, called it a golden opportunity for Indians to obtain the UAE’s coveted Golden Visa.Who Can ApplyAccording to Rayad Kamal, when someone applies for the Golden Visa, the UAE authorities will begin by conducting a thorough background check. This includes screening for money laundering, criminal records, and even reviewing social media activity. The evaluation also assesses how the applicant could contribute to the UAE’s economy and society—whether through culture, finance, trade, science, startups, or professional services.Once this initial screening is complete, Rayad Group will forward the application to the government, which makes the final decision on granting the nomination-based Golden Visa.How To ApplyAccording to the PTI reports, applicants applying for the UAE Golden Visa under the nomination category can now receive pre-approval from their home country without needing to travel to Dubai. Submissions can be made through One VASCO centres—a visa concierge service—in India and Bangladesh, as well as through their registered offices, online portal, or dedicated call centre. Once granted the Golden Visa, holders gain the ability to sponsor family members to join them in Dubai. The visa also allows sponsoring domestic staff like drivers and servants, and holders are free to pursue any business or professional activity in the UAE. Unlike the property-based Golden Visa, which expires if the property is sold or divided, the nomination-based visa is valid indefinitely.The Golden Visa nomination programme is a special initiative between the UAE and countries that have signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the Emirates. Currently launched as a pilot project, this programme initially includes India and Bangladesh, with plans to expand soon to China and other CEPA partner nations. Under this scheme, applicants are carefully screened by authorised agencies—Rayad Group and VFS Global—who assess eligibility before forwarding approved applications to the UAE government for final approval.Moving OutOver the past five years, more than six lakh Indians have renounced their citizenship, primarily seeking stronger passports, greater travel freedom, and better opportunities abroad. According to figures from the Ministry of External Affairs, 216,219 Indians gave up their citizenship in 2023—a slight decrease from 225,620 in 2022. The numbers were 163,370 in 2021, 85,256 in 2020, and 144,017 in 2019.Golden VisasMany countries provide "Golden Visa" programmes—also called residency-by-investment schemes—that grant residency permits in return for certain investments. In Europe, popular destinations include Portugal, Spain, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus, while in the Caribbean, countries like St. Kitts and Nevis and Dominica also offer such programmes. Portugal’s well-known Golden Visa allows applicants to gain residency through multiple investment avenues, such as real estate purchases or capital transfers. Spain’s programme grants residency for investments in real estate, businesses, or government bonds. Greece primarily focuses its Golden Visa on real estate investments. Malta offers two options: a Golden Visa and a Permanent Residence Programme, both providing residency through investment. Cyprus also has a Golden Visa scheme, with investment choices that include real estate and other sectors.UAE Introduces Visa-On-Arrival For Indian Nationals With US, UK, Or EU Visas