UAE golden visa nomination: How it works
There is a simple process of submitting a nomination application if you meet the criteria
The UAE golden visa is a long-term residence visa that allows expats with special talents to live, work or study in the UAE.
Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes are among those eligible for the golden visa.
Also, if you are an Indian, here's how it just got a little easier for you to get a UAE golden visa.
Tenure of the golden visa
The golden visa can be valid for either five or 10 years, depending on the category. It is renewable at the end of the tenure, provided all conditions are met.
What are the benefits?
One of the most important privileges of a golden visa is not requiring a sponsor for the residency. Usually, all expats working in the UAE are required to have a sponsorship from their employer. The employer then sponsors his family members.
Also, holders of golden visas can stay outside the UAE for longer than six months at a stretch. Usually, a UAE residence visa would expire if the resident is outside the UAE for six months continuously.
Golden visa holders can also sponsor their family members and children regardless of their ages. They can also sponsor unlimited number of domestic help.
In the unfortunate event that the primary golden visa holder dies, the family members can remain in the country for the entire duration that their permit is valid.
Nomination for golden visas
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has listed guidelines for submitting nominations for the golden visa. If you are a UAE resident, here are the steps you should follow.
Visit the ICP smartservices website
Select ‘golden services’
You will get two options – ‘inside UAE’ or ‘outside UAE’. Select the first one.
On the next page, click on ‘nomination request’
You will now see three options on the next page – ‘service card’, ‘start service’ and ‘application tracking’.
Click on ‘service card’
The ‘service card’ page provides details of requirements, terms and conditions, service channels, procedures, working hours, required documents and service fees. Go through these sections carefully and ensure that you have the required documents.
Once all the documents are ready, select ‘start service’
Here, the first section – Nominated Golden Visa Category – will allow you to select the category and sub-category for which you are applying.
In the following section, the applicant must enter their Unified Number or Identity Number, and select the emirate in the next field.
Enter your name, current nationality, passport number, gender, date of birth, country of birth, profession, and contact details such as phone number and email address.
On the next page, you are required to submit the required documents as attachments.
Then, the applicant must review his/her application and pay the fees.
Recommendation required
Outstanding talents such as artists and cultural figures must have a recommendation or approval from the relevant governmental cultural authorities in the UAE.
Innovators and inventors, including individuals with patents that provide added value to the UAE economy, must have a recommendation or approval from the Ministry of Economy or the relevant local authority.
Athletes must obtain a recommendation or approval from the General Authority of Sports or local sports councils.
Meanwhile, talents in digital technology must have a recommendation or approval from the UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transactions.
Exceptional talents in any other category must have a recommendation or approval from the relevant federal or local governmental authorities.
Scientists and specialists such as presidents and CEOs need to provide an attested copy of the university degree, and a salary certificate of no less than Dh30,000.
What is the fee?
Applicants must pay an e-services fee of Dh28, ICP fee of Dh22, and smart services fee of Dh100.
What if the application is rejected?
The application will be automatically rejected if the required data is not completed within 30 days from the return date, or if the application is returned three times due to missing information or incomplete documents.
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