Talent Visa

Golden Visa (Talented Individuals)

🎓 Qualifications
Granted based on exceptional talent and achievement; no income or salary requirement for merit-based categories
  • Scientists and researchers with high citations (H-index 10+)
  • Doctors with Ministry of Health approval
  • Creative professionals with international recognition (including content creators)
  • Inventors with patents of economic value
  • Athletes with outstanding achievements
  • Digital technology specialists
  • Frontline heroes (nurses, paramedics with 15+ years service)
  • Skilled professionals (AED 30,000/month salary, bachelor's degree)
⏱️ Duration
10 years, renewable if conditions continue to be met
👪 Dependants
Yes
Spouse, children of any age, parents, and unlimited domestic helpers
🛂 Citizenship Path
Yes
The Golden Visa is itself a long-term residence permit (10 years). It does not directly lead to UAE citizenship, which is granted only by the UAE President under Federal Decree-Law No. 16 of 2017

The UAE Golden Visa for Talented Individuals is a 10-year renewable residence permit for foreign nationals who demonstrate exceptional ability or outstanding achievement in fields of importance to the country. Unlike other Golden Visa categories, the merit-based talent stream is granted purely on achievement — it requires no employment contract, minimum salary, or specific educational qualification. The program is self-sponsored, meaning no local employer or guarantor is needed, and holders are exempt from the 180-day absence rule. A separate Skilled Professionals pathway exists for employed professionals earning AED 30,000+ monthly.

Requirements

Applicants must fall into one of the following talent categories and obtain a nomination or recommendation letter from the relevant UAE authority:

  • Scientists and researchers: High achievements and citations. Must have a Master's or PhD from a top-ranked university with a Field Weighted Citation Index of 1.0+ and H-index of 10+ (exemption available at H-index 20+). Nominated by the Emirates Council of Scientists.
  • Doctors: Must hold Ministry of Health approval to practice. Nominated by the Ministry of Health.
  • Creative professionals: International recognition in culture and arts, including content creators with Ministry of Culture and Youth approval. Three tiers in Abu Dhabi: Pioneers (global recognition, international awards), Top Talents (regional recognition), and Distinguished Professionals (5+ years with published works). Nominated by the Ministry of Culture and Youth or Department of Culture and Arts.
  • Inventors: Patents of economic value to the UAE. Nominated by the Ministry of Economy.
  • Athletes: Outstanding achievements in their sport. Nominated by the General Sports Authority.
  • Digital technology specialists: Nominated by the UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transactions.
  • Frontline heroes: Nurses, paramedics, medical assistants, laboratory technicians, and pharmacist technicians. In May 2025, nurses at Dubai Health with 15+ years of continuous service were granted Golden Visas.
  • Senior scholars and clerics: With relevant authority recommendation.
  • Elite specialists in education: With recommendation from Ministry of Education or Abu Dhabi Department of Education & Knowledge.

Skilled Professionals Pathway

A separate pathway exists for employed professionals requiring: a valid UAE employment contract at MOHRE occupational Level 1 or 2, minimum monthly salary of AED 30,000 (verified through salary certificate and 6 months of bank statements), and a minimum bachelor's degree.

No minimum income is required for the merit-based talent categories. Applicants must demonstrate financial independence.

Required Documents
  • Colored personal photograph
  • Passport copy (valid 6+ months)
  • Nomination or recommendation letter from the relevant UAE authority
  • Portfolio or CV demonstrating achievements
  • Health insurance copy
  • Scientists additionally: academic credentials with Ministry of Education equivalency certificate, citation index and H-index documentation
  • Creative professionals: samples of creative work, evidence of international recognition
  • Inventors: patent certificate
  • Skilled professionals: salary certificate, 6 months bank statements, bachelor's degree, practicing license if applicable
Duration & Renewal

The visa is granted for 10 years and renewable for the same period, provided the conditions that qualified the holder continue to be met. Updated nomination letters from the relevant authority are required for renewal.

Family Members

Holders may sponsor their spouse, sons of any age, unmarried daughters of any age, parents, and unlimited domestic helpers. Family members receive residency matching the Golden Visa duration. There is no age restriction on children — a significant advantage over standard UAE residence visas. If the primary holder passes away, family members retain residency until the original visa expiry date.

Tax Implications

The UAE does not levy personal income tax. Holders residing 90+ days (with permanent residence or employment) may apply for a Tax Residency Certificate from the Federal Tax Authority via the EmaraTax portal for AED 100, useful for claiming foreign double taxation agreement relief.

Application Process

Applicants must first obtain a nomination letter from the relevant UAE authority for their talent category. With the nomination in hand, applications are submitted through the GDRFA smart services portal, ICP portal, or TAMM platform (for Abu Dhabi) using UAE Pass. Applications can also be submitted in person at Amer Service Centers.

Total fees via GDRFA Dubai are approximately AED 2,790. Processing takes 5 days for the Talented Geniuses category and 48 hours for Specialized Scientists.

Upon approval, the holder receives an entry visa and must enter the UAE to complete medical fitness test, biometric registration, and Emirates ID issuance within 60 days.

Important Considerations
  • Each talent category requires nomination from a specific UAE authority, which can be a bottleneck — nomination criteria vary by category and emirate
  • Some talent sub-categories (Exceptional Talents in Other Fields, Senior Scholars, Digital Technology Talents) are listed as "currently unavailable" through the Abu Dhabi Residents Office and may only be accessible via GDRFA Dubai or ICP
  • Golden Visa holders are exempt from the 180-day continuous absence rule that applies to regular residence visas
  • For the Skilled Professionals pathway, the AED 30,000 salary must be verified through bank statements showing actual salary transfers for the last 6 months — a salary certificate alone is not sufficient
  • Overstay fines are AED 50 per day

Other Visa Programs in Asia

Country
Program
Income
Investment
Funds Required
Capital Required
Duration
Dependants
Citizenship
Compare
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
Highly Skilled Migrant Programme
3 years — 5 years
Yes
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
Investor Temporary Residence Permit
AZN 100,000 one-time
1 year — 3 years
Yes
Yes (5yr)
🇧🇭 Bahrain
Golden Residency Visa for Property Owners
BHD 130,000 one-time
10 years
Yes
No
🇧🇭 Bahrain
Golden Residency Visa for Talented Individuals
10 years
Yes
No
🇧🇭 Bahrain
Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Investor)
BHD 100,000 one-time
2 years — 10 years
Yes
Yes
🇧🇭 Bahrain
Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Property Owner)
BHD 50,000 one-time
2 years — 10 years
Yes
Yes
🇧🇭 Bahrain
Self-Sponsorship Residence Permit (Retired Foreigner)
BHD 500 / month
2 years — 10 years
Yes
Yes
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
Investor Visa
$75,000 one-time
1 year — 5 years
Yes
Yes (5yr)
🇧🇹 Bhutan
Digital Nomad Residence Programme
No minimum income thresho...
1 year — 2 years
No
🇧🇹 Bhutan
Investor Card
BTN 15,000,000 one-time
3 years
Yes
Yes (20yr)
🇰🇭 Cambodia
Cambodia My 2nd Home (CM2H)
$100,000 one-time
10 years
Yes
Yes (5yr)
🇰🇭 Cambodia
Retirement Visa (ER Extension of Stay)
$1,500 / month
1 month — 1 year
No
Yes
🇨🇳 China
Permanent Residence Permit (Investment Category)
$500,000 one-time
Permanent
Yes
Yes
🇨🇳 China
Private Affairs Residence Permit (Entrepreneurship)
CN¥50,000 one-time
1 year — 5 years
Yes
🇬🇪 Georgia
Investment Residence Permit
$300,000 one-time
5 years
Yes
Yes (10yr)
🇬🇪 Georgia
IT Residence Permit
$25,000 / year
3 years
Yes
Yes (10yr)
🇬🇪 Georgia
Remotely from Georgia
$2,000 / month
6 months — 1 year
Yes
🇬🇪 Georgia
Short-Term Residence Permit (Property Ownership)
$150,000 one-time
1 year
Yes
Yes
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs
No fixed minimum; must de...
3 years
Yes
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme
HK$30,000,000 one-time
2 years — Permanent
Yes
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
3 years — 8 years
Yes
🇭🇰 Hong Kong
Top Talent Pass Scheme
HK$2,500,000 / year
2 years — 3 years
Yes
🇮🇳 India
Permanent Residency Status for Foreign Investors
₹100,000,000 one-time
10 years — 20 years
Yes
Yes
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Golden Visa (Global Talent)
$2,000 / month
5 years — 10 years
Yes
No
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Golden Visa (Investor)
$350,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
Yes
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Remote Worker KITAS
$60,000 / year
1 year — 2 years
Yes
Yes
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Retirement KITAS
$1,500 / month
1 year — 5 years
Yes
Yes (5yr)
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Silver Hair Visa
$3,000 / month
5 years — 10 years
Yes
🇮🇷 Iran
Investor Residence Permit
€100,000 one-time
2 years — 5 years
Yes
Yes
🇮🇷 Iran
Special Residence Permit for Non-Iranian Elites
1 year — 5 years
Yes
Yes
🇮🇶 Iraq
Investment Residency
No fixed minimum investme...
1 year
No
Yes
🇮🇱 Israel
B/5 Investor Visa
$220,000 one-time
2 years
Yes
🇮🇱 Israel
Innovation Visa for Foreign Entrepreneurs
No minimum capital requir...
1 year — 2 years
Yes
🇯🇵 Japan
Business Manager Visa
¥30,000,000 one-time
6 months — 5 years
Yes
Yes
🇯🇵 Japan
Designated Activities (Long Stay for Sightseeing and Recreation)
¥30,000,000 one-time
6 months — 1 year
Yes
No
🇯🇵 Japan
Digital Nomad Visa
¥10,000,000 / year
6 months
Yes
No
🇯🇵 Japan
Future Creation Individual Visa (J-Find)
6 months — 2 years
Yes
🇯🇵 Japan
Startup Visa
No fixed minimum capital ...
1 year — 2 years
No
🇯🇴 Jordan
Annual Residence Permit Based on Bank Deposit
JOD 10,000 one-time
1 year — 5 years
Yes
Yes
🇯🇴 Jordan
Citizenship by Investment
JOD 500,000 one-time
3 years — Permanent
Yes
Yes (3yr)
🇯🇴 Jordan
Residency by Investment
JOD 200,000 one-time
5 years
Yes
Yes
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
A6 Investor Visa (Golden Visa)
$300,000 one-time
10 years
Yes
Yes (5yr)
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
C5 Business Immigrant Visa
No minimum capital for sm...
90 days — 2 years
Yes
Yes (5yr)
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
Digital Nomad Residency
No minimum income require...
1 year — 10 years
No
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
Neo Nomad Visa
$3,000 / month
1 year — 2 years
Yes
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
Permanent Residence Visa for In-Demand Professions
90 days — 10 years
Yes
Yes
🇰🇼 Kuwait
Investor Residency Permit
No fixed minimum — KDIPA ...
5 years — 15 years
Yes
Yes
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
Digital Nomad Status
No fixed minimum income t...
60 days — 10 years
Yes
Yes
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
Investment Visa
KGS 10,000,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
🇱🇦 Laos
Investor Visa (NI-B2)
No universal fixed minimu...
3 months — 5 years
Yes
Yes
🇱🇧 Lebanon
Annual Residence Permit (Cash Bond Deposit)
Cash bond of 1,500,000,00...
1 year
Yes
Yes (5yr)
🇱🇧 Lebanon
Permanent Residence Permit (Financial Independence)
Cash guarantee of 4,500,0...
3 years
Yes
Yes (5yr)
🇲🇴 Macau
Major Investment Temporary Residency
No fixed statutory minimu...
18 months — 3 years
Yes
🇲🇴 Macau
Talent Recruitment Residence Permit
3 years — 5 years
Yes
🇲🇾 Malaysia
DE Rantau Nomad Pass
$2,000 / month
3 months — 2 years
Yes
No
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
MYR 675,000 one-time
5 years — 20 years
Yes
No
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP)
MYR 50,000 one-time
1 year — 5 years
Yes
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Premium Visa Programme (PVIP)
MYR 1,000,000 one-time
20 years
Yes
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T)
MYR 15,000 / month
10 years
Yes
🇲🇻 Maldives
Corporate Resident Visa
$250,000 one-time
5 years
Yes
No
🇲🇳 Mongolia
Investor Visa
$100,000 one-time
1 year — 3 years
Yes
Yes (5yr)
🇳🇵 Nepal
Residential Visa for Investors
$100,000 one-time
1 year
Yes
Yes
🇳🇵 Nepal
Residential Visa for Persons of Exceptional Merit
1 year
Yes
No
🇳🇵 Nepal
Residential Visa for Retirees
$20,000 / year
1 year
Yes
No
🇴🇲 Oman
Golden Residency Program
OMR 250,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
Yes
🇴🇲 Oman
Retiree Residence Card
OMR 4,000 / month
5 years
Yes
Yes
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Business-Investor Visa
$50,000 one-time
1 year — 5 years
Yes
Yes
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Long-Term Residency (LTR)
$50,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
No
🇵🇭 Philippines
Digital Nomad Visa
$2,000 / month
1 year — 2 years
No
🇵🇭 Philippines
Special Investor's Resident Visa (SIRV)
$75,000 one-time
Permanent
Yes
Yes (10yr)
🇵🇭 Philippines
Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV)
$800 / month
Permanent
Yes
Yes
🇶🇦 Qatar
Mustaqel Visa (Entrepreneur)
QAR 250,000 one-time
5 years
Yes
🇶🇦 Qatar
Mustaqel Visa (Talent)
5 years
Yes
🇶🇦 Qatar
Real Estate Investment Residency
QAR 730,000 one-time
1 year — 5 years
Yes
Yes
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Entrepreneur Residency
SAR 400,000 one-time
5 years — Permanent
Yes
No
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Gifted Premium Residency
5 years
Yes
Yes
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Investor Residency
SAR 7,000,000 one-time
Permanent
Yes
Yes
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Real Estate Owner Residency
SAR 4,000,000 one-time
1 year
Yes
Yes
🇸🇬 Singapore
EntrePass (Entrepreneur Pass)
SGD 100,000 one-time
1 year — 2 years
Yes
🇸🇬 Singapore
Global Investor Programme (GIP)
SGD 10,000,000 one-time
Permanent
Yes
Yes (2yr)
🇸🇬 Singapore
Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass)
SGD 30,000 / month
5 years
Yes
🇸🇬 Singapore
Tech.Pass
SGD 22,500 / month
2 years — 4 years
Yes
🇰🇷 South Korea
D-10 Job Seeker Visa
Must demonstrate sufficie...
6 months — 1 year
No
🇰🇷 South Korea
Immigrant Investor Scheme for Public Business
₩1,500,000,000 one-time
2 years — Permanent
Yes
🇰🇷 South Korea
Permanent Residence for Overseas Pension Beneficiaries
$6,083 / month
Permanent
Yes
Yes
🇰🇷 South Korea
Technology Startup Visa
No fixed minimum capital ...
1 year — 2 years
Yes
🇰🇷 South Korea
Tourism and Leisure Facility Investment Immigration
₩1,000,000,000 one-time
2 years — Permanent
Yes
🇰🇷 South Korea
Workation (Digital Nomad) Visa
$6,083 / month
1 year — 2 years
Yes
No
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Colombo Port City Investor Visa
$100,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
No
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Condominium Investment Visa
$75,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
No
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Digital Nomad Visa
$2,000 / month
1 year
Yes
No
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Golden Paradise Residence Visa
$100,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
No
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
Individual Investor Residence Visa
$100,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
No
🇸🇾 Syria
Investment Residency Permit
No fixed minimum threshol...
1 year — Permanent
Yes
Yes
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Digital Nomad Visitor Visa
$40,000 / year
6 months — 2 years
No
Yes
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Employment Gold Card
1 year — 3 years
Yes
Yes (3yr)
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Entrepreneur Visa
NT$2,000,000 one-time
2 years
Yes
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Investor Resident Visa
$200,000 one-time
1 year — 5 years
Yes
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Plum Blossom Card (Investment APRC)
NT$15,000,000 one-time
Permanent
Yes
Yes
🇹🇯 Tajikistan
Investor Visa (Category C)
$500,000 one-time
2 years — 5 years
Yes
Yes
🇹🇭 Thailand
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
THB 500,000 / funds
180 days — 5 years
Yes
No
🇹🇭 Thailand
Long-Term Resident Visa (Work-from-Thailand Professionals)
$80,000 / year
5 years — 10 years
Yes
Yes
🇹🇭 Thailand
LTR Visa (Wealthy Global Citizens)
$500,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
🇹🇭 Thailand
LTR Visa (Wealthy Pensioners)
$80,000 / year
5 years — 10 years
Yes
Yes
🇹🇭 Thailand
Non-Immigrant Visa (Investment)
THB 10,000,000 one-time
1 year
Yes
Yes
🇹🇭 Thailand
Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (Long Stay)
THB 65,000 / month
1 year
Yes
🇹🇭 Thailand
Non-Immigrant Visa O-X (Long Stay 10 Years)
THB 3,000,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
🇹🇭 Thailand
SMART Visa S (Startup)
THB 600,000 one-time
6 months — 2 years
Yes
Yes
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste
Business Visa Class II
No minimum capital thresh...
6 months — 2 years
Yes
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste
Investor Residence Authorization
$1,500,000 one-time
2 years — Permanent
Yes
🇹🇷 Turkey
Citizenship by Investment
$400,000 one-time
5 years — Permanent
Yes
Yes
🇹🇷 Turkey
Digital Nomad Visa
$3,000 / month
1 year
Yes
🇹🇷 Turkey
Short-Term Residence Permit (Tourism Purpose)
$1,200 / month
6 months — 2 years
Yes
🇹🇷 Turkey
Turkiye TechVisa (Startup)
3 years
Yes
🇹🇷 Turkey
Turquoise Card
3 years — Permanent
Yes
Yes
🇹🇲 Turkmenistan
Investor Residence Permit
$500,000 one-time
5 years
Yes
Yes (7yr)
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Golden Visa (Entrepreneur)
AED 500,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
Yes
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Golden Visa (Investor)
AED 2,000,000 one-time
5 years — 10 years
Yes
Yes
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Golden Visa (Talented Individuals)
10 years
Yes
Yes
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Green Visa (Freelancer / Self-Employed)
AED 360,000 / year
5 years
Yes
Yes
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Green Visa (Investor/Partner)
AED 1,000,000 one-time
5 years
Yes
Yes
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Job Exploration Visa
Must prove sufficient fun...
60 days
No
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Retirement Visa
AED 20,000 / month
5 years
Yes
No
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Virtual Work Residence Permit
$3,500 / month
1 year
Yes
No
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
Golden Visa
$250,000 one-time
5 years
Yes
No
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
Investment Visa
$280,500 one-time
3 years — Permanent
Yes
Yes (5yr)
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
IT Visa
$2,500 / month
1 year — 3 years
Yes
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Investor Visa (DT1-DT4)
₫3,000,000,000 one-time
1 year — 10 years
Yes
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Special Visa Exemption Card
5 years
No
Yes