UAE Golden Visa

At the end of January, announcements were made regarding the proposed easing of requirements for individuals applying for a UAE Golden Visa based on property purchases.

Golden Visa: who can benefit from it and what are the advantages?  

• A Golden Visa provides a significant benefit by eliminating visa-related concerns for the next 10 years, and it’s also renewable.

We’ve previously highlighted the primary advantages, the eligibility criteria for applicants earning AED 30,000 per month, and the application process in one of our earlier posts.

• Golden residency is an option not only for highly skilled professionals, but also for other applicant categories, including those who invest in UAE real estate.

Requirements for property investors: before / after the amendments  

• Previously, eligibility for a Golden Visa required property investors to purchase real estate valued at a minimum of AED 2,000,000. Additionally, they had to provide either a bank statement or a letter from the developer confirming that a minimum down payment of AED 1,000,000, or 50% of the property value, was made if the purchase involved a mortgage or installment payments.

• The proposed amendments are expected to eliminate the specific down payment requirement entirely. Consequently, investors would qualify for a Golden Visa, regardless of the down payment amount, if the purchased property is valued at AED 2,000,000 or more and is financed through a mortgage or installment plan.

Consequently, due to these amendments, an investment of potentially as little as AED 50,000 (representing the minimum down payment in the property market) could be sufficient for Golden Visa eligibility.

• Applicants will need to submit a Title Deed, a mortgage document from the bank or a letter from the developer, along with a copy of their passport and a photograph.

NB: The official decision has not yet been formalized, and updates have not been published on UAE governmental websites. Therefore, the implementation timeline for these amendments remains uncertain, and their enactment is not guaranteed.

Our team is closely monitoring the status of these changes and will promptly inform you when the regulations are officially amended.

We are prepared to assist you throughout the entire Golden Visa application process and offer support even in the most complex situations with utmost efficiency. If you are interested in applying for a Golden Visa and are ready to begin, or if you would simply like to discuss available options, please reach out to us at info@whitecirclegroup.com.