The United Arab Emirates has launched a groundbreaking nomination-based Golden Visa program, making it significantly easier for Indian citizens to gain lifetime residency without the previous requirements of property purchase or trade license investment. This new initiative marks a major step in strengthening the UAE’s ties with India, particularly following the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed in 2022.
Previously, obtaining a Golden Visa typically necessitated a substantial investment, such as buying property worth at least AED 2 million (approximately ₹4.66 crore). However, under the new policy, eligible Indians can secure this coveted lifetime residency by paying a one-time fee of AED 100,000 (roughly ₹23.3 lakh or USD 27,000).
This pilot program, initially rolled out for India and Bangladesh, aims to attract diverse global talent. Nominees will undergo rigorous background checks, including anti-money laundering, criminal record, and social media verification. The evaluation also assesses how applicants can contribute to the UAE’s economy and society across various sectors like culture, finance, trade, science, startups, and professional services.
Key benefits of this new Golden Visa include:
Lifetime Residency: Unlike property-based visas that terminate upon property sale, this nomination-based visa offers permanent residency.
Family Sponsorship: Visa holders can sponsor their spouses, children (including unmarried daughters without age limits and sons up to 25), elderly parents, newborns, and domestic staff without additional investment.
Work and Business Flexibility: Recipients are permitted to start or run a business or take up any professional job in the UAE without a separate work permit.
Eligible professionals span a wide range, including senior professionals in education, healthcare, and corporate sectors, experienced nurses, university lecturers, school teachers, digital creators (YouTubers, podcasters, authors, filmmakers), e-sports players, coders, yacht owners, and maritime industry workers.
Applications can be submitted through authorized agents like Rayad Group (in partnership with VFS Global and One Vasco), their online portal, or dedicated call centers in the applicant’s home country. This streamlined process allows for pre-approval from India, eliminating the need for an initial visit to Dubai.
The UAE anticipates over 5,000 applicants in the first 90 days, with plans to extend the program to other CEPA partner countries like China if successful.
