United Arab Emirates
UAE Golden Visa
The Golden Visa gives 10 years of renewable residence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – with no employer or sponsor, with your family, and with no personal income tax.
News · United Arab Emirates
The ICP denies reports of a "lifetime" Golden Visa for AED 100,000
On 8 July 2025 the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), through WAM (the official Emirates News Agency), denied reports circulating in the media that people of certain nationalities could obtain a lifetime Golden Visa for AED 100,000 "by nomination". According to the authority, such offers have no legal basis.
Summary
In brief
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On 7 July 2025 a consultancy based abroad announced in a press release that Indian nationals – Bangladeshi nationals too, according to other reports – could obtain a "lifetime" Golden Visa for AED 100,000 by nomination.
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On 8 July 2025 the ICP stated that the categories and conditions of the Golden Visa are set by UAE laws and ministerial decisions, and that all applications are handled exclusively through official government channels.
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No consultancy, inside or outside the country, is recognised as an authorised party in the application process; the authority said it would take legal action against those spreading false information.
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According to the government portal, the investor Golden Visa still requires capital of at least AED 2,000,000. The consultancy apologised on 9 July 2025 and discontinued its Golden Visa advisory service.
Background
What happened
In early July 2025 reports spread quickly in the Indian media that Indian and Bangladeshi nationals could obtain a lifetime Golden Visa for AED 100,000, by nomination and without travelling to the UAE. The reports go back to a press release issued by a consultancy based abroad on 7 July 2025.
Through WAM, the ICP denied these claims on 8 July 2025. According to the authority, the categories, conditions and rules of the Golden Visa are clearly defined by UAE laws and official ministerial decisions, and official information is available on the ICP's website and smart application. All applications are handled exclusively through official government channels within the UAE, and no internal or external consultancy is recognised as an authorised party in the application process. The authority said it would take legal action against those attempting to collect money illegally from people wishing to live in the UAE by spreading false information, and asked interested people to check the authority's website or its call centre on 600522222 before acting.
According to the official government portal, the investor category of the Golden Visa requires capital of at least AED 2,000,000; no fixed-price, lifetime product exists. On 9 July 2025 the consultancy apologised for the confusion caused and said it was discontinuing its Golden Visa advisory service.
For you
What it means for you
- There is no "lifetime" Golden Visa: the Golden Visa is a renewable residence permit of 5 or 10 years, issued by the authority on the basis of the categories and thresholds laid down in law.
- The real entry ticket: as an investor, capital of at least AED 2,000,000; in other categories, documented professional or academic achievement. There is no paid shortcut.
- Caution with intermediaries: the authority recognises no consultancy as an authorised party; the application runs through official channels, and the decision is always the authority's.
- Information: when you request a quote, we will brief you in detail on the current Golden Visa categories, their conditions and the application process.
Programmes
Related programmes
Sources
Sources
Last checked:
- Gulf News: UAE denies rumours about lifetime Golden Visa for certain nationalities – 8 July 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Khaleej Times: UAE denies rumours of lifetime Golden Visa for select nationalities – 8 July 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- The National: UAE says reports of Dh100,000 golden visas for certain nationalities are false – 9 July 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Khaleej Times: Group takes "full responsibility" for confusion over lifetime Golden Visa – 9 July 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- u.ae, the official UAE government portal: Golden visa – updated 28 July 2026 (opens in a new tab)