UAE makes Golden Visa application easier with ‘one touch’

The Federal Authority for Identity, Nationality, Customs and Port Security (UAE ICP) has unveiled the ‘One Touch Golden Visa service’, a new comprehensive service that is aimed at simplifying the application and renewal process for a golden residency visa.

The UAE ICP, which announced the launch via its official Instagram page, said the new service seeks to assist applicants with their visa applications, issuance of other visas, status regularisation as well as the issuance of residency and identity documents – with the added convenience of renewing all of these in a single step.

The authority called on customers and those wishing to obtain the golden residency to benefit from this service by visiting the authority’s website www.icp.gov.ae or the smart application UAEICP to obtain the golden package.

The ‘one-touch’ platform compliments the UAE government’s digital transformation and it unifies all visa services through integrated packages.

Read: Golden Visa holders can now avail discounts through Esaad card

The authority emphasised that the updated visa system represents a quantum leap in the entry and residence of foreigners in the region and the world while noting that it embodies the principles and fifty-year plan adopted by the UAE leadership to advance the country during the next fifty years.

UAE’s Golden Visa offers select groups the ability to work, live and study in the country without the need for sponsorship.

The long-term visa allows foreigners to sponsor family members, regardless of their ages and there is no restriction related to the maximum duration of stay outside the UAE.

The minimum monthly income required to get a ‘Golden Visa’ was recently reduced from Dhs50,000 to Dh30,000, expanding eligibility to many more skilled professionals in fields such as medicine, sciences, engineering, information technology, business administration, education, law, culture and social sciences.

UAE Golden Visa scheme

Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) said in November that the number of golden visas issued between 2019 and 2022 reached 151,666, reinforcing the UAE’s status as an ideal destination to live, work and invest.

Read: UAE golden visa: 79,617 visas issued in 2022, says GDRFA

The UAE launched its Golden Visa programme in 2021, which grants 10-year residency in the country to certain professionals, specialised degree-holders and investors. The Golden Visa is distinctive as its scheme differs depending on the beneficiary.

We adopted law amendments that allow granting the UAE citizenship to investors, specialized talents & professionals including scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, authors and their families. The new directives aim to attract talents that contribute to our development journey.

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 30, 2021

For instance, real estate investors can obtain the Golden Visa if they purchase a property of at least Dhs2m while entrepreneurs can get the visa if they own or partner in a revenue-generating start-up registered in the country.

Golden Visa holders are also entitled to a discount Esaad card with exclusive offers and discounts.

The card provides discounts across several sectors, including healthcare, education, hospitality, entertainment, real estate, and restaurants, among others.

These offers are available for cardholders at 7,237 brands and businesses within the UAE and across 92 countries.

Over the years, the UAE Government has made its visa policy more flexible, offering longer residencies for certain types of investors, students and professionals.

The new system of entry and residence aims to attract and retain global talents and skilled workers from all over the world while boosting the country’s competitiveness and flexibility in the job market.