Yes, you can find out whether you qualify before you apply. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) runs a free online eligibility questionnaire that maps your background to a Golden Visa category. It takes a few minutes. The Golden Visa is a long-term, renewable residence visa valid for 5 or 10 years depending on the category, and holders do not need a local sponsor.
This guide covers the categories and what each one asks for, how to run the check step by step, which route suits which kind of applicant, three hypothetical examples, and what to do once the questionnaire gives you a positive answer.
Golden Visa categories at a glance
| Category | Validity | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Investors (public investments) | 10 years | Minimum capital of AED 2 million |
| Investors (real estate) | 5 years | Minimum capital of AED 2 million in property, or a contribution to an establishment that pays at least AED 250,000 a year in taxes |
| Entrepreneurs | 5 years | Proof of an innovative or technical project and its value, plus a letter from a business incubator or the relevant authority in the emirate |
| Exceptional talent or rare specialisations | 10 years | Covers doctors, scientists, inventors, creatives in culture and arts, executives, athletes, PhD holders and specialists in priority scientific and engineering fields. Each subcategory has its own proof, such as recommendation letters, practical experience or an accredited degree |
| Outstanding students (high school) | 5 years | Certificates of excellence and a recommendation letter from the school |
| Outstanding students (top university) | 10 years | Certificates of excellence and a recommendation letter from the university |
| Humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes | 10 years | Certificates of appreciation, documented humanitarian contribution, or at least 5 years of service |
Holders can sponsor their spouse and children, and can stay outside the UAE for longer than the usual six months that keeps a normal residence visa valid. Categories and thresholds are set by the authorities and can change, so treat the table as a guide and let the questionnaire confirm your position.
How to run the ICP eligibility check
- Open the ICP Golden Visa eligibility check on the ICP smart services guest page.
- Pick the category that is closest to your situation, for example investor, entrepreneur, talent, student or humanitarian.
- Answer the questions for that category. University graduates, for instance, are asked for their grade point average (GPA), field of study and graduation year.
- Submit the questionnaire and read the result. The system shows which Golden Visa category matches your profile.
- If the result is positive, start collecting the documents for that category before you open a formal application.
Keep your answers consistent with your documents. Degree details, job titles and dates should match your certificates, passport and Emirates ID exactly, because the formal application is checked against them.
Which route fits which applicant
| If you are | Likely category | Have ready |
|---|---|---|
| An investor or property owner | Investor | Proof of at least AED 2 million in public investments or property |
| A founder with a startup | Entrepreneur | Project description and value, incubator or authority letter |
| A doctor, engineer, scientist or specialist | Exceptional talent | Accredited degree, experience record, recommendation letters |
| A top graduate or school leaver | Outstanding student | Certificates of excellence, recommendation letter from your institution |
| A nonprofit worker or volunteer leader | Humanitarian pioneer | Certificates of appreciation or proof of 5 years of service |
| An artist, writer, filmmaker or creator | Exceptional talent (creative) | Recommendation from the Ministry of Culture for creatives |
Content creators have their own route. Our guide to the Golden Visa for content creators explains how it works. Self-employed residents who do not fit a Golden Visa category may look at the five-year Green Visa for freelancers instead.
Three hypothetical examples
These examples are made up to show how the questionnaire is used. They are not real cases and do not promise an outcome.
| Hypothetical applicant | What they enter | What to do with the result |
|---|---|---|
| A recent graduate of an accredited UAE university | GPA, field of study, graduation year | If the tool points to the student category, gather the certificates of excellence and the recommendation letter from the university |
| A founder with a registered tech startup | Business details and project description | If the tool points to entrepreneur, ask the incubator or the relevant authority for the support letter |
| A property owner with several units | Combined property value | If the tool points to real estate investor, collect the title deeds and valuation papers that prove the AED 2 million minimum |
After a positive result
The questionnaire tells you which category you match. It is not the visa itself. The next step is the formal application through the ICP services or the GDRFA Golden Visa services, depending on where you live. In Abu Dhabi, the Golden Visa is also handled through TAMM and the Abu Dhabi Residents Office. For the full process, fees and documents, read our UAE Golden Visa guide on how to apply, fees and documents.
If you are unsure whether a claim you saw online is true, check the nine Golden Visa myths. If an application has been refused before, the rejection reasons guide lists the mistakes that are fixable.
Related guides
- UAE Golden Visa 2026: the exact eligibility routes
- UAE Golden Visa benefits: what is real and what is marketing
- UAE visa options: tourist, student and Golden Visa
- Residency by investment: which Golden Visa routes are still open
- Dubai Golden Visa grants in 2026
- Golden Visa rumours and what authorities denied
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