Those to be granted the Golden Visa must be UAE-based professionals earning a minimum of Dh30,000 basic salary for them to qualify for long-term residency. Rejected applicants as well as other immigration experts informed the media that the minimum salary does not include allowances.
Remunerations in the UAE as earlier discussed are a blend of the basic wages and other additions such as housing and transport among others.
Nofisatu Mojidi, senior manager at the Dubai office of immigration services firm Fragomen, said: “Yes, it is true that the minimum salary needed for UAE Golden Visa has been adjusted. In the previous ‘Scientists & Specialists’ category, the minimum gross salary was set at Dh30,000 which included allowances. However, the new rule announced has put the minimum basic salary at Dh30,000 but the allowances are excluded.”
An ICP customer care agent, from the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security talked to Dubai’s newspaper about the new initiative.
Immigration specialist Feroz Khan of Dubai Arabian Business Centre also only confirmed applicants with a minimum basic salary of Dh30,000 received the long-term visa.
He said that people with titles such as ‘manager’ or ‘director’ included on the visa or people with professions such as engineers and doctors have it easier when it comes to acquiring the residency.
By 2022 the UAE had include the qualified professionals in the field of Medicine, sciences and Engineering, information technology, business and administration, education, law, culture and social sciences into the so called Golden Visa Scheme.
What the change implies
As Mojidi points out, the shift from having a minimum basic wage requirement means that the ‘hurdle’ for prospective Golden Visa holders has risen.
“This new criterion underlines the UAE’s desire to admit only highly skilled and wealthy people The applicants who are in the pre-approval stage may have challenges throughout the entire approval process, and stakeholders of the Golden Visa may not be able to meet this criterion at the time of renewal, so it may affect their chances of renewal of the visa.”
Enquiries and concerns
Mojidi explained that she has observed a “notable” rise in calls from clients on these changes.
“It is concerning to see that a significant number of clients are concerned with their capacity to qualify under the new basic salary requirement especially where they were previously qualifying based on allowance income. Therefore, we … offer our clients an insight into the other routes to the Golden Visa Hence for example, in Dubai, we help secure nomination from principal government authorities for candidates with exceptional skills or talents.”
Special Benefits for UAE Golden Visa Holders: 7 Perks for Long-Term Residents
Besides the basic requirements of practical experience and salary, the candidate must produce a valid employment contract and labor permit, occupy first or second professional level according to MoHRE, education not lower than a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, professional practice permit for such positions as a physician, a pharmacist, a teacher; and medical insurance for oneself and members of the household.
