Golden Visa for Skilled Professionals: Who Qualifies
Ten-Year Residence for Salaried Employees at the Top Two MOHRE Occupational Levels
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) issues a 10-year Golden Residence Permit to skilled workers at higher professional levels. The route is open to salaried employees in any sector, and no nomination is required. Applicants must hold a work permit on a valid employment contract and an occupation at level 1 or 2 of the classification of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). They also need a recognised bachelor's degree, a monthly salary of no less than AED 30,000 supported by six months of bank salary credits, a practising licence where required and valid health insurance.
The GDRFA requires a monthly salary of at least AED 30,000 and accepts a valid UAE employment contract or a salary certificate from a government, semi-government or free zone employer, together with a bank statement showing salary transfers for the last six months. The salary shown in the contract or certificate should match the monthly credits in the bank statement.
EGSH reviews these documents against each GDRFA condition before the application is submitted. Once the file meets every condition, EGSH submits the application to the GDRFA and coordinates the medical fitness test and Emirates ID steps that complete the residence issuance.
The GDRFA sets the expected completion time for this service at 48 hours from the submission of a complete application.
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How to Apply for a Golden Visa on the Salary Route
Salary, Occupation and Degree Reviewed Before the File Reaches the GDRFA
01
Visit EGSH
Book online or walk in to EGSH, where you are received without queues and assisted immediately with your Golden Residence application as a salaried professional.
02
Document Review
EGSH checks the salary in your contract or salary certificate, six months of salary credits in your bank statement, your MOHRE occupational level and matching job titles before submission.
03
Application Submission
The application is submitted to the GDRFA through official channels together with your recognised degree, practising licence where required and valid health insurance in your name.
04
Receive Your 10-Year Golden Visa
The GDRFA issues your 10-year Golden Residence Visa after approval, the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics, ready for your employer to apply for the MOHRE work permit.
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Documents Required for the Professional Golden Visa
Contract, Salary Evidence and Degree Recognition in One Consistent File
Identity Documents
A copy of your valid passport, together with your current residence visa or Emirates ID if you already reside in the UAE.
Employment Contract and Bank Statement
A valid UAE employment contract or a salary certificate from a government, semi-government or free zone employer, with a bank statement showing salary transfers for the last six months.
Recognised Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree or higher, with a recognition report for degrees from universities outside the UAE or attestation for degrees awarded by universities in the UAE.
Practising Licence and Health Insurance
A licence to practise for regulated professions such as physician, pharmacist or teacher, and valid comprehensive health insurance in your name.
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What Is the Golden Visa for Skilled Professionals in Dubai
The Golden Residence Permit for skilled workers is a federal residence category issued in Dubai by the GDRFA. It sits within the specialised professionals service alongside scientists and healthcare, education and industry specialists. Unlike those categories, the salary route does not depend on a nomination letter. Eligibility is established entirely by employment, occupation, qualification and income.
The GDRFA applies five conditions.
- The applicant must hold a work permit in the UAE based on a valid employment contract.
- The occupation must be classified at the first or second professional level by MOHRE.
- The applicant must hold at least a bachelor's degree with the required recognition.
- The monthly salary must be no less than AED 30,000, or its equivalent in foreign currency, with salary transfers shown for the last six months.
- Finally, a practising licence is required for regulated professions, and the applicant must hold valid comprehensive health insurance.

How the AED 30,000 Salary Requirement Is Assessed
The condition set by the GDRFA is a monthly salary of no less than AED 30,000, without a separate definition of basic salary and allowances. Because the salary is assessed against the employment contract or salary certificate together with the bank credits, a figure that differs between them weakens the file even when the total exceeds the threshold.
Before filing, EGSH compares the salary shown in each document and identifies how the amount is split between basic salary and allowances. The bank statement must show the salary credited in each of the last six months. Gaps or irregular transfers need to be resolved before submission.

Which Jobs Count: MOHRE Levels 1 and 2
The MOHRE classifies occupations by skill level. Level 1 covers managers and business executives. Level 2 covers professionals in sciences, engineering, health, education, business and management, information technology, law, sociology and culture. Occupations at level 3 and below do not meet the Golden Residence condition, regardless of salary.
The level is determined by the occupation recorded on the work permit, not by the applicant's qualifications or responsibilities in practice. EGSH also checks that the job title is identical on the residence visa and the employment contract or salary certificate. Engineers in specialist fields can also compare this route with the separate Golden Visa services for engineers.

Degree Recognition and Attestation
The GDRFA requires a bachelor's degree or higher, and the evidence depends on where the degree was awarded. A degree from a university outside the UAE needs a recognition report. This report is now issued through the University Certificates Recognition system of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), after the degree has been verified. A degree awarded by a university in the UAE needs attestation by the MOHESR instead. Graduates of UAE universities connected to the automated attestation service receive the attested certificate through UAE Pass. Holders of a doctorate who do not meet the salary requirement can review the Golden Visa route for PhD holders, which follows different criteria.
Recognition and attestation are separate procedures with their own timelines, so they should be completed before the application is filed. EGSH handles educational certificate attestation as part of preparing the file.

Processing Time and Complete Submission
The GDRFA sets the expected completion time at 48 hours. The period runs from the submission of a complete application, meaning a file in which the contract or salary certificate, six-month bank statement, recognised degree, licence where required and health insurance are all present and consistent.
Final approval is subject to an evaluation by the GDRFA of the requirements and of the administrative and financial efficiency of the job and the employing establishment. Requests for additional documents at this stage extend the timeline. The medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics follow approval and complete the issuance.

Common Rejection Triggers
Most refusals relate to evidence. Common triggers include an occupation recorded below MOHRE level 2 and a salary below AED 30,000 in one of the documents. A bank statement covering fewer than six months or showing missed salary credits is another frequent issue. Job titles that differ between the visa and the contract or salary certificate, a foreign degree without a recognition report, and an expired licence or health insurance policy can also stop the application.
Work Permit After Approval
The Golden Residence Permit does not replace the work permit. The MOHRE issues a dedicated work permit for Golden Visa holders, applied for by the authorised signatory of the employing establishment. The permit is valid for two years, and the occupation must be compatible with the establishment's activities. The employee must hold a valid Golden Visa and no other valid residence visa. Employers apply for this permit through the issuance of a new work permit service once the Golden Residence is issued.

Family, Travel and the 180-Day Rule
A Golden Residence holder can sponsor family members, subject to the conditions of the family residence services. Family applications are submitted only after the main permit is issued, and each family member needs valid health insurance at that stage. Applications for a spouse and children are prepared through the service for sponsoring your family on a Golden Visa.
Golden Residence holders are exempt from the rule that cancels a residence permit after more than 180 days outside the UAE. The permit becomes void only if it expires while the holder is outside the country.

Salary Changes, Job Changes and Renewal
The salary and employment conditions apply throughout the validity of the permit, not only on the date of filing. Under GDRFA rules, if the salary falls below AED 30,000 or the contract is cancelled, the Golden Residence Permit will be cancelled. Holders must also be able to support themselves and their family without government support.
A holder who changes employer needs a new MOHRE work permit issued by the new employer, and the new role must continue to meet the salary and occupation conditions. The permit is valid for 10 years and can be renewed if the same conditions are met at the time of renewal. Renewal is not automatic.

Other Golden Visa Routes
The salary route suits employees whose eligibility rests on income and occupation. Physicians with a valid licence can compare it with the Golden Visa services for doctors, which follows its own criteria.
Employees at MOHRE levels 1 to 3 earning at least AED 15,000 a month may instead qualify for the five-year Green Visa for skilled employees, which also requires a bachelor's degree. An overview of every category, including investors, entrepreneurs and scientists, is available under Golden Visa services.

Related Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AED 30,000 salary requirement based on basic salary or the total package?
The GDRFA sets the condition as a monthly salary of no less than AED 30,000 and does not define basic salary and allowances separately. The salary is assessed against a valid employment contract or a salary certificate, together with six months of bank credits, so the figures must be consistent. Checking how the salary is split before filing avoids a file that one document contradicts.
Which jobs qualify under MOHRE occupational levels 1 and 2?
Level 1 covers managers and business executives. Level 2 covers professionals in sciences, engineering, health, education, business and management, information technology, law, sociology and culture. The level is taken from the occupation recorded on the work permit, and level 3 occupations do not qualify for the Golden Residence Permit.
Which salary documents and bank statements does the GDRFA ask for?
The GDRFA asks for a valid UAE employment contract or a salary certificate from a government, semi-government or free zone employer. It also requires a bank statement showing salary transfers for the last six months. The salary and job title must match across these documents.
Do I need a degree recognition report for the Golden Visa?
Yes, if the degree was awarded by a university outside the UAE. The recognition report is issued through the University Certificates Recognition system of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research after the degree is verified. A degree from a UAE university is attested by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research instead, and graduates of connected universities receive it through UAE Pass.
Do salaried employees need a nomination for the professional Golden Visa?
No. The salary route for skilled workers is based on the work permit, MOHRE occupational level, degree and salary, and it does not require a nomination letter. Nomination applies to other categories, such as scientists and specialists in health, education and industry.
How long does the Golden Visa for skilled professionals take in Dubai?
The GDRFA sets the expected completion time at 48 hours from the submission of a complete application. Requests for additional documents or the evaluation of the employing establishment can extend this period. The medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics follow approval.
Do Golden Visa holders need a MOHRE work permit to work?
Yes. The MOHRE issues a dedicated work permit for Golden Visa holders, applied for by the employer’s authorised signatory and valid for two years. A new permit is needed when the holder starts work, renews the contract or moves to a new employer.
What happens if my salary drops below AED 30,000 or I change jobs?
Under GDRFA rules, if the salary falls below AED 30,000 or the contract is cancelled, the Golden Residence Permit will be cancelled. A move to a new employer requires a new MOHRE work permit, and the new role must still meet the salary and occupation conditions.
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Official Sources
Requirements checked against the official sources below on 1 October 2026.
- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai, Issuing Golden Residence Permit (Specialized Scientists)
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Work Permits of Golden Visa Holders
- UAE Government Portal, Recognition System for University Certificates
- Ministry of Education, Automated Attestation of Higher Education Certificates
- UAE Government Portal, Residence Visa for Working in the UAE (Green Visa)
Disclaimer
This page provides general procedural information about the Golden Residence Permit for skilled workers in Dubai. EGSH submits and processes applications through official channels. The Golden Residence Permit is issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai, work permits by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and degree recognition by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Eligibility criteria, required documents, fees and processing times are set by the competent authorities and may change. Applicants should confirm current requirements before submission.













































































































































