Golden Visa, 5 years
Applies for a 5-year Golden Visa residence for eligible applicants through GDRFA Dubai (Amer).
How it works
- 1
Documents
You
- 2
Reviewed by MARIO E.G.S.H AI
MARIO E.G.S.H AI
- 3
Submitted at GDRFA
Runner at GDRFA
- 4
Medical & biometrics
You
- 5
Visa issued
GDRFA
Documents required
Passport
copyPersonal photo
copyProof for the category (e.g. for retirees: property/valuation, deposit certificate or 6-month bank statements and income letter)
original
Conditions, time and validity
- GDRFA retired-foreigner residence: 5 years, age 55+, at least 15 years of service before retirement, plus one financial condition (property with a deposit, or a fixed annual income of at least AED 240,000 for Dubai; see the retirement visa service).
- u.ae (updated 28 Jul 2026) still shows 5 years for real-estate investors, entrepreneurs and outstanding high-school students, while the ICP guide (updated 10 Sep 2026) and GDRFA service pages state 10 years for these categories.
- Processing time
- GDRFA retiree residence: 48 hours (plus medical and Emirates ID).
- Validity of the result
- 5 years, renewable on the same conditions.
- Where it is applied for
- GDRFA Dubai digital channels, customer happiness centres and Amer centres.
Steps at the authority
- Staff confirm the category and the client's proof.
- Application to GDRFA and fees paid.
- Medical test and Emirates ID biometrics.
Tips that save you a trip
- Before paying, compare with the 10-year golden routes: most categories now get 10 years.
Common reasons for rejection or delay
- Category not proven or financial proof below threshold.
Questions and answers
Is there still a 5-year golden visa?
The retiree residence is 5 years. Most other golden categories are 10 years under current ICP/GDRFA pages. Our staff will tell you which applies to you.
Checked by the MARIO E.G.S.H team on 2026-10-08. Rules can change at any time; our consultant confirms the details for your case.
Legal basis
Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021; Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022.
Related services
Golden Visa, 10 years (property owners)
Complete 10-year property Golden Visa package: Taskeen, GDRFA residency, medical and Emirates ID, for property worth AED 2M or more. We verify eligibility, prepare and submit.
Golden Visa for a newborn, 10 years
Obtains a 10-year Golden Visa for your newborn child through GDRFA Dubai (Amer).
Golden Visa for a newborn, 5 years
Obtains a 5-year Golden Visa for your newborn child through GDRFA Dubai (Amer).
File opening
Opens a new file with GDRFA Dubai (Amer) so that residence and visa transactions can be processed.