Key takeaways
- Golden visa cost Dubai (2026): on GDRFA’s own service card, the 10-year Golden residence lines come to AED 1,900 (the AED 1,100 permit fee plus AED 800 for years 3 to 10) from outside the country, or AED 2,400 for someone already inside the UAE, before the Emirates ID, the medical test, health insurance and centre charges.
- The 10-year Emirates ID is AED 1,100 on ICP’s card (AED 100 for each year of residence plus AED 100 smart services). The medical fitness test is AED 270 at the standard Dubai speed or AED 700 for Smart Salem’s Golden visa test.
- One person already in Dubai therefore pays about AED 3,770 in published Golden visa fees: AED 2,400 of GDRFA residence lines, the AED 1,100 Emirates ID and a AED 270 standard Dubai Health medical.
- The Dubai Land Department channel for property owners is a different price: AED 9,884.75 for the investor, AED 5,774.50 plus AED 100 for each family member and AED 318.75 to open the family file, because it adds a DLD fee of AED 4,020 and an administrative fee of AED 1,155.
- In Abu Dhabi and the other emirates, ICP charges AED 100 application, AED 100 per year (AED 1,000 for ten years) and AED 100 smart services, plus AED 500 for a status adjustment if you are inside the country.
- The investment is not a fee. The AED 2 million property, the AED 2 million deposit or the AED 30,000 salary is a qualifying condition you keep; none of it is paid to the government.
- Health insurance is the only line that recurs every year, and over ten years it usually costs more than every other line on this page together.
- Refunds are partial: ICP refunds issuance fees for a service not completed, but never application or smart services fees.
This guide prices the 10-year Golden residence. If you want to be sponsored through your own company as a partner or investor, or the five-year Green route for a share of AED 1 million or more, see investor, partner, manager and employee visas in the UAE.
The Golden visa cost in Dubai is the sum of the government fees you pay to obtain a 10-year Golden residence: the GDRFA residence fee and its issuance and inside-country lines, the 10-year Emirates ID, the medical fitness test, health insurance, the centre or channel charges, and, for anyone sponsored, the same chain again per person. The qualifying investment or salary sits behind the application but is not a payment. Once you separate the two, the government side of the Golden visa cost is a few thousand dirhams per person on the published fee lines, and a little under AED 10,000 per investor if you go through the Dubai Land Department’s property channel.
This guide builds the Golden visa cost one fee line at a time, with the official source next to each figure. It covers the GDRFA Golden residence cards used in Dubai, the ICP residence and Emirates ID cards used in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the northern emirates, and the DLD Golden visa service for property owners. It then adds the lines up for six common situations, checks every total, and shows where the government cards, the portals and the figures quoted online do not agree.
Three things are deliberately outside its scope. Who qualifies for which category is covered in our Golden visa eligibility guide for 2026. The property threshold, mortgages and off-plan units are in our Golden visa property requirement guide. And sponsoring relatives, beyond what each one costs, is in the Golden visa family sponsorship guide. Here we stay with the money.
Golden visa cost Dubai at a glance
The table lists every per-person line in the order it is normally paid, with the published figure for Dubai (GDRFA), for the other emirates (ICP) and for the Dubai property channel (DLD). Read the notes: several lines have a card figure and a different portal figure, and both matter when you compare quotes.
| Golden visa fee line | Dubai (GDRFA card) | Other emirates (ICP card) | Dubai property route (DLD page) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Six-month entry visa (only if you apply from abroad) | No Dubai card located | Reported AED 1,250 (2023) or AED 1,100 (2024); not on ICP’s card | Not offered: DLD says the applicant must be inside the UAE | ICP Golden Residence guide (visa exists); Gulf News 2023; Gulf Today 2024 |
| Residence permit, 10 years | AED 1,100 permit fee + AED 800 issuance fee for years 3 to 10 (AED 100 a year) = AED 1,900 | AED 100 application + AED 100 x 10 years + AED 100 smart services = AED 1,200 | “Confirmation of residency permit (10 years)” AED 2,856.75 | GDRFA Golden investor card; ICP Issuing Residency Permit card; DLD Golden visa (investor) |
| Inside-country fee / status adjustment | AED 500 if you are in the UAE | AED 500 status adjustment | Included | GDRFA Golden cards; ICP Issuing Residency Permit card |
| Emirates ID, 10 years | AED 1,000 (AED 100 x 10) + AED 100 smart services = AED 1,100 | Same: AED 1,100 | AED 1,153 | ICP New Identity Card Issuance card; DLD page |
| Medical fitness test (18 and over) | AED 270 standard (Dubai Health price list); AED 700 Smart Salem Golden visa test | EHS AED 260 to 360 + centre fee; Abu Dhabi reported from AED 250 | AED 700 | Dubai Health price list; Smart Salem; EHS card; DLD page |
| Health insurance | Required; price set by insurer, not published by GDRFA | Required; AED 320 basic package applies to private-sector employees and domestic workers only | Required document (“health insurance”) | ICP Golden Residence guide; u.ae health insurance page; DLD page |
| DLD Golden visa fee | Not applicable | Not applicable | AED 4,020 | DLD Golden visa (investor) |
| Administrative or centre charges | On the Amer receipt (observed pattern: typing AED 100, admin AED 50, centre AED 50 + VAT AED 2.50) | Typing centre fee on the receipt | Administrative fees AED 1,155 | Observed Amer receipt, 4 Sep 2026; DLD page |
| Each sponsored family member | Family lines per person: entry permit AED 210, residence AED 1,000, Emirates ID AED 1,100, plus AED 500 inside; sponsor file AED 210 once | Same chain per person; ICP card lists an investor-family guarantee of AED 3,000 per member (cap AED 15,000) | AED 5,774.50 + AED 100 each + AED 318.75 family file (once) | ICP Issuing Residency Permit card; DLD page |

How the golden visa cost Dubai residents pay is built: three channels, one set of lines
Every Golden residence ends in the same place: a 10-year residence record and a 10-year Emirates ID. What changes the Golden visa cost is the channel you use to get there, because each channel prints its own fees and adds its own charges.
- GDRFA Dubai. If you live in Dubai, or your qualifying asset or employer is in Dubai, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs issues the residence. Its Golden cards (investors, entrepreneurs, specialised scientists, top students, talents, humanitarian pioneers, frontline heroes) all print the same fee block. You file through the GDRFA app or website, or through an Amer centre, which adds its own charges.
- ICP. In Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security issues the residence. ICP also issues every Emirates ID in the country, including Dubai’s. ICP’s cards are itemised differently: application, per-year issuance and smart services.
- DLD for Dubai property owners. The Dubai Land Department runs its own Golden visa service for people who qualify through Dubai property. It collects the GDRFA, ICP and medical lines together with its own DLD fee and an administrative fee, and publishes one all-in figure.
Two further lines sit beside the immigration fees in every channel: the medical fitness test for anyone aged 18 or over, and health insurance, which you buy from an insurer but which the residence system checks.
Finally, some categories involve an earlier approval by another body: a nomination letter from a ministry or cultural authority, an equivalency certificate for a degree, or, for an entrepreneur in Dubai, a nomination from the Dubai Future Foundation. These are costs of proving eligibility rather than Golden visa fees in the UAE sense, and we deal with them in their own section.
Three kinds of figure appear in this guide. Card lines are what GDRFA or ICP print on the official service card. Portal totals are the all-in figures a channel such as DLD publishes. Quotes are the numbers you see from agents and websites. The three rarely agree to the dirham. Where they differ, we show all of them and explain the gap as far as the official pages allow; where they do not explain it, we say so.
Golden visa cost Dubai: how MIRDXB PRO helps
People rarely overpay on the Golden visa because a government fee is high. They overpay because something is done in the wrong order: an existing residence cancelled too early, a medical booked at the wrong speed, a family member filed separately and charged a second set of channel fees, or a property application sent through a channel that costs several thousand dirhams more than another channel for the same result. We run the file so every fee is paid once, at the right point, and you can see every line.
What we do
- Check the route first. Which Golden category you fit, which authority will issue the residence (GDRFA or ICP), and whether DLD’s property channel or the direct GDRFA channel suits your file.
- Price the whole family in writing. Every government line at cost, with its source, per person, and our fee as a separate line.
- Prepare the eligibility evidence: salary certificate and contract, title deed or bank letter, trade licence and audited accounts, nomination letters, degree attestation and equivalency where needed.
- File the residence with GDRFA or ICP, book the medical test and biometrics, and follow the application to approval.
- Add the family in the right order, so that spouse, children, parents and any domestic worker ride on your new file rather than an old one.
- Hand over a clean record: residence, Emirates IDs, receipts, and the renewal and insurance dates you need to track.
How it works
- Message us on WhatsApp with your passport copy, current visa (if any) and one line on your qualifying route.
- We confirm the route and the channel and flag anything that would block or delay the file, such as an open fine or a salary that is paid partly in allowances.
- You approve a written quote: government fees at cost, our fee stated separately, and an estimate of the insurance line if you want us to source it.
- We file and follow up with GDRFA, ICP or DLD, and arrange the medical and biometrics around your diary.
- You receive the finished residence and a folder of receipts that you can check line by line against this guide.
What it costs
Government fees are passed on at cost, exactly as printed on the official receipts. Our own fee depends on the file (category, emirate, number of family members, whether the evidence needs attestation) and is quoted in writing before we start. Our standard service packages are on our fees page, and the finished service is described on our Golden residence service page.
Why residents use us
- We publish our sources. Every figure in this guide links to the official card or page it came from, and we show the receipt pattern we see at the counter.
- We cover both systems. Dubai files go through GDRFA; files in the other emirates go through ICP. We handle both, and the Dubai Land Department channel for property owners.
- We tell you when you do not need us. A single applicant with clean papers can file through the GDRFA or ICP app. If that is you, we will say so.
- We are easy to find. Our office is in Al Barsha 1, Dubai, open by appointment; whatsApp us any time, 24 hours; office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 (Dubai time).
- We can act for you from abroad under a power of attorney where the authority allows it, which matters for investors who are not in the UAE when the file starts.
Golden visa fees in Dubai: the GDRFA Golden residence card, line by line
GDRFA publishes a separate service card for each Golden category: investors, entrepreneurs, specialised scientists, talents, top students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes, plus matching renewal cards. We read the investor, entrepreneur, top-student and talent cards on 23 September 2026 and re-checked them on 22 October 2026. The fee block is identical on all of them.
| GDRFA Golden fee line (as printed) | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Residence permit fee | AED 1,100 | Every applicant |
| Issuance fee for years 3 to 10 (AED 100 a year) | AED 800 | Every applicant on a 10-year permit |
| Fee inside the country | AED 500 | Applicant is in the UAE at the time of issue |
| Note | “The issuance fee increases by AED 100 annually whenever the residency is over two years.” | Priced as the AED 800 line above |
| Total, card lines only | AED 1,900 outside / AED 2,400 inside | Before Emirates ID, medical, insurance and centre charges |
The published service time is five days for the investor, entrepreneur and student issue cards, and 48 hours on the renewal card. GDRFA also states that nomination by a relevant authority “does not constitute final approval” and that the final decision rests with the Directorate, so a nomination letter does not guarantee the residence.
The AED 1,100 line and the “AED 100 a year” note
Every GDRFA residence card carries the same note: the issuance fee rises by AED 100 for each year beyond two. On a standard two-year family or Green card the base line is AED 200, and the note tells you how to price a longer permit. On a 10-year Golden residence the note adds AED 800 for years 3 to 10, so we price it as its own line: AED 1,100 plus AED 800, or AED 1,900 before the inside-country fee.
With the AED 500 inside-country fee, the card lines come to AED 2,400 for someone already in the UAE. The Dubai Land Department’s “confirmation of residency permit” line of AED 2,856.75 is higher, because it belongs to DLD’s own package. Fees change, so the authority’s payment screen is the figure to check before you pay.
The AED 500 fee inside the country
GDRFA charges AED 500 when the application is processed while you are in the UAE. It plays the same role as ICP’s AED 500 status adjustment. Most Golden applicants are already UAE residents (a salaried professional, a property owner on a two-year investor visa, a student), so for most people this line applies. It does not apply if the residence is issued while you are outside the country.
What the GDRFA card does not include
The card does not include the Emirates ID (ICP charges it), the medical test (Dubai Health or a licensed centre charges it), health insurance, any Amer or typing charge, or any earlier nomination, equivalency or attestation. Adding those is what turns an AED 2,400 card total into the real Golden visa cost, the three-to-four-thousand-dirham figure most single applicants actually pay.
Golden visa fees UAE-wide: ICP Golden residence fees in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the northern emirates
Outside Dubai, the Golden residence is issued on ICP’s general “Issuing Residency Permit” card, which lists “Resident – Golden Residence” as one of its categories. ICP itemises its fees differently from GDRFA.
| ICP fee line (as printed) | Amount | For a 10-year Golden residence |
|---|---|---|
| Application fees | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| “New Golden Residence issuance for a 10-year duration, per year” | AED 100 | AED 1,000 |
| Smart service fees | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Status adjustment (inside the country) | AED 500 | AED 500 if applicable |
| Total, card lines only | AED 1,200 outside / AED 1,700 inside |
ICP’s published completion time for the card is two days. Its conditions for a Golden applicant are short: a passport valid for at least six months, a personal photo and proof of eligibility for the chosen category. Its general terms also require the residence to be completed within 60 days of entry for someone who entered on an entry permit.
The six-month entry visa for applicants abroad
ICP’s Golden Residence guide (updated 10 September 2026) confirms that “eligible applicants for Golden Residency who are outside the UAE are granted a six-month, multiple-entry entry visa, renewable for an additional six months.” It does not print the fee, and the ICP visa issuance card we read does not list it either.
Two press reports give figures. Gulf News reported on 8 April 2023, citing ICP via Al Khaleej, a total of AED 1,250: AED 1,000 issuance, AED 100 application, AED 100 smart services, AED 28 e-services and AED 22 ICP fees. Gulf Today reported on 6 July 2024 that the entry fee for the six-month multiple-trip Golden visa and its extension is AED 1,100. We cannot confirm either on an official page today, so we show both and treat AED 1,250 as the safer budget.
Guarantees on ICP’s card
ICP’s residence card also lists a “financial guarantee for the investor’s family residency, applied per family member, with a maximum amount of AED 15,000” at AED 3,000, and a guarantee of AED 5,000 per year for the recruitment of domestic workers by a foreign resident. A guarantee is a refundable deposit, not a fee, but it is cash you have to find. The card does not say whether the family guarantee applies to Golden investors or only to standard investor residences; ask ICP (600522222) before you file, or ask us to check.
Golden visa fees UAE comparison: where the ICP card and the GDRFA card differ
On card lines alone, GDRFA is AED 700 dearer than ICP: AED 1,900 against AED 1,200 for someone outside the country, and AED 2,400 against AED 1,700 for someone inside. The difference is small next to the Emirates ID, the medical test and insurance, and you do not choose between them: the emirate of your residence decides the authority.
Golden visa fees for the 10-year Emirates ID: AED 1,100 on ICP’s card
ICP issues every resident’s Emirates ID, in Dubai as well as the other emirates. Its “New Identity Card Issuance” card prices a resident’s card at “AED 100 per year of residence” plus AED 100 smart service fees. A Golden residence is ten years, so the Emirates ID line is:
| Emirates ID line | Standard two-year residence | Green residence, 5 years | Golden residence, 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issuance, AED 100 per year | AED 200 | AED 500 | AED 1,000 |
| Smart service fees | AED 100 | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Total | AED 300 | AED 600 | AED 1,100 |
| Cost per year of validity | AED 150 | AED 120 | AED 110 |
The Golden Emirates ID looks expensive because you pay a decade at once, but per year it is the cheapest of the three. ICP’s published completion time is five days, and the card is delivered by ICP’s appointed courier. DLD’s property channel shows the same card at AED 1,153; the AED 53 difference is not itemised on the DLD page and is most likely a typing or service charge.
The Emirates ID is also the proof of residence: ICP stopped putting residence stickers in passports in 2022. If the Emirates ID lapses and you do not renew it within the 30-day grace period, ICP charges AED 20 a day up to AED 1,000, which is covered in our Emirates ID fine guide. With a Golden residence this rarely arises, because the ID and the residence run together for ten years.
The medical fitness test in the Golden visa cost: AED 270 to AED 700
Everyone aged 18 or over who is issued a residence in the UAE sits a medical fitness test, and the Golden residence is no exception. Children under 18 do not sit it, which is why a family’s medical line is usually smaller than its headcount suggests.
| Where | Option | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Standard (regular) visa medical, Dubai Health centres | AED 270 | Dubai Health price list |
| Dubai | Smart Salem “Golden Visa Medical Test”, results in 30 minutes, valet parking | AED 700 | Smart Salem price list, 23 Sep 2026 |
| Dubai, DLD channel | Medical examination line in DLD’s Golden visa fees | AED 700 | DLD Golden visa (investor) |
| Northern emirates | EHS residency medical, by category | AED 260, 310 or 360 + service centre fees | EHS service card; Cabinet Resolution 4 of 2025 |
| Abu Dhabi | Standard residency screening | Reported from AED 250, higher for faster options | Press report (Gulf Today, 2023); not an official price list |
You do not have to use the Golden visa product. Any licensed centre’s standard residence medical produces the same fitness result for the immigration system. Smart Salem’s Golden visa test is a convenience option: faster, with valet parking and no queue. DLD’s channel prices the medical at AED 700, so a property owner who uses DLD pays the premium speed by default. Our UAE visa medical test guide covers the test itself, the centres and what happens if a result is delayed.
Health insurance: the line that recurs every year
Health insurance is the least predictable part of the golden visa cost Dubai families face, because no government card prints a price for it. It is, however, a condition of the residence:
- ICP’s Golden Residence guide lists health insurance as a requirement for the investor, entrepreneur and professional categories, and for property investors “throughout validity”.
- In Dubai, u.ae states that “sponsors are required to get insurance cover for their resident dependents”, and employers must insure employees.
- In Abu Dhabi, employers and sponsors must provide cover for employees and their families (u.ae lists one spouse and three children under 18).
- In the northern emirates, the AED 320 a year basic package that started on 1 January 2025 applies to private-sector employees and domestic workers aged 1 to 64. It is not a price for self-sponsored Golden investors, and a quote that applies it to them is wrong.
- The DLD channel lists health insurance as a required document for family applications and for sponsored parents.
What this means in practice: a salaried Golden holder is usually insured by the employer, and the cost to them is only the top-up for any family members the employer does not cover. A self-sponsored investor or entrepreneur buys cover for themselves and everyone they sponsor. Premiums depend on age, plan, network and pre-existing conditions, and they rise with age. For parents over 60 the annual premium can exceed every other line of that parent’s residence combined.
Because insurers set the price, we do not print an average in the worked totals below. We show insurance as a separate line to be priced for your family, and we recommend comparing at least three quotes before you file, because the plan you choose at issue will usually be renewed each year for a decade.
The residence runs ten years, but insurance policies run one year. If the policy lapses, you have a residence without the cover its conditions require. Diary the renewal date the day the residence is issued, and keep proof of continuous cover for yourself and every sponsored person.
Centre, typing and VAT charges on top of Golden visa fees
Government cards print the Golden visa fees themselves. The channel you file through adds its own charges, and these are where quotes vary most.
- GDRFA app or website: the card lines, with no centre charge. This is the cheapest channel for a straightforward file.
- Amer centre (Dubai): the card lines plus typing and service charges. On a real Amer receipt for a different GDRFA service dated 4 September 2026 (a return permit), the GDRFA total included a typing line of AED 100 and an administrative line of AED 50, and Amer added its own AED 50 charge plus AED 2.50 VAT. That is AED 202.50 of non-government lines on one transaction. We use it only as an indication of the pattern; a Golden residence receipt may differ.
- ICP smart services or a typing centre (other emirates): ICP’s AED 100 smart service fee is already on the card. A typing centre adds its own charge, which should appear on the receipt.
- DLD channel (Dubai property): DLD publishes an “administrative fees” line of AED 1,155 for the investor, in addition to its AED 4,020 DLD fee.
VAT at 5% applies to the centre’s service charge, not to the government fee lines, which is why the VAT on an Amer receipt is small. If a quote adds 5% to the whole golden visa cost, ask what it is charging VAT on.
Every channel issues an itemised receipt. A quote that gives you one round figure for “Golden visa processing” without splitting government fees from service charges cannot be checked. Ask for the split before you pay; any reputable provider, including us, will give it.
Golden visa cost on the property route: DLD’s fee lines
If you qualify through Dubai property, the Dubai Land Department offers its own Golden visa service. DLD describes it as a 10-year renewable residence for “the real estate investor owning a property the purchase value of which is equal to or more than 2 million AED at the time of purchase”. The applicant must be inside the UAE. DLD publishes one fee table for the whole service:
| DLD Golden visa line (investor, 10 years) | Amount | Comparable card line |
|---|---|---|
| Medical examination | AED 700 | Smart Salem Golden visa test AED 700; standard Dubai medical AED 270 |
| Emirates ID (10 years) | AED 1,153 | ICP card AED 1,100 |
| Confirmation of residency permit (10 years) | AED 2,856.75 | GDRFA lines AED 2,400 inside the country (AED 1,100 + 800 + 500) |
| Dubai Land Department fees | AED 4,020 | No equivalent: DLD’s own service fee |
| Administrative fees | AED 1,155 | No equivalent on the GDRFA card |
| Total (DLD page) | AED 9,884.75 | Card-line build with the AED 700 medical: AED 4,200 |
We added the five DLD lines and they come to AED 9,884.75, which matches DLD’s printed total. Compared with the card-line build using the same AED 700 medical, DLD costs AED 5,684.75 more. That gap is the DLD fee (AED 4,020), the administrative fee (AED 1,155), the difference on the residency line (AED 456.75) and the difference on the Emirates ID (AED 53). The four add back to AED 5,684.75 exactly.
Family members on the DLD channel
DLD prices each sponsored person separately: “sponsorship fees” of AED 5,774.50 for each family member and the same for each parent, a one-off “family file opening” fee of AED 318.75, and a note that AED 100 is “added for each sponsored person”. We add the AED 100 on top, as the Golden visa calculator does, so each family member comes to AED 5,874.50 in our worked totals. It also does not break the AED 5,774.50 down; if it follows the investor’s pattern it contains a medical at AED 700 and an Emirates ID at AED 1,153, which would mean children under 18 are priced for a medical they do not sit. Ask for the per-person breakdown before you pay.
DLD’s page and DLD’s centre do not print the same total
The Golden Cube, one of DLD’s service centres, publishes AED 9,984.75 for a new 10-year property investor Golden visa, AED 100 more than DLD’s own page, together with AED 9,519.75 for renewal and AED 190.75 for cancellation. The AED 100 difference is not explained on either page. It may be the same “AED 100 per sponsored person” line applied to the investor, but that is our guess, not a published fact. Budget on the higher figure.
Is the DLD channel worth the extra?
DLD bundles the property check, the residence, the Emirates ID and the medical into one application, and handles the lien and title-deed verification that the GDRFA investor card requires. For some owners, particularly those with several units, a mortgage, or a family to add at the same time, that convenience is worth paying for. For an owner of a single, fully paid unit who already lives in Dubai, the direct GDRFA route can be several thousand dirhams cheaper on published lines. We look at both for every property client and recommend one in writing.
Buying the property carries its own costs: the DLD transfer fee (widely reported as 4% of the price), trustee office and title-deed charges, and any mortgage registration. These belong to the purchase, not to the residence, and you pay them whether or not you ever apply for a Golden visa. They are covered, with the AED 2 million threshold, mortgages, off-plan units and joint ownership, in our Golden visa property requirement guide. If you want us to handle the property application itself, see our service for property investors.
Nomination and eligibility-evidence costs beside the Golden visa fees
Several Golden categories need a document from another body before GDRFA or ICP will accept the application. These are not Golden visa fees in the strict sense, but they belong in the budget.
| Route | What you need first | Published cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Culture and creative talents (federal) | Ministry of Culture recommendation letter | No fee: “free of charge and there are no fees” | Ministry of Culture Golden visa page |
| Culture and creative talents (Dubai) | Dubai Culture “Creative and Talented Accreditation” | Fee not stated on the service page; 30 working days | Dubai Culture service page |
| Specialised professionals (salary AED 30,000) | Valid work permit, bachelor’s degree, occupational level 1 or 2, salary evidence | No nomination fee; degree attestation and equivalency may cost money | ICP Golden Residence guide |
| Entrepreneurs | In Dubai, a nomination from the Dubai Future Foundation: a registered project earning at least AED 1 million a year, an incubator-backed project earning AED 2 million, or a project you founded and sold for at least AED 7 million | Not published on the pages we read | GDRFA entrepreneur card |
| Outstanding students and graduates | Ministry of Education attestation of results; school or university recommendation | Attestation fees apply; no Golden-specific fee | GDRFA top-students card; ICP guide |
| Doctors, nurses, teachers, scientists | Recommendation from the relevant health, education or science body | Varies by body; many have no fee | ICP guide |
For the salary route, the most common hidden cost is getting a foreign degree attested and, where required, recognised. Our attestation cost guide and equivalency certificate guide price those steps. The salary rules themselves, including whether allowances count, are in our Golden visa salary requirement guide, and the nominated routes are in our Golden visa nomination process guide.
What is not a fee: the investment itself
The most common misunderstanding about the Golden visa cost is that the qualifying amount is a price. It is not. Nothing in the table below is paid to GDRFA, ICP or DLD; it is a condition you meet and, in most routes, keep.
| Route | Qualifying condition (official) | Paid to the government? | What you must keep doing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate | Property of at least AED 2 million (ICP; GDRFA; DLD) | No | Keep the property; GDRFA says a lien is placed and the property cannot be disposed of during the 10 years |
| Bank deposit | At least AED 2 million deposited with an accredited UAE bank (GDRFA) | No | GDRFA: the deposit is frozen for at least two years |
| Company share | A share worth at least AED 2 million in a UAE company’s assets (GDRFA) | No | Keep the company and its filings current |
| Tax contributor | At least AED 250,000 a year in tax paid by your UAE businesses (GDRFA) | The tax is paid anyway; no extra visa charge | Keep the FTA letter current |
| Specialised professional | Monthly salary of at least AED 30,000, MOHRE level 1 or 2 (GDRFA; ICP) | No | Salary is checked at issue and renewal |
| Entrepreneur | Dubai Future Foundation nomination: AED 1 million a year from a registered project, AED 2 million from an incubator-backed project, or a AED 7 million exit (GDRFA) | No | Evidence at renewal |
Both GDRFA and ICP add one condition that runs for the whole term: the holder must be able to support themselves and their family without government support. That is not a fee either, but it is why a Golden visa bought with borrowed money is a poor plan. The full thresholds for every category are on our eligibility guide.
Golden visa fees UAE families pay per dependant
ICP’s guide lets a Golden holder obtain residence for spouses and children “regardless of their age, as well as for parents”, and allows domestic workers under the normal rules. Each sponsored person is a separate residence, a separate Emirates ID and, if 18 or over, a separate medical test. There is no family discount on any card we read.
| Sponsored person | Dubai, card lines (inside the UAE) | Other emirates, ICP card lines (inside) | DLD channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Entry permit AED 210 + family residence AED 1,000 + inside-country fee AED 500 + Emirates ID AED 1,100 + medical AED 270 = AED 3,080 | Entry permit AED 300 + residence AED 1,200 + status adjustment AED 500 + Emirates ID AED 1,100 = AED 3,100 + medical | AED 5,774.50 + AED 100 | Marriage certificate attested; insurance required |
| Child under 18 | AED 210 + 1,000 + 500 + 1,100 = AED 2,810 (no medical) | AED 3,100 | AED 5,774.50 + AED 100 | Birth certificate attested |
| Child 18 or over (any age for Golden holders) | As spouse: AED 3,080 | AED 3,100 + medical | AED 5,774.50 + AED 100 | Age limits that apply to other residents do not apply |
| Parent | As spouse: AED 3,080 | AED 3,100 + medical | AED 5,774.50 + AED 100 | DLD asks for a dependency certificate and health insurance; older-age insurance is costly |
| Family file (once) | Sponsor file opening AED 210 (AED 200 + 5% VAT) | Not printed | AED 318.75 | GDRFA and DLD |
| Domestic worker | Separate domestic worker process | ICP card lists an AED 5,000 recruitment guarantee per year | Not offered | See our maid visa page |
Two points need care. First, family members of a Golden holder are issued on GDRFA’s family residence lines for the holder’s term: AED 200 for the first two years plus AED 100 for each further year, or AED 1,000 for ten years, with a AED 210 entry permit (AED 200 + 5% VAT); someone already in the UAE adds the AED 500 inside-country fee, and from abroad that line falls away (a child AED 2,310, an adult AED 2,580). Second, the DLD per-person figure is about double the card-line build, because it carries DLD’s administrative lines per person.
If the Golden holder dies, ICP states that sponsored family members may remain in the UAE for the validity of their residence permits. That is a benefit worth knowing when you compare the golden visa cost Dubai families pay with a cheaper two-year family visa. The full sponsorship rules, including documents and the order of filing, are in our Golden visa family sponsorship guide, and domestic workers are covered on our maid visa service page.
Worked totals: the Golden visa cost in six common cases
These cases are built from the situations we see most often. Names and identifying details are left out, and the figures are the published ones. Every total was added up line by line and checked in a script before publication. GDRFA’s residence lines are priced as the AED 1,100 permit fee plus AED 800 for years 3 to 10, and family members on GDRFA’s family lines. Health insurance is shown as a separate line because no authority publishes its price.
Case 1: Golden visa cost for a specialised professional already living in Dubai
Situation. A software architect on an employment residence in Dubai earns a monthly salary above AED 30,000, holds a bachelor’s degree and is at MOHRE occupational level 2. The employer insures her. She applies for a Golden residence while still in Dubai and files through the GDRFA app.
| Line | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| GDRFA residence (AED 1,100 permit fee + AED 800 for years 3 to 10 + AED 500 inside) | AED 2,400 | GDRFA Golden card |
| Emirates ID, 10 years | AED 1,100 | ICP ID card |
| Medical, standard Dubai | AED 270 | Dubai Health price list |
| Government total | AED 3,770 | |
| With the AED 700 Smart Salem medical instead | AED 4,200 | Smart Salem |
| Health insurance | Employer policy continues; no extra cost to her | u.ae |
What the numbers show. For a salaried professional, the Golden visa cost is roughly the price of two standard residence renewals, and it replaces five of them. Her employer then applies for a MOHRE work permit for a Golden visa holder (an employer cost) instead of the permit tied to her old residence. Filing at an Amer centre instead of the app would add the centre’s charges, which on the receipt pattern we have seen is about AED 200 per transaction.
Case 2: Golden visa cost for an investor, spouse and two children in Dubai
Situation. An investor qualifies through an AED 2 million deposit with a UAE bank. He, his wife and their children aged 9 and 14 are already Dubai residents on his old investor visa. He is self-sponsored, so he buys health insurance for all four.
| Person | Residence lines | Emirates ID | Medical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investor | AED 2,400 (1,100 + 800 + 500 inside) | AED 1,100 | AED 270 | AED 3,770 |
| Spouse | AED 1,710 (entry permit 210 + residence 1,000 + 500 inside) | AED 1,100 | AED 270 | AED 3,080 |
| Child, 14 | AED 1,710 | AED 1,100 | Not required | AED 2,810 |
| Child, 9 | AED 1,710 | AED 1,100 | Not required | AED 2,810 |
| Sponsor file opening (once) | AED 210 | AED 210 | ||
| Family total, government lines | AED 12,680 | |||
| Health insurance, four people | Priced by the insurer; compare at least three quotes | |||
What the numbers show. The children cost almost as much as the adults, because the residence and the 10-year Emirates ID do not change with age; only the medical drops out. Family members cost less than the investor because they are issued on GDRFA’s family residence lines (AED 1,000 for ten years) rather than the Golden permit fee and its years 3 to 10 line. The deposit itself (AED 2 million, frozen for at least two years according to GDRFA) is not part of the Golden visa cost.
Case 3: Golden visa cost for a property owner using DLD’s service
Situation. An owner of a fully paid AED 2.4 million apartment in Dubai applies through DLD’s service, first for himself and then with his wife and two children.
| Line | Investor alone | Family of four | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor (medical, Emirates ID, residency, DLD fee, admin) | AED 9,884.75 | AED 9,884.75 | DLD page |
| Three family members at AED 5,774.50 + AED 100 each | None | AED 17,623.50 | DLD page |
| Family file opening | None | AED 318.75 | DLD page |
| Total on DLD’s page | AED 9,884.75 | AED 27,827.00 | |
| If the Golden Cube figure applies to the investor | AED 9,984.75 | AED 27,927.00 | Golden Cube price list |
What the numbers show. On published lines, the same family would cost AED 12,680 through the direct GDRFA route (Case 2). On DLD’s page figures, its channel is AED 15,147 more for four people. Part of that buys a single, joined-up process with the property checks done for you. Whether that is worth it depends on the file. For a mortgaged property or several units, DLD’s process is often the cleaner route; for one fully paid unit, the direct route usually wins on price.
Case 4: Golden visa fees for a professional moving to Abu Dhabi from abroad
Situation. A consultant living overseas accepts a job in Abu Dhabi paying more than AED 30,000 a month. She enters on the six-month Golden entry visa, and her residence is issued by ICP. Her employer insures her.
| Line | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Six-month multiple-entry Golden entry visa | AED 1,250 (2023 report) or AED 1,100 (2024 report) | Gulf News; Gulf Today (ICP not published) |
| ICP residence: application AED 100 + AED 100 x 10 + smart services AED 100 | AED 1,200 | ICP Issuing Residency Permit card |
| Emirates ID, 10 years | AED 1,100 | ICP ID card |
| Medical, Abu Dhabi standard | AED 250 (reported) | Press report |
| Government total | AED 3,800 (or AED 3,650) | |
| If she were already in the UAE on another visa: no entry visa, AED 500 status adjustment | AED 3,050 | ICP card |
What the numbers show. Arriving from abroad costs about AED 750 more than applying from inside, because the six-month entry visa costs more than the AED 500 status adjustment it replaces. On card lines, an applicant already inside the UAE pays about AED 700 less in Abu Dhabi than in Dubai (AED 3,050 against AED 3,770, each with its standard medical), because GDRFA prices years 3 to 10 as a separate AED 800 line.
Case 5: Golden visa renewal fees after ten years in Dubai
Situation. A Golden holder in Dubai whose residence expires next month still meets the salary condition and renews through GDRFA.
| Line | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| GDRFA renewal lines (AED 1,100 permit fee + AED 800 for years 3 to 10 + AED 500 inside) | AED 2,400 | GDRFA Golden renewal card |
| Emirates ID renewal, 10 years | AED 1,100 | ICP ID card (same structure as issue) |
| Medical, standard | AED 270 | Dubai Health price list |
| Government total | AED 3,770 |
What the numbers show. Renewal costs the same as the first issue on the published lines, because the renewal card repeats the same fee block. The larger cost of renewal is proving that you still qualify. A property owner who sold the unit, or a professional whose salary fell below AED 30,000, cannot renew on that basis. DLD’s Golden Cube publishes AED 9,519.75 for a property-route renewal, AED 465 less than its new-issue figure.
Case 6: Golden visa fees for cancelling a Golden residence
Situation. A Golden holder in Dubai is leaving the UAE for good and cancels the residence from inside the country.
| Channel | Published figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| GDRFA cancellation card | AED 100 cancellation fee | GDRFA cancellation card |
| GDRFA FAQ, inside the country, individual sponsor | AED 190 + Amer charges | GDRFA FAQ |
| DLD Golden Cube, property route | AED 190.75 | Golden Cube price list |
| ICP (other emirates) | AED 50 application + AED 100 smart services = AED 150 | ICP cancellation card |
What the numbers show. Cancellation is the cheapest of the Golden visa fees, but family members must be cancelled first. After cancellation or expiry, a Golden holder has a 180-day grace period (ICP), after which overstay costs AED 50 a day. The full process is in our residence visa grace period guide.

Golden visa fees vs Green residence fees
Many applicants who qualify for the Golden residence also qualify for the five-year Green residence, and some ask whether the cheaper-looking option saves money. On ICP’s card lines the answer is no: per year of validity, the Golden visa cost is slightly lower.
| ICP card lines | Green residence (5 years) | Golden residence (10 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Application | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Issuance at AED 100 a year | AED 500 | AED 1,000 |
| Smart services | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Emirates ID (AED 100 a year + AED 100) | AED 600 | AED 1,100 |
| Total | AED 1,300 | AED 2,300 |
| Per year of validity | AED 260 | AED 230 |
Add a medical test and a status adjustment to each, and the Golden residence still comes out cheaper per year because those one-off lines are spread over twice as long. In Dubai, GDRFA’s Green card prints a base of AED 200 with the same annual-increase note, so the comparison follows the same pattern as the Golden card. The real differences between the two are not in the Golden visa fees but in the conditions: the thresholds, who you can sponsor, and how long each lasts. Our Golden visa vs Green visa guide sets them side by side, and our Green residence service page covers the five-year route.
Golden visa cost Dubai conflicts: where the published Golden visa fees disagree
Official sources do not always agree with each other, and quotes online often disagree with both. This table collects every conflict we found while checking the Golden visa fees on 23 September 2026 (re-checked 22 October 2026), with what we recommend you do about each.
| Point | One source says | Another says | What we advise |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDRFA residence line | GDRFA card: AED 1,100 | Same card: “increases by AED 100 annually whenever the residency is over two years” | Budget AED 2,400 inside: AED 1,100 + AED 800 for years 3 to 10 + AED 500; check the receipt |
| Residence line on the property route | GDRFA lines: AED 2,400 inside | DLD: “confirmation of residency permit” AED 2,856.75 | DLD’s line includes charges it does not itemise; compare channels before choosing |
| DLD investor total | DLD page: AED 9,884.75 | Golden Cube: AED 9,984.75 | Budget the higher figure |
| DLD per-person add-on | DLD: AED 5,774.50 per family member | Same page: “added for each sponsored person: AED 100” | Budget AED 5,874.50 per person, with the AED 100 on top |
| Emirates ID | ICP card: AED 1,100 for 10 years | DLD: AED 1,153 | The ICP figure is the government fee; the difference is a channel charge |
| Six-month entry visa | Gulf News (2023, citing ICP): AED 1,250 | Gulf Today (2024): AED 1,100; ICP card: not listed | Budget AED 1,250 |
| Duration of property Golden residence | ICP guide, GDRFA investor card, DLD: 10 years | u.ae summary table: 5 years | The issuing authorities say 10 years, and the fees above are for 10; read your approval |
| Entrepreneur duration | GDRFA and ICP guide: 10 years | u.ae table: 5 years | As above |
| Medical price | Dubai Health price list: AED 270 standard | DLD and Smart Salem: AED 700 | Both are valid; AED 700 buys speed, not a different result |
| GDRFA cancellation | Card: AED 100 | FAQ: AED 190 inside for an individual, plus Amer | Expect about AED 190 plus centre charges |
| Third-party totals | Our previous version: application AED 2,800 to 4,800, all-in AED 4,500 to 7,500 | Consultancy quotes online: “GDRFA issuance package” AED 2,790; “base government fees” about AED 4,240 | Neither is a published card line; use the card lines above and add your channel’s charges |
What circulates online that is not true
| Claim | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| “The Golden visa costs AED 2 million.” | AED 2 million is the property or deposit threshold for the investor routes. It is an asset you keep, not a fee. The Golden visa fees are a few thousand dirhams per person. |
| “There is one fixed Golden visa cost.” | There is no single published price. GDRFA, ICP and DLD each publish different lines, and the channel, the medical speed and your family size change the Golden visa cost. |
| “Applying from inside the UAE is about AED 1,000 cheaper.” | It is the other way round on the cards: being inside adds AED 500 (GDRFA’s inside-country fee or ICP’s status adjustment). Applying from abroad adds the six-month entry visa instead, reported at AED 1,100 to AED 1,250. |
| “Children under 18 cost less because of their age.” | Only the medical test drops out. The residence and the 10-year Emirates ID cost the same for a child as for an adult. |
| “The northern emirates’ AED 320 insurance covers Golden investors.” | The AED 320 basic package is for private-sector employees and domestic workers. Self-sponsored Golden investors buy their own cover. |
| “Golden visa fees are never refunded.” | ICP refunds issuance fees for a service that is not completed. Application and smart service fees are not refundable. |
| “Golden thresholds were cut in 2026.” | ICP’s guide (updated 10 September 2026) still says AED 2 million, and no official source we read confirms a cut. A mortgaged property can qualify: the value that counts is its current DLD valuation, which must reach AED 2 million, and the bank’s no-objection letter must state the amount paid and the outstanding balance. The exact documents are confirmed at application. |
| “A nomination letter means the visa is approved.” | GDRFA states that nomination by the relevant authority does not constitute final approval; the Directorate decides. |
Refunds of Golden visa fees if an application does not go through
ICP’s “Refund of Fees” card is clear about what comes back: “Only issuance fees are refundable. Application submission fees and smart services fees are non-refundable.” A refund applies when the service is not completed, it is requested through ICP’s smart services with UAE Pass, and it is paid to a UAE bank account against an IBAN certificate. The published processing time is five days.
On an ICP Golden residence, that means the AED 1,000 issuance line can come back if the residence is not issued, but the AED 100 application and AED 100 smart services fees cannot. GDRFA does not publish an equivalent Golden refund rule on the cards we read, and the Amer or DLD channel charges are service charges that are normally not refunded once the work is done. If your application is returned or refused, our guide to a rejected Golden visa explains the options before you pay again.
How to keep the golden visa cost Dubai families pay down
- Pick the right channel for the right reason. For a single, fully paid Dubai property and an owner who lives here, compare DLD’s all-in price with the direct GDRFA route before you choose.
- Apply once for the family. Adding each person in the same sitting avoids repeated centre charges and makes sure everyone is issued on your new file, not the old one.
- Choose the medical by timetable, not by habit. The AED 270 standard test is enough if you are not in a hurry; the AED 700 option buys a 30-minute result.
- Do not cancel your current residence early. The file usually moves from the old status to the new one; cancelling first can expose you to a grace period and, if something stalls, a fine of AED 50 a day.
- Clear fines first. Outstanding overstay or traffic fines can stop a file without refusing it, and the time lost costs more than the fine.
- Price insurance over ten years, not one. It is the only line that recurs, and it rises with age.
- Keep the receipts. They are the only way to prove what you paid if a refund is due, and they show you at renewal what the next ten years will cost.
How to verify every Golden visa fees figure in this guide
| Figure | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| GDRFA Golden lines: AED 1,100 + AED 800 for years 3 to 10 (annual-increase note) + 500 inside; five days; nomination not final approval; lien, deposit frozen two years, self-support condition | GDRFA cards: Golden residence (investors), (entrepreneurs), (top students and graduates) |
| GDRFA Golden renewal lines; 48 hours | GDRFA card: Renewal of a golden residence permit (talents) |
| ICP residence: AED 100 application, AED 100 per year for 10 years, AED 100 smart services, AED 500 status adjustment, guarantees; two days | ICP: Issuing Residency Permit |
| ICP renewal lines; 180-day grace for Golden holders; AED 50 a day | ICP: Renewal of Residency Permits |
| Emirates ID AED 100 per year + AED 100; five days | ICP: New Identity Card Issuance |
| Refund rule | ICP: Refund of Fees |
| Categories, thresholds, six-month entry visa, family of any age, parents, domestic workers, family after death | ICP: Golden Residence guide (updated 10 September 2026) |
| DLD lines: 700, 1,153, 2,856.75, 4,020, 1,155 = 9,884.75; 5,774.50 + 100 per person; 318.75 family file | DLD: Golden visa application (investor) |
| AED 9,984.75 new, 9,519.75 renewal, 190.75 cancellation | Golden Cube (DLD service centre) price list |
| Medical AED 270 / 700 | Dubai Health price list; Smart Salem price list |
| Health insurance obligations; AED 320 package scope | u.ae: Getting a health insurance |
| Ministry of Culture nomination has no fee | Ministry of Culture: Golden visa |
| Six-month entry visa AED 1,250 / AED 1,100 | Gulf News (8 April 2023); Gulf Today (6 July 2024); secondary sources |
| Durations in the u.ae table | u.ae: Golden visa |
What we will and will not do
| We will | We will not |
|---|---|
| Price your Golden visa cost line by line, in writing, before you pay | Quote a single round figure that hides Golden visa fees inside our fee |
| Pass every government fee on at cost, with the official receipt | Add a margin to government fees |
| Tell you honestly if your evidence looks weak for a discretionary route | Promise approval; GDRFA and ICP decide |
| Compare the DLD and GDRFA channels for property owners | Push you to a channel because it pays us more |
| Tell you when the app route is enough and you do not need us | Charge for work you can do yourself in ten minutes |
| Point you to the official card behind every figure | Rely on figures we cannot source |
Related guides
- Golden visa eligibility 2026: every category and threshold
- Golden visa property requirement: AED 2 million, mortgages and off-plan
- Golden visa salary requirement for specialised professionals
- Golden visa nomination process for talents, scientists and students
- Golden visa family sponsorship: spouse, children, parents and staff
- Golden visa vs Green visa: which one fits you
- Golden visa rejected: what to do next
- UAE government fees list for 2026 (every authority, not only Golden visa fees)
- Golden visa eligibility checker
Golden visa cost Dubai: frequently asked questions
What is the golden visa cost Dubai residents pay in 2026?
On the published lines, one adult already in Dubai pays about AED 3,770: GDRFA’s residence lines of AED 2,400 (the AED 1,100 permit fee, AED 800 for years 3 to 10 and the AED 500 inside-country fee), a 10-year Emirates ID at AED 1,100 and a standard medical at AED 270. Health insurance and any centre charges are extra. Through the Dubai Land Department’s property channel the investor pays AED 9,884.75.
What are the Golden visa fees in Abu Dhabi and the other emirates?
ICP charges AED 100 application, AED 100 for each of the ten years and AED 100 smart services, a total of AED 1,200, plus AED 500 status adjustment if you are inside the UAE. Add the AED 1,100 Emirates ID and the medical test. A professional applying from inside Abu Dhabi pays about AED 3,050 on published lines, before insurance.
Why is the Golden visa Emirates ID so expensive?
Because it is issued for ten years at once. ICP charges residents AED 100 for each year of residence plus AED 100 smart services, so a 10-year card is AED 1,100. Per year of validity it is cheaper than a two-year card (AED 150 a year) or a five-year Green card (AED 120 a year), at AED 110 a year.
Is the AED 2 million property or deposit part of the Golden visa cost?
No. The AED 2 million is a qualifying condition, not a payment to the government. You keep the property or the deposit. GDRFA does require a lien on the property and says a deposit is frozen for at least two years, so the money is tied up, but none of it is a fee. The Golden visa fees are a few thousand dirhams per person.
How much does it cost to add my spouse and children?
Each person is a separate residence and Emirates ID. In Dubai on GDRFA’s family lines, a spouse already in the UAE costs about AED 3,080 and a child under 18 about AED 2,810, because children do not sit the medical; from abroad, without the AED 500 inside-country fee, they cost AED 2,580 and AED 2,310. The sponsor file opens once at AED 210. Through DLD’s property channel each family member is AED 5,774.50 plus AED 100, with AED 318.75 once to open the family file. Insurance is extra for each person.
Can I sponsor my parents on a Golden visa, and what does it cost?
Yes. ICP’s Golden Residence guide allows residence for parents. The government lines are the same as for a spouse, including the medical test. DLD prices a parent at AED 5,774.50 plus AED 100 and asks for a dependency certificate and health insurance. For older parents, insurance is often the largest single cost, so price it before you apply.
Is it cheaper to apply from inside or outside the UAE?
From inside you pay GDRFA’s AED 500 inside-country fee or ICP’s AED 500 status adjustment. From outside you need the six-month Golden entry visa, reported at AED 1,100 to AED 1,250. So applying from inside is usually about AED 600 to AED 750 cheaper on published lines, the opposite of what many older articles say.
What is the Golden visa cost to renew after ten years?
In Dubai the GDRFA renewal lines are the AED 1,100 permit fee, AED 800 for years 3 to 10 and AED 500 inside the country, so AED 2,400. Add the AED 1,100 Emirates ID and a medical. DLD’s Golden Cube lists AED 9,519.75 for a property-route renewal. You must still meet your category’s conditions.
Do I pay VAT on Golden visa fees in the UAE?
Not on the government fee lines themselves. VAT at 5% applies to the service charge of the centre that types or files your application, which is why the VAT on an Amer receipt is only a few dirhams. If a quote adds 5% to the entire Golden visa cost, ask exactly what the VAT is being charged on.
Are Golden visa fees refunded if my application is refused?
Partly. ICP’s refund card states that only issuance fees are refundable, and that application and smart service fees are not. You request the refund through ICP’s smart services with UAE Pass and an IBAN certificate, and ICP publishes a five-day processing time. Centre and DLD service charges are normally not refunded.
How much is health insurance for a Golden visa holder?
No authority publishes a price. Health insurance is required for the Golden residence, and in Dubai sponsors must insure their dependants. Premiums depend on age, plan and medical history. A salaried holder is usually covered by the employer; a self-sponsored investor buys cover for everyone on the file. Compare several quotes, because the policy renews every year for ten years.
Is the Golden visa cost lower than the Green visa?
Per year of validity, yes, slightly. On ICP’s cards the Green residence and its five-year Emirates ID come to AED 1,300, or AED 260 a year. The Golden residence and its ten-year Emirates ID come to AED 2,300, or AED 230 a year. The choice between them usually turns on eligibility and sponsorship rules rather than fees.
Is there a fee for a Golden visa nomination?
It depends on the body. The Ministry of Culture states that its recommendation for creatives has no fee. Dubai Culture’s accreditation page does not state a fee. For the salary route there is no nomination, but degree attestation and equivalency may cost money. Nomination is not approval: GDRFA and ICP make the final decision.
How much does MIRDXB PRO charge to handle a Golden visa?
Our fee depends on the file: category, emirate, number of family members and whether documents need attestation. We quote it in writing before we start, as a separate line from the government fees, which we pass on at cost with the official receipts. Our standard packages are listed on our fees page, and a WhatsApp message is enough to get a quote.
Can MIRDXB PRO file my Golden visa while I am abroad?
Yes, for much of the work. We can prepare the evidence, file the application and follow it with GDRFA, ICP or DLD, acting under a power of attorney where the authority allows it. Some steps need you in person, such as the medical test and Emirates ID biometrics, and DLD’s property service requires the applicant to be inside the UAE. We plan those around your travel dates.
What are the Golden visa fees to cancel?
GDRFA’s cancellation card prints a AED 100 cancellation fee, and its FAQ gives AED 190 inside the country for an individual, plus Amer charges. ICP charges AED 50 plus AED 100 smart services. Sponsored family members must be cancelled first. A Golden holder then has a 180-day grace period.
Pricing the golden visa cost Dubai families face, filing and following up a Golden residence for you and your family, is what our PRO services in Dubai team handles every week.
We rewrote this guide from the official service cards. The previous version gave unsourced ranges (application AED 2,800 to 4,800; all-in AED 4,500 to 7,500; medical AED 300 to 700); these are replaced by the published GDRFA, ICP and DLD lines. It said applying from inside the UAE was about AED 1,000 cheaper; on the cards, being inside adds AED 500, and applying from abroad adds the six-month entry visa. It said fees are not refunded; ICP refunds issuance fees for a service not completed. It said thresholds were revised in 2026 including on the property route; ICP’s guide of 10 September 2026 still sets AED 2 million, and we found no official revision.
Update, 22 October 2026: GDRFA’s residence lines are now priced as AED 1,100 plus AED 800 for years 3 to 10 (AED 1,900, or AED 2,400 inside the country). Family members are priced on GDRFA’s family lines (entry permit AED 210, residence AED 1,000, sponsor file AED 210), the mortgaged-property rule follows the current DLD valuation and the bank’s no-objection letter, and every total was recomputed.
- GDRFA Dubai: Issuing a golden residence permit (investors)
- GDRFA Dubai: Issuing a golden residence permit (entrepreneurs)
- GDRFA Dubai: Issuing a golden residence permit (top students, graduates)
- GDRFA Dubai: Renewal of a golden residence permit (talents)
- GDRFA Dubai: Residence permit for foreigner family members
- GDRFA Dubai: Green residence permit (high skilled worker)
- GDRFA Dubai FAQ: residence cancellation procedures
- ICP: Golden Residence guide (updated 10 September 2026)
- ICP: Issuing Residency Permit
- ICP: Renewal of Residency Permits
- ICP: Cancellation of Residency Permits
- ICP: New Identity Card Issuance
- ICP: Refund of Fees
- Dubai Land Department: Golden visa application (investor)
- Golden Cube (DLD service centre): 10-year property owner residence
- u.ae: Golden visa
- u.ae: Getting a health insurance
- Ministry of Culture: Golden visa
- Dubai Culture: Creative and Talented Accreditation
- Dubai Health: medical fitness screening packages (price list)
- Smart Salem: visa medical tests
- Emirates Health Services: medical fitness for residency
- Gulf News (secondary): six-month entry permit fee, 8 April 2023
- Gulf Today (secondary): ICP fees for 21 services, 6 July 2024
Please note. Every fee in this guide was read on the official GDRFA, ICP, DLD, u.ae, Ministry of Culture, DHA, EHS and Smart Salem pages and verified 23 September 2026, with the fee lines re-checked 22 October 2026. Fees and Golden residence conditions change, and centres add their own charges, so confirm the figure on your receipt before paying. Where official sources conflict, we have shown both. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice, and MIRDXB PRO cannot guarantee any approval, which rests with GDRFA or ICP.




