The UAE Golden Visa offers long-term residency for investors, professionals, entrepreneurs, and specialized talents. Success depends on submitting properly translated and attested documents that meet ICA requirements.
Understanding Golden Visa Categories
The UAE offers Golden Visa through several pathways, each with specific document requirements:
Investor Category (AED 2M+)
Investors must demonstrate property ownership or business investment of at least AED 2 million. Required documents include:
- Property title deeds - translated with exact property descriptions matching DLD records
- Property valuation - recent valuation from approved evaluators
- Bank statements - showing investment funds or property ownership proof
- Passport copies - clear copies of all relevant pages
Professional Category (AED 30K+ Salary)
Skilled professionals earning AED 30,000 or more monthly can apply with:
- Degree certificate - must be MOHESR attested (critical requirement)
- Employment contract - current, showing position and salary
- Salary certificate - dated within 30 days of application
- Bank statements - 6 months showing consistent salary deposits
- Professional license - if applicable to your field
Entrepreneur Category
Startup founders and business owners need:
- Business plan - for new ventures
- Incubator approval - from approved UAE incubator
- Company documents - MOA, trade license, shareholder structure
- Financial projections - audited where applicable
The MOHESR Attestation Process
For professionals, MOHESR (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research) attestation is mandatory. This verifies your degree is recognized in the UAE.
Attestation Chain
- Home country authentication - from issuing institution and government
- UAE Embassy attestation - in your home country
- MOFA attestation - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- MOHESR equivalency - final verification step
The complete chain takes 2-4 weeks. We coordinate the entire process, handling each step in proper sequence.
Universities Not on the Recognized List
Some universities aren’t on MOHESR’s recognized list. If this applies to you:
- Consider the investor route instead
- Explore specialized talent categories focusing on achievements
- Check if your university has alternative recognition pathways
Common Rejection Reasons
Golden Visa applications fail for preventable reasons:
- Missing attestations - submitting translated but unattested documents
- Name inconsistencies - variations between passport and other documents
- Incorrect MOJ certification - translations without proper ministry stamps
- Insufficient financial proof - bank statements that don’t clearly show required amounts
- Expired documents - salary certificates or valuations older than 30 days
Translation Requirements
All foreign-language documents require MOJ-certified translation. Key considerations:
Name Consistency
If your name appears as “Mohammed Ahmed” on your degree but “Mohamed Ahmad” on your passport, this triggers verification delays. We cross-reference all documents before translation.
Financial Document Formatting
Bank statements must clearly show:
- Account holder name matching passport
- Transaction descriptions
- Running balances
- Date ranges covering required period
Property Document Precision
Title deed translations must match DLD records exactly. Property descriptions, ownership percentages, and unit numbers require precision.
Timeline Planning
Start document preparation 4-6 weeks before your intended application:
| Stage | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Document collection | 1 week |
| Attestation (if needed) | 2-4 weeks |
| Translation | 2-3 days |
| Application review | 1 week |
Getting Started
Send your documents via WhatsApp for a free assessment. We’ll:
- Confirm your category eligibility
- Identify which documents need attestation
- Provide a complete quote and timeline
- Coordinate attestation and translation
Our Golden Visa packages save 15-20% compared to individual document rates, and we’ve processed hundreds of successful applications.