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First Post
4 days ago
- Business
- First Post
‘Rumours': UAE says not giving lifetime ‘golden visa' to certain nationalities
A press release circulated by the consultancy Rayad Group had claimed that Indian nationals could now apply for a 'nomination-based' Golden Visa without the need to invest crores in property or business read more The United Arab Emirates has dismissed rumours of offering 'golden visas' to Indian citizens and people from other nationalities, rejecting an earlier press release regarding the announcement of the supposed system as false and misleading. In a new press statement on Wednesday, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) warned people not to subscribe to the 'United Arab Emirates' Golden Visa' scheme. A press release circulated by the consultancy Rayad Group had claimed that Indian nationals could now apply for a 'nomination-based' Golden Visa without the need to invest crores in property or business. According to the release, eligible applicants could obtain lifelong residency, and potentially even citizenship, by paying AED 100,000 (approximately ₹23.3 lakh). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The release said that citizens of India and Bangladesh were chosen to pilot the new scheme, followed by China and other CEPA countries. It also mentioned that visa processing firm VFS Global is a partner in the new route to the UAE. What has the UAE govt said? The ICP issued an official statement on Tuesday, saying, 'All UAE Golden Visa applications are managed exclusively through official government channels within the country, and no internal or external advisory body is considered approved.' 'The categories of golden residence, their conditions and controls are determined in accordance with the UAE laws, legislation and official ministerial decisions,' it added. The body assured that it is monitoring the source of the misleading press release, and while it does not mention the entities involved, it will take legal action against those spreading false information to extort money from unsuspecting applicants. The statement advised the public not to engage with 'inaccurate rumours and false news with the aim of quick profit,' and emphasised that all official procedures are clearly outlined on its website. It also noted that individuals can call the ICP helpline at 600522222 for further clarification. What did the scheme claim to offer? Earlier, reports had emerged that the UAE's revamped golden visa programme is widening its scope to include a much broader range of skilled professionals. It was welcoming scientists, executives, school teachers, principals, university faculty, and frontline workers, as well as nurses with over 15 years of experience.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
How Can Indians Get A UAE Visa?
The UAE has long been a preferred travel destination for Indians. From the soaring skyscrapers of Dubai to the hustle-bustle of Abu Dhabi, to the quaint charm of Ras al Khaimah, the UAE has always held Indians in awe. Travel to the Emirates is also easy given that it's usually a three- to four-hour flight from major Indian cities. The UAE is extremely well-connected to Indian metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai, with several direct flights through the day. When it comes to the visa process, the UAE offers several options to Indian passport holders. From single entry visas to multiple entry ones, there are various choices. Take a look at the options, along with the prices for each. UAE Visas For Indians From visa on arrival to multiple entry visa to family visa, there are many options available. 1. Tourist Visa If you want to visit the UAE for leisure, you can go for the tourist visa which allows Indians to stay there for durations ranging from 14 days to 60 days. Eligible Indian nationals with a passport valid for a minimum of six months can obtain a single entry, 14‑day visa on arrival. You will have to pay a fee of about USD 63 (Rs 5405.81 approx.). A single entry tourism visa for 30 days from arrival date would cost USD 90 (Rs 7722.59 approx.), whereas a multiple entry visa for 30 days would cost USD 136 (Rs 11669.69 approx.). A single entry tourism visa for 60 days would cost USD 177 (Rs 15189.58 approx.) whereas a multiple entry tourism visa would cost USD 231 (Rs 19823.69 approx.). An extension of all these would cost you USD 230 (Rs 19737.88 approx.). The application can be submitted directly from airline websites or travel agencies. 2. Employment Visa If you want to work in the UAE, Indians need a job offer from a UAE-based employer. Once hired, the company sponsors the employment visa and handles the paperwork. The visa is typically valid for two years and is renewable. All applications go through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). 3. Residence Visa You can apply for a family residence visa if you are already working in the UAE and want to bring your spouse, children, or parents along. The sponsor must meet a minimum salary requirement and provide accommodation. The application process is the same as the residence visa. 4. Student Visa Indian students accepted into a recognised UAE university can apply for a student visa, which is usually issued for a year and is renewable. 5. Freelancer Or Remote Work Visa The UAE also offers these visas, allowing people to live in the UAE while working for companies abroad. Applicants are required to a proof of income and employment. While the Golden Visa continues to grab headlines, many Indians continue to choose regular UAE visas for work, tourism, education, or family reasons.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
UAE Golden Visa At Rs 23 Lakh, But How Can Indians Get A Regular UAE Visa?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched a nomination-based Golden Visa scheme - priced at around Rs 23 lakh for Indian applicants. It has sparked interest among many looking to move to the Gulf nation as this visa allows you to move without buying large properties or make huge business investments which was the case before. This is a drastic shift from the existing structure that required applicants to invest at least AED 2 million or ₹4.66 crore in business ventures or property. What Is The UAE Golden Visa The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residency permit that allows foreign nationals to live, work, or study in the Emirates, depending on eligibility. According to the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, the golden visa is a pathway to get long-term residency in the country without the need for a sponsor. The new nomination-based policy grants lifetime residency in the UAE - unlike the existing Golden Visa program, which typically offers residency for five to ten years. The pilot program for this nomination-based policy is currently limited to Indian and Bangladeshi nationals, with over 5,000 Indians expected to apply within three months. Regular UAE Visas For Indians The Golden visa is not the only one available for Indians. From visa on arrival to multiple entry visa to family visa, there are many options available. 1. Tourist Visa If you want to visit the UAE for leisure, you can go for the tourist visa which allows Indians to stay there for durations ranging from 14 days to 60 days. Eligible Indian nationals with a passport valid for a minimum of six months can obtain a single entry, 14‑day visa on arrival. You will have to pay a fee of about USD 63 (Rs 5405.81 approx.). A single entry tourism visa for 30 days from arrival date would cost USD 90 (Rs 7722.59 approx.), whereas a multiple entry visa for 30 days would cost USD 136 (Rs 11669.69 approx.). A single entry tourism visa for 60 days would cost USD 177 (Rs 15189.58 approx.) whereas a multiple entry tourism visa would cost USD 231 (Rs 19823.69 approx.). An extension of all these would cost you USD 230 (Rs 19737.88 approx.). The application can be submitted directly from airline websites or travel agencies. 2. Employment Visa If you want to work in the UAE, Indians need a job offer from a UAE-based employer. Once hired, the company sponsors the employment visa and handles the paperwork. The visa is typically valid for two years and is renewable. All applications go through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). 3. Residence Visa You can apply for a family residence visa if you are already working in the UAE and want to bring your spouse, children, or parents along. The sponsor must meet a minimum salary requirement and provide accommodation. The application process is the same as the residence visa. 4. Student Visa Indian students accepted into a recognised UAE university can apply for a student visa, which is usually issued for a year and is renewable. 5. Freelancer Or Remote Work Visa The UAE also offers these visas, allowing people to live in the UAE while working for companies abroad. Applicants are required to a proof of income and employment. While the Golden Visa continues to grab headlines, many Indians continue to choose regular UAE visas for work, tourism, education, or family reasons.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
All about the UAE's upcoming nomination-based golden visa scheme
The United Arab Emirates government has introduced a pilot nomination-based golden visa programme for residents of India and Bangladesh seeking lifetime residency there, PTI reported. The proposed policy awards Indians the UAE's golden visa for life on paying a fee of AED 100,000 (around Rs 23.3 lakhs), sources told PTI. This policy would do away with the current requirement of investing in property or a business in the Emirates. What is the golden visa scheme? How is the new nomination process different? Here is what to know. What are golden visas? Individuals seeking to immigrate to a country are typically required to fulfil criteria such as a minimum educational qualification and/or an offer letter from a company to work there. This process can be tedious and may take years. A golden visa bypasses this requirement, and hedges on an individual's ability to pay a significant sum of money to the host country, which may be in the form of investments in government bonds, real estate and more. A smaller number of countries offer the 'golden passport', another route to citizenship by investment. According to the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security, the golden visa is essentially a pathway to long-term residency in the country without the need for a sponsor in the country. Eligible candidates may apply for residency for a period of five to 10 years. The golden visa system allows residents, foreign expatriates and their families can move to the UAE to work, live and study, while enhancing the environment that supports business growth and success in the country. The UAE currently welcomes two larger categories of persons under the golden visa scheme: * Public investors, investors in real estate and entrepreneurs People who commit an investment of at least AED two million (approx Rs 4.67 crores) in business or real estate in the country, or seek to start a project valued at not less than 500,000 AED (approx Rs 1.17 crores), fall in this category, * Outstanding special talents Outstanding special talents recognises six categories of eminent persons as described below: Sources cited in the PTI report said that the nomination-based policy awards its holders with lifetime residency in the UAE, as opposed to the current policy of five to 10 years. For instance, golden visa-holders in the real estate investor category may only enjoy residency status for the duration of their project. Over 5,000 Indians are expected to apply for this nomination-based policy in three months, with the pilot limited to persons from India and Bangladesh. According to the PTI report, the Rayad Group consultancy has been entrusted with testing the pilot phase. Rayad Kamal Ayub, its Managing Director, explained that the consultancy will first check the applicant's background, including anti-money laundering and criminal record checks, as well as their social media. 'The background check will also show if and how the applicant can benefit the UAE's market and business activities in any other way, such as culture, finance, trade, science, Start Up, professional services, etc.' Rayad Kamal told PTI. The final decision on the nomination will be made by the government after it receives the application. Applicants under the nomination-based policy need not visit Dubai and may merely obtain pre-approval from their home country. Kamal told PTI that applications could be submitted through the visa concierge service company, OneVASCO centres in India and Bangladesh. 'After getting the Golden Visa, one gets the freedom to bring his or her family members to Dubai. 'You can also keep servants and drivers based on this visa. You can do any business or professional work here,' Rayad Kamal told PTI. India's selection as the first country under the new nomination-based policy indicates the close business, cultural, and geopolitical relations between India and the UAE, especially after the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the two countries, effective May 2022. The nomination-based Golden Visa scheme is applicable to all countries that are signatories or partners under the CEPA. The project is slated to expand from India and Bangladesh to China and other CEPA countries. In theory, such systems generate economic benefits for both the individuals and the host nations, with the potential for revenue generation and beneficial investments. For instance, Saint Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean, one of the first countries to create a citizenship-by-investment program in 1984, did so to 'bolster its cash-strapped economy amid a drop in world prices for sugar, its main export.' Similarly, Portugal did this in response to the 2008–09 global recession and the 2012 European debt crisis. However, the rising number of such programs has raised concern about their potential for misuse, with a 2019 European Commission report saying, 'Such schemes have raised concerns about certain inherent risks, in particular as regards security, money laundering, tax evasion and corruption.' The report flagged the threat of people investing in an EU nation towards 'illegitimate ends, such as evading law enforcement investigation and prosecution in their home country and protecting their assets from the related freezing and confiscation measures.' Indian businessman Mehul Choksi, who was wanted in India for carrying out one of the country's most notorious banking scams worth Rs 13,000 crore, fled to Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean in 2018. He acquired citizenship through an investment program. Similarly, businessman Nirav Modi, an accused in the Punjab National Bank fraud case, is believed to be residing in the UK via an investor visa he applied for in 2015. The sustainability of such programs has also been under scrutiny, with some countries such, like Ireland, Greece and Malta, curtailing them to accommodate the needs of their local residents, given the rise in housing prices in Europe. Other countries have become increasingly restrictive, with the UK scrapping the Investor visa (Tier 1) for wealthy investors in 2022, over concerns of illicit Russian money coming in at a time of heightened tensions with Russia over the Ukraine war.
Time Out Dubai
11-06-2025
- Time Out Dubai
How to check your Emirates ID status
We use our Emirates ID cards for many things – from withdrawing money at an ATM to getting our prescriptions dispensed at the pharmacy. So when the inevitable moment to renew your Emirates ID comes around, it can be quite disconcerting. Fortunately, if your renewal application is in the system, there's an easy two-step way to keep an eye on what your Emirates ID status is. You may also like: 5 must-know Emirates ID perks you should seriously be using How to check your Emirates ID status First up, you need to go to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) website. Use the tab called priority services and you'll see a search bar. Now, enter your application number or Emirates ID number in the search bar. The latest update on your card will flash up. Emirates IDs are issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship to all UAE citizens and residents. The card has important information in its electronic chip such as the holder's basic information, photo and biometric data and fingerprints. Click here for the other information your Emirates ID chip knows about you. It's not just to identify you though; the card has many benefits. You can get deals and discounts with it and use it as a health insurance card too. If you are getting your card replaced, you'll be pleased to know there's a way to get it in 24 hours. (The usual processing time is seven to 10 days.) The service is known as 'Fawri' and will cost you a bit extra (Dhs150) for the quick service. Don't like the photograph on your EID? There is a way to change your photograph on the card too. Just submit the application for it at one of ICA's Customer Happiness Centres. You can also have a digital version of your Emirates ID that can be stored on your phone instead of carrying around the physical copy. You can learn more about how to get one in our guide here. Living in Dubai How to feel at home as an expat in Dubai It's easier than you think What the colour of your Dubai taxi roof actually means Yes, there are six colours and they all have different meanings The secret to a cheaper AC bill? Set it to this temperature Plus, four tips from the experts on how to keep your bill low
