A monthly salary of at least AED 30,000. GDRFA Dubai grants a 10-year Golden Visa to skilled workers at the first or second professional level who earn that amount, hold at least a bachelor's degree and have a valid UAE employment contract.
This is the route most employees use, because it needs no nomination. NXTSTAR checks your contract and documents against the rules and files the application.
Last reviewed: by the NXTSTAR team.
Rules are set by the authority and can change. Confirm the current position before you apply.
The conditions
- Your job is classified at the first or second professional level.
- Your monthly salary is no less than AED 30,000.
- You hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent. A degree from a foreign university must be recognised by the Ministry of Education.
- You have a valid employment contract in the UAE, or a salary certificate if you work for a government, semi-government or free zone entity.
- You hold a professional licence if your profession requires one.
- You have comprehensive health insurance for yourself and your family members.
Documents
- Passport copy
- Employment contract or salary certificate
- Bank statements showing salary transfers for the last six months
- Degree certificate, attested and recognised
Where applications fail
- The contract shows a lower basic salary and the rest as allowances. Check how your salary is recorded before applying.
- Salary is paid in cash or to an overseas account, so the bank statements do not show six months of transfers.
- The job title on the labour contract is not at a qualifying professional level, even though the role is senior.
- The degree has not been attested.
What happens if you change jobs
GDRFA reserves the right to act if your salary falls below AED 30,000 or the contract is cancelled, and the Golden Visa can be cancelled in that case. The visa is in your name, not your employer's, but the conditions travel with you. Tell us before you resign or renegotiate.
GDRFA gives an expected completion time of 48 hours for this category once a complete application is submitted.
Keeping the visa
- You must stay able to support yourself and your family without government support.
- Golden Visa holders are exempt from the rule that cancels a residence visa after 180 days outside the UAE.
- The permit can be extended if you still meet the conditions when it expires.
- The authority can check during the term that you still qualify.
What NXTSTAR does, and what we do not
We review the contract, statements and degree before filing, handle attestation and equivalency, and submit the application and family permits.
We cannot change how your employer has classified your job or salary. That has to be corrected by the employer.
Common questions
Is AED 30,000 basic salary or total?
GDRFA Dubai states a monthly salary of no less than AED 30,000 and asks for a contract and six months of bank transfers. Show us your contract and we will tell you how it is likely to be read.
Do I need my employer's permission?
The Golden Visa has no sponsor, but you need a valid employment contract or salary certificate as evidence.
I own my company and pay myself a salary. Does that count?
It can be harder to evidence. The business investor category is usually a better fit for owners.
How long does it take?
GDRFA Dubai gives 48 hours for this category after a complete application. Degree attestation beforehand takes longer.
How much does NXTSTAR charge?
We do not publish prices. Ask us for a written quote that separates government fees from our service fee.
Sources
The rules on this page come from the authority's own published material, checked on 6 October 2026.
Employed in the UAE on a senior salary?
Tell us what you want to do and we will tell you which route fits, what it involves and what we would need from you.