The UAE Golden Visa is one of the most attractive long-term residency options for investors, property owners, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, students and exceptional talents. But before applying, one of the first questions most people ask is:

How much does a UAE Golden Visa cost in 2026?

The answer is not as simple as one fixed price.

The total cost of a UAE Golden Visa depends on several factors, including your eligibility category, the emirate where you apply, whether you are already inside the UAE, the duration of your residence, Emirates ID requirements, medical fitness testing and whether your documents require attestation or translation.

At Amer Smart Lounge, our team helps applicants understand the Golden Visa application process, government requirements, Emirates ID procedures, medical applications and other related services.

In this guide, we explain the UAE Golden Visa cost in 2026, the main government fees, additional expenses and what you should consider before starting your application.

What Is the UAE Golden Visa?

The UAE Golden Visa, officially known as Golden Residency, provides eligible foreigners with long-term residence in the UAE.

Depending on the category, Golden Residency can be available to:

• Investors

• Real estate investors

• Entrepreneurs

• Skilled professionals

• Scientists

• Exceptional talents

• Students and graduates

• Athletes

• Creative and cultural professionals

• Other eligible categories

The exact eligibility conditions depend on the category and the relevant UAE authority.

For the latest federal information, applicants can check the official ICP Golden Residency services.

For Dubai applications, applicants can also refer to GDRFA Dubai’s official residency services.

How Much Does a UAE Golden Visa Cost in 2026?

There is no single Golden Visa price that applies to every applicant.

The total amount can include several separate components:

This is why you should always ask for a complete cost breakdown instead of relying on a single advertised Golden Visa price.

UAE Golden Visa Government Fees in 2026

ICP Golden Residence Fees

The current ICP service information lists the following basic charges for a new 10-year Golden Residence:

• Application fee: AED 100

• Golden Residence issuance: AED 100 per year

• Smart Services fee: AED 100

For a 10-year residence, the residence issuance component is therefore AED 1,000.

That makes the listed basic ICP components:

These figures are based on the current ICP service information. They should not be interpreted as the final total cost for every applicant because other applicable charges can be added depending on the application.

You can verify the current information directly through ICP’s official residence service page.

Dubai Golden Visa Cost 2026

For applicants applying through Dubai, GDRFA Dubai publishes its own fee structure for Golden Residence services.

The current GDRFA Dubai service information lists:

• Residence permit fee: AED 1,100

• Knowledge Dirham: AED 10

• Innovation Dirham: AED 10

• Inside-country fee: AED 500, where applicable

• Delivery: AED 20

GDRFA also states that the residence issuance fee increases by AED 100 for each additional year when the residency period is more than two years.

This means the amount displayed through a Dubai GDRFA service can look different from the basic federal ICP fee structure.

The important point is that the applicable authority and service route matter.

For the latest Dubai information, visit GDRFA Dubai’s official website.

Why Is the Golden Visa Cost Different for Different Applicants?

Two people may both qualify for a Golden Visa but have different final costs.

This can happen because of:

1. Golden Visa Category

A property investor, professional, entrepreneur and student may have different supporting requirements.

2. Inside or Outside the UAE

Applicants already inside the UAE may have additional charges associated with their status.

3. Emirates ID

The Emirates ID process is separate from simply obtaining the Golden Residence.

4. Medical Fitness

Where applicable, medical fitness testing is an additional part of the residence process.

5. Document Requirements

Some applicants may need educational certificates, professional documents, property documents or other supporting paperwork.

6. Attestation and Translation

Foreign-issued documents may require additional legalization or official translation.

7. Family Members

If you are also processing residence permits for eligible family members, their individual procedures can create additional costs.

Golden Visa Cost for Applicants Already Inside the UAE

If you are already living in the UAE, your application may involve additional charges.

GDRFA Dubai currently lists an AED 500 inside-country fee for the relevant Golden Residence service.

This means someone already inside Dubai may have a different final amount from an applicant who is completing the process from outside the UAE.

Before submitting your application, confirm whether an inside-country charge applies to your specific case.

Golden Visa Cost for Applicants Outside the UAE

Applicants outside the UAE may need an entry permit or another applicable immigration service to enter the country and complete the Golden Residency process.

ICP publishes separate services for applicants who need to enter the UAE to complete Golden Residency procedures.

For example, ICP’s relevant entry service can have separate application, issuance and Smart Services charges.

Therefore, an applicant outside the UAE should not automatically assume that the basic Golden Residence fee is the only expense.

Golden Visa Emirates ID Cost

A Golden Residence holder also needs an Emirates ID as part of the UAE residency process.

The Emirates ID should therefore be considered separately when calculating your total Golden Visa budget.

Amer Smart Lounge provides Golden Visa Emirates ID Application Services to help applicants with the relevant application and processing requirements.

You can also check the official ICP Emirates ID services for government information.

Golden Visa Medical Test Cost

For applicable residence applicants, a medical fitness examination is part of the residency process.

The medical fitness cost is separate from the basic Golden Visa government fee and can depend on:

• Medical centre

• Standard or urgent service

• Applicant category

• Required tests

• Processing option

Amer Smart Lounge can assist with the Medical Application process.

It is therefore better to include medical testing as a separate item in your Golden Visa budget.

Golden Visa Cost for Property Investors

Property investors should understand an important distinction:

The property investment requirement is not the same as the Golden Visa government fee.

For the applicable Dubai real estate investor route, qualifying real estate investment is generally based on a minimum property value of AED 2 million, subject to the applicable requirements.

The AED 2 million is the investment requirement, not a visa processing fee.

ICP’s official entry permit information for real estate investors also refers to property ownership worth at least AED 2 million.

So if someone says:

“The Golden Visa costs AED 2 million.”

That is incorrect.

The AED 2 million relates to the qualifying property investment, while the immigration, residence, Emirates ID and other applicable costs are separate.

For more information, see Amer Smart Lounge’s Property Golden Visa Services.

Golden Visa Cost for Professionals

Professional Golden Visa applicants can have a different cost structure from property investors.

Depending on the applicant’s profession and eligibility category, additional requirements may include:

• Educational qualification documents

• Professional approvals

• Degree recognition

• Attestation

• Translation

• Employment or salary documents

• Medical fitness

• Emirates ID

• Government residence fees

For professionals, it is therefore important to establish the correct eligibility category before calculating the total cost.

You can also explore Amer Smart Lounge’s Amer Services for available government transaction services.

Golden Visa Cost for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs can also qualify under specific Golden Residency categories.

Dubai GDRFA currently lists an entrepreneur Golden Residence service with a residence permit fee of AED 1,100, plus Knowledge Dirham, Innovation Dirham, an applicable inside-country fee and delivery charge.

However, the applicant must also meet the applicable entrepreneur eligibility conditions.

Therefore, the visa fee and business eligibility requirement are two different things.

Golden Visa Cost for Students and Graduates

Eligible outstanding students and graduates may also qualify for Golden Residency.

For Dubai, GDRFA currently lists the same basic residence fee structure for the relevant student and graduate Golden Residence service:

• Residence permit fee: AED 1,100

• Knowledge Dirham: AED 10

• Innovation Dirham: AED 10

• Inside-country fee: AED 500, where applicable

• Delivery: AED 20

The applicable requirements depend on whether the applicant is a high-school student, university graduate or international graduate.

Applicants should therefore confirm eligibility before focusing on the cost.

Golden Visa Cost for Family Members

Golden Visa holders may also be able to sponsor eligible family members under the applicable UAE rules.

However, family members do not simply become residents automatically when the principal applicant receives a Golden Visa.

Each dependent’s immigration process may involve separate charges, such as:

• Entry permit

• Residence issuance

• Emirates ID

• Medical fitness, where applicable

• Status adjustment

• Health insurance

• Other government charges

If you are applying for your family as well, your total budget should therefore include the individual procedures for each family member.

Amer Smart Lounge also provides Family Golden Visa Services.

Golden Visa Cost for Indians in 2026

For Indian citizens, there is no separate universal Golden Visa government fee simply because the applicant is Indian.

The cost depends mainly on:

• Golden Visa category

• Application location

• Applicant’s UAE status

• Supporting documents

• Residence duration

• Emirates ID

• Medical requirements

• Attestation and translation requirements

For example, an Indian property investor may have a completely different total cost from an Indian doctor, engineer, entrepreneur or student.

Indian applicants should also check whether their Indian educational, professional, birth or marriage documents require attestation or official translation.

Do Indian Documents Increase Golden Visa Cost?

They can, depending on the applicant and the documents required.

For example, some applicants may need:

• Indian degree certificate attestation

• Educational document verification

• Marriage certificate attestation

• Birth certificate attestation

• Official translation

• Professional document verification

These are additional document-processing costs, not Golden Visa government fees.

Amer Smart Lounge also offers Official Translation Services for applicants who require official document translation.

Golden Visa Cost Breakdown

A practical way to calculate your budget is to divide your expenses into three groups.

Government Charges

These may include:

• Application fee

• Residence issuance

• Smart Services fee

• Knowledge Dirham

• Innovation Dirham

• Inside-country fee

• Delivery

• Other applicable government charges

Residency-Related Costs

These may include:

• Emirates ID

• Medical fitness

• Health insurance

• Status adjustment

• Entry permit, if applicable

Supporting Document Costs

These may include:

• Attestation

• Translation

• Qualification verification

• Professional documentation

This approach makes it much easier to understand why different applicants receive different total quotations.

Is AED 1,200 the Complete Golden Visa Cost?

No.

The current ICP service information lists:

AED 100 application fee + AED 1,000 for 10-year residence issuance + AED 100 Smart Services fee = AED 1,200

for those particular basic service components.

But this is not necessarily the final amount you will pay.

Your total can increase depending on:

• Whether you are applying in Dubai

• Whether you are inside the UAE

• Emirates ID

• Medical

• Status adjustment

• Entry permit

• Family applications

• Insurance

• Document requirements

• Service charges

Is AED 2 Million the Golden Visa Fee?

No.

This is one of the most common misunderstandings about the UAE Golden Visa.

For qualifying real estate investors, AED 2 million refers to the property investment threshold under the applicable route.

It is not AED 2 million paid to the UAE government as a visa fee.

The property investment and government processing fees are completely different.

Golden Visa Cost vs Service Centre Fee

When comparing Golden Visa prices, it is important to distinguish between:

Government Fees

Money paid for the official government immigration services.

Service Centre Fees

Charges for assistance with:

• Application typing

• Document checking

• Submission

• Application follow-up

• Appointment coordination

• Customer assistance

A service centre’s fee should not be confused with the official government fee.

When comparing quotations, always ask for an itemised breakdown.

How to Avoid Unexpected Golden Visa Costs

Before submitting your application, follow these steps.

Confirm Your Eligibility

First determine which Golden Visa category applies to you.

Check Your Documents

Make sure your passport, photographs and supporting documents are ready.

Check Your UAE Status

If you are already in the UAE, confirm whether inside-country or status-adjustment charges apply.

Ask About Emirates ID

Confirm whether Emirates ID processing is included or charged separately.

Check Medical Requirements

Ask whether a medical fitness examination is required and what service option you need.

Check Attestation

If you are using foreign-issued educational or professional documents, find out whether attestation is required.

Request a Full Cost Breakdown

Instead of asking:

“How much is Golden Visa?”

ask:

“What is my total cost including government fees, Emirates ID, medical, status adjustment and service charges?”

This gives you a much clearer picture.

Where Can You Apply for Golden Visa in Dubai?

Golden Residence applications in Dubai can be processed through the applicable government channels, including Amer Service Centres for relevant services.

GDRFA Dubai specifically lists Amer Service Centres as a service channel for Golden Residence procedures.

If you are searching online for an Amer near me or Amer Center near me, you can visit Amer Smart Lounge.

Amer Smart Lounge is located at:

Oasis Tower, Ground Floor
Near Financial Centre Metro Station
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

The centre provides government transaction services including Golden Visa, Emirates ID, medical applications, immigration and other related services.

A Human Approach to Golden Visa Applications

At Amer Smart Lounge, the process is not simply about submitting a form.

Basima, Customer Happiness Consultant at Amer Smart Lounge, regularly assists customers who have questions about Golden Visa categories, documents, Emirates ID procedures and the next steps after application.

For many applicants, especially those applying for the first time, understanding the complete cost and process before submitting the application can prevent unnecessary delays and unexpected expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a UAE Golden Visa cost in 2026?

There is no single fixed total. ICP currently lists an AED 100 application fee, AED 100 per year for a new 10-year Golden Residence and an AED 100 Smart Services fee for the relevant service. Other applicable costs can be added depending on the applicant’s circumstances.

What is the basic ICP fee for a 10-year Golden Visa?

The listed basic ICP components are AED 100 application fee, AED 1,000 residence issuance for 10 years and AED 100 Smart Services fee, giving a basic subtotal of AED 1,200. This does not necessarily represent the complete final cost.

How much is the Golden Visa in Dubai?

GDRFA Dubai currently lists a residence permit fee of AED 1,100, plus Knowledge Dirham, Innovation Dirham, an applicable AED 500 inside-country fee and AED 20 delivery charge for relevant Golden Residence services.

Is AED 2 million the Golden Visa fee?

No. For the qualifying real estate investor route, AED 2 million refers to the required property investment threshold, not the visa processing fee.

Does the Golden Visa fee include Emirates ID?

Emirates ID should be considered as a separate part of the residency process and cost calculation.

Is the medical test included in the Golden Visa fee?

Medical fitness testing can be a separate cost where it is required.

Does applying from inside the UAE cost more?

It can. GDRFA Dubai currently lists an AED 500 inside-country fee for the relevant Golden Residence service.

Does every Golden Visa applicant pay the same amount?

No. Costs vary according to the applicant’s category, emirate, UAE status, supporting documents, residence duration and additional requirements.

How much does a Golden Visa cost for Indian citizens?

There is no separate universal fee specifically for Indian citizens. The cost depends on the Golden Visa category and the applicant’s circumstances. Additional document attestation or translation may apply to Indian documents.

Can Amer Smart Lounge help me understand the total cost?

Yes. Amer Smart Lounge can assist with the relevant government application and related procedures. Applicants can contact the centre through the Amer Smart Lounge Contact page to discuss their requirements.

Final Thoughts

The UAE Golden Visa cost in 2026 is best understood as a combination of government fees and applicant-specific expenses.

The current ICP service information lists basic Golden Residence charges, while Dubai GDRFA publishes its own fee structure for Dubai Golden Residence services.

On top of the basic residence charges, applicants may need to budget for Emirates ID, medical fitness, inside-country charges, status adjustment, entry permits, insurance, document attestation, translation and family-related applications.

If you are considering a Golden Visa in Dubai, it is always better to confirm your category and complete cost before starting the application.

If you are searching for an Amer near me, Amer Smart Lounge in Dubai can assist with Golden Visa and related government transaction procedures.

Contact Amer Smart Lounge to discuss your Golden Visa requirements.