UAE Golden Visa Eligibility for Bright Students and Ph.D. Holders

Since its debut in 2019, the UAE government has granted golden visas to eligible residents who contribute to the country, work in key industries, or have valuable skills that drive economic growth.

The country also encourages brilliant students and Ph.D. holders to stay in the country with a long-term residency permit upon meeting certain criteria.

Let’s see how students and Ph.D. holders get UAE’s Golden Visa and what is the application process.

UAE 5-Year Visa Process for Bright Students and Graduates

The government encourages students with exceptional academic performance with a 5-year residency permit to stay in the UAE. Let’s see its eligibility criteria, cost, and application process.

Eligibility Criteria for High School Students

National-level toppers with a minimum grade of 95% in public or private schools can get a 5-year residency permit without a sponsor in the UAE. The students must provide a recommendation letter to the country’s Ministry of Education (MoE).

The government also allows such students to extend their 5-year visa for another 5 years if they enroll in one of the country’s colleges requiring enrolment of more than five years.

Eligibility Criteria for University Students

The government encourages local and international students to apply for universities in the UAE with a 10-year golden visa without a sponsor.

Conditions for Local Students

1. MoE has rated your university class A or B.
2. The duration between your graduation date and visa application date should not exceed 2 years.
3. You have submitted a recommendation letter from the university, an accredited academic record, or an accredited graduation certificate.
4. The recommendation must state that your cumulative GPA is not less than 3.5 for A-class universities and 3.8 for B-class universities.

Conditions for International Students

1. You have scored a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.
2. Not more than 2 years have passed since you graduated.
3. The MoE has accredited the graduation certificate.
4. The university is among the top 100 best global universities as per the rating systems recognized by the MoE.

Application Process

Outstanding students can apply for the Golden Visa in the UAE by following these steps:

1. You need to download the GDRFA mobile application and register yourself.
2. Select the desired service.
3. Attach necessary documents.
4. Pay the requisite fees.
5. Review and Submit your application.

You can also apply for the visa online through the ICP website or offline through the AMER center.

Cost of Golden Visa for Students

Since the high school 5-year visa and graduate 10-year visa tenures are different, the cost of golden visa for students varies from AED 2,500 to AED 3,999.

UAE 10-Year Visa Process for PhD Holders

The Visa application and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D. holders) criteria are quite straightforward.

Eligibility Criteria for PhD Holders to Apply for Golden Visa

The Ph.D. holders in Abu Dhabi can apply for a 10-year residency permit to stay in the UAE, and they can also sponsor their family members for the 10-year golden visa. You must hold a doctorate degree from one of the universities that are ranked in the top 500 universities globally.

Application Process

PhD holders or researchers can apply for the Golden Visa in the UAE by following these steps:

1. You need to download the GDRFA mobile application and register yourself.
2. Select the desired service.
3. Attach necessary documents.
   1. Attested certificate of doctorate degree (MoE)
   2. Attested employment contract (MHRE – Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation)
4. Pay the requisite fees.
5. Review and Submit your application.

You can also apply for the visa online through the ICP website or offline through the AMER center.

Cost of Golden Visa for PhD Holders

The Golden Visa fees for PhD holders in the UAE is between approximately AED 3,800. However, if a visa applicant is willing to sponsor his/her family members, he needs to pay the required amount to sponsor their family members’ visas.

Conclusion

Thus, through the golden visa rules, the government recognises special talent and encourages them to keep contributing to the country’s economy.

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