How to Apply for a Golden Visa UAE For Students- A Comprehensive Guide

Like many developed countries, the United Arab Emirates also offers a Golden Visa UAE for students around the world to attract foreign talent. Thus, students living in any part of the world can apply for this kind of visa if they have exceptional grades. If you are one of those talented students, the doors of success are open for you in the UAE because of the advanced educational system in the Emirates. The Golden Visa holder students base their Visa sponsorship on their talent and secure a long-term residence. They can reside in the UAE for 5-10 years, depending on the category of the visa applied.

Therefore, if you are planning to apply for the UAE Golden Visa as a student, here is everything you should know about it. But, before delving deep into its details, it is worth mentioning to discuss the Dubai Golden Visa and its benefits.

What is Golden Visa UAE For Students?

Dubai Golden Visa for students is a kind of visa that allows talented individuals to live in the Emirates for an extended period of 5 or 10 years, depending on the category of their Golden Visa UAE application. The students applying for the Golden Visa based on their talent do not need any sponsor and can renew their visa without them. Earlier, the Golden Visa was granted to investors and entrepreneurs. Recently, the UAE government has allowed this visa for talented foreign individuals to attract a foreign pool of talent.

UAE Golden Visa Benefits for Students

Do you know that the UAE Golden Visa offers several benefits for students within the Emirates and those with exceptional grades from their home countries? A few of the benefits are highlighted below:

Long-Term Residency: The prime benefit of having a Golden Visa UAE is long-term residency in the Emirates. It allows the students to live for an extended period of 10 years without any need for renewal.

Work Permit: While staying in the Emirates for higher qualifications, students can also apply for a work permit. They can work part-time or full-time at their convenience to meet their educational expenses.

Sponsorship: Do you know that you cannot obtain the Golden Visa UAE without any sponsor? However, brilliant students can not only get a Golden Residency for themselves without any sponsor but can also sponsor their family and friends to help them obtain a golden residency.

Travel: With a Golden Visa UAE as a student, you can travel in and out of the Emirates without the need for additional documentation. It means you can enjoy multiple entry facilities.

HealthCare: The UAE boasts the world’s best healthcare system, where every UAE citizen and expat has to buy health insurance. After securing a Golden Visa UAE as a student, you are entitled to all the healthcare facilities described in the UAE laws.

Safety and Security: Remember that the UAE is among the safest countries in the world. Students can live and study in the most secure environment after obtaining a Golden Visa UAE.

Eligibility For a Golden Visa As A Student

Earlier, the Golden Visa was issued only to foreign investors. Recently, the UAE government has allowed the grant of this type of visa to brilliant students. Therefore, all those college and university students who have excelled in their respective fields of studies can apply for a Golden Visa UAE. The details are as below:

High School Students

Apart from university students, high school students are also eligible for a Golden Visa Dubai if they have the required percentage of marks in their high school certificate. So, if you are a high school student and aspiring to continue your education in the Emirates, try achieving high grades to be eligible for a Golden residency. You will qualify for a five-year golden residency if:

• You are a national-level topper (You get 95 percent or more marks in a public or private school)
• You have the UAE Ministry of Education recommendation letter.

Remember that you will get a Golden Visa UAE for five years without any sponsor. You can also apply for an extension on admission to a college or university degree that requires a study period of more than five years.

University Graduates

University graduates from the UAE and other foreign countries can also apply for a Golden Visa if they have the required CGPA. The requirements for a Golden Residency differ a little for graduates from UAE universities and those who complete graduation from foreign countries.

Graduates From UAE Universities

According to the UAE government, those students in universities of the Emirates are eligible for a ten-year Golden Visa UAE for students who fulfill the below-given conditions:

• Their graduation degree should not be older than two years.
• They have graduated from either A or B-class universities in the Emirates.
• A recommendation letter from the university or an accredited graduation certificate clearly indicating their GPA (CGPA) is no less than 3.5 if it is from A Class universities and 3.8 for B Class universities.

Graduates From Foreign Universities

Suppose you are an outstanding graduate of a foreign university and want to pursue your education in the most advanced environment. In that case, you need not worry because you can also apply for a Golden Visa UAE as a student. However, you will be granted a visa only if:

• The Ministry of Education accredits your graduation certificate.
• Your degree must not be more than two years old.
• The degree-awarding university is rated among the top 100 universities as per the global ranking of universities recognized by the Ministry of Education in UAE.
• Your cumulative GPA is not less than 3.5.

How to Apply Golden Visa UAE For Students?

To apply for a student golden visa, you have to choose any of the below-mentioned platforms. Although there are innumerable channels to apply for golden residency, the two primary platforms are:

1. Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA)
2. General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA)

How to Apply For a Golden Visa through the ICA Portal?

One of the most convenient ways to apply for UAE Golden Residency is through the official portal of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA). The detailed process is as follows:

• Visit the official portal at https://icp.gov.ae/en/
• Look for the “Services” tab and navigate to the “Golden Residency Services” in the sub menu. Remember that it’s the “Services” tab where an individual can locate various services he may need during the application process.
• On clicking the “Golden Residency Services”, you will land at aaa new page where you have to select the category of the Golden Residency you intend to apply for. Remember that the required documents and eligibility criteria are different for different categories of the Golden Visa UAE for students.
• Now, select your desired services, and a new page with an application form will open.
• Carefully fill out the form and attach the relevant documents with it. Avoid filling in the wrong details to save your time and effort. Therefore, always double-check all your details before submission of the form.
• After the form submission, you will be taken to the payments page. You can pay the service fee through various online payment channels available.
• Once you have applied and paid the fees, you will have to wait for the approval of your application by the Federal Authorities for Identity and Citizenship. It will carefully review your application and check all the documents attached to it. Therefore, be patient and keep checking your email.
• For students outside the UAE, the ICA will issue a special entry permit to allow them to enter the Emirates and complete the rest of the Golden Residency process.

Golden Visa UAE Application Through GDRFA

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) is another platform where a student can apply for a Golden Visa UAE for students. The step-by-step process is as under:

• Visit the official platform of GDRFA at https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en
• Navigate to the “Services” tab and click it.
• On the next screen, you will see various services. Locate the “Residency Services” tab and click it.
• Now, you will see different Golden Residency Dubai categories. You will have to select the one for which you have all the documentation ready. Click on “Issuing a Golden Residence Permit (Top Students, Graduates)”
• Login to the Smart Service through UAE Pass or Username, and fill out the application form. Attach all the required documents to the form, pay the service fee, and you are done.
• After checking your details and paying fees, please submit your application form and wait for its approval.

You can also use the service through Smart Mobile applications for further convenience. Apart from these online channels, a student can also apply for a Golden Visa UAE through AMER Centers located across the Emirates.

Golden Visa UAE Processing Time and Fees

Typically, a Golden VISA UAE for students takes 30 days to process. So, keep checking your emails for further information regarding the approval or rejection of your Golden Visa application.

The total cost of a Golden Visa UAE for students is almost AED 7138. The details of this amount are as under:

Golden Residency Process	Fees (AED)
Application Fee	AED 1100
Medical Examination Fee	AED 700
Emirates ID Fee	AED 1153
Residence Permit	AED 4020
Administrative Fee	AED 1155