UAE Golden Visa 2025 Scheme

Launched by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2025, this visa scheme offers lifetime UAE residency to residents of India and Bangladesh, without requiring any investment in property or business.

This blog explains everything SSC aspirants need to know about the Nomination-based UAE golden visa, including its features, benefits, eligibility, and its role in strengthening international relations.

What Is the UAE Golden Visa?

The UAE golden visa is a long-term residency visa that allows foreigners to live, work, and study in the UAE without needing a national sponsor. Under the earlier scheme, the golden visa was granted for 5 or 10 years based on business or real estate investment, or professional merit.

Key Features:

• Residency without a local sponsor

• Issued to investors, professionals, and talented individuals

• Renewable on meeting eligibility

• Supports business and economic growth

The newly launched Nomination-based UAE golden visa is a significant evolution of this program with far more accessible criteria.

What Is the Nomination-Based UAE Golden Visa?

The Nomination-based UAE golden visa is a special policy under which selected individuals are offered lifetime residency in the UAE. This scheme is part of a pilot program and currently applies to residents of India and Bangladesh.

How It’s Different from Traditional Visas:

• No property or business investment required

• One-time payment of AED 100,000 (approx. ₹23.3 lakh)

• Lifetime UAE residency

• Strict background checks for money laundering and criminal records

• No pre-approval visit to the UAE required

• Processed through OneVASCO centres in India and Bangladesh

The Nomination-based UAE golden visa is an outcome of the UAE-India CEPA agreement (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement), aiming to boost bilateral ties.

Who Is Eligible?

The Nomination-based UAE golden visa is intended for:

• Skilled professionals such as doctors, engineers, scientists, and senior executives

• High-earning individuals with clean financial and legal records

• Applicants with no requirement for UAE investment or employment

This makes it a perfect route for those seeking a UAE lifetime residency visa without investment.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step Guide to UAE Golden Visa Through Nomination

To apply for the Nomination-based UAE golden visa, follow these steps:

1. Nomination Submission through authorized services like OneVASCO

2. Background Verification, including anti-money laundering checks

3. Application Review by UAE Authorities

4. One-time Fee Payment of AED 100,000

5. Visa Issuance providing lifetime UAE residency

This entire process for the Nomination-based UAE golden visa can be completed from India or Bangladesh without physically visiting the UAE during the application.

Key Benefits of Nomination-Based UAE Golden Visa

The Nomination-based UAE golden visa offers numerous advantages:

• Lifetime visa for the individual and family

• No need for a local sponsor or job offer

• Freedom to live, work, and study anywhere in the UAE

• Eligibility to bring domestic help

• Access to the UAE's global business and education environment

These benefits of UAE nomination-based golden visas make them highly attractive for professionals and HNIs from India and Bangladesh.

Why Is This Scheme Important?

Economic and Strategic Value:

• Supports the UAE's vision to attract global talent

• Strengthens India-UAE diplomatic relations

• Falls under the Nomination-based UAE visa under the CEPA agreement

Revenue Generation:

• Through the UAE visa without property or business investment, the government earns substantial application fees while diversifying its professional population.

• Over 5,000 Indian applicants are expected to benefit in the initial phase alone.

UAE in Global Context

Countries like Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Greece also run golden visa or citizenship-by-investment schemes. However, due to the risks of misuse, many governments have tightened such policies.

In 2022, the UK discontinued its investor visa, citing concerns about illicit funds. The UAE's focus on background checks for the Nomination-based UAE golden visa adds a layer of security and credibility.

Final Thoughts

The Nomination-based UAE golden visa is more than just a visa scheme—it’s a reflection of the UAE’s evolving global vision to attract skilled professionals, foster international partnerships, and offer a stable residency path without requiring financial investments in property or business.

For Indian and Bangladeshi residents, especially professionals seeking international exposure and security, this is a landmark opportunity.

For SSC aspirants, understanding the UAE golden visa, especially in the context of the CEPA agreement and economic diplomacy, is crucial for scoring well in current affairs, international relations, and policy-related sections.

The Nomination-based UAE golden visa not only represents changing migration trends but also highlights how countries are adjusting their immigration policies to attract global talent while ensuring security and compliance.