Golden Visa · 7 min read
UAE Golden Visa cost: price breakdown for every category (2026)
Published 1 August 2026
Quick answer
For most categories — nomination, fixed deposit, manager and skilled talent — the main applicant's government fees are AED 4,215. Property owners pay AED 9,978 because of an extra DLD & admin fee of AED 5,763. Dependants cost the same in every category: AED 4,215 per adult and AED 3,895 per child under 18 (no medical fee). These are government fees only — the AED 2 million investment is separate.
The UAE Golden Visa cost is one of the most searched questions among investors and professionals, and the confusion is understandable: people quote wildly different numbers. The reason is simple — the government fees are almost identical across every category, and the only meaningful difference is whether you qualify through property or another route.
Once you separate the official fees from the investment itself, the pricing becomes very easy to follow. Every figure below is a government fee for the 10-year Golden Visa, broken down line by line for the main applicant and each family member.
How much does a UAE Golden Visa cost?
Every Golden Visa file is built from the same set of government charges. The main applicant in most categories pays AED 4,215 in total: an immigration and visa fee, the Emirates ID for the full 10-year term, and a standard medical fitness test. Property owners pay one additional line — a DLD and admin fee — which takes their total to AED 9,978.
- Immigration & visa: AED 2,710.
- Emirates ID (10 years): AED 1,185.
- Medical fitness (standard): AED 320.
- DLD & admin fees: AED 5,763 — property owners only.
Why do property owners pay more?
Whether you qualify by nomination, a fixed deposit, as a company manager or through skilled talent, the main applicant's government fees are the same: AED 4,215. The property route is the only one carrying an extra charge — the DLD and admin fee of AED 5,763, tied to processing the title deed. That single line is the entire difference between AED 4,215 and AED 9,978.
| Government fee | Most categories | Property owner |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration & visa | 2,710 | 2,710 |
| Emirates ID (10 years) | 1,185 | 1,185 |
| Medical fitness (standard) | 320 | 320 |
| DLD & admin fees | Not applicable | 5,763 |
| Total (main applicant) | 4,215 | 9,978 |
The DLD & admin fee applies to the main applicant only. Your dependants are never charged it, so a property owner's family pays exactly the same per dependant as any other category.
Golden Visa price for every applicant
The only figure that changes by category is the main applicant. Every dependant is priced the same whether you hold a property, nomination, deposit or skilled-talent visa.
| Applicant | Government fees | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main applicant — property owner | 9,978 | Includes 5,763DLD & admin fees |
| Main applicant — all other categories | 4,215 | Nomination, fixed deposit, manager, skilled talent |
| Adult dependant (spouse or parent) | 4,215 | Same in every category |
| Child dependant (under 18) | 3,895 | No medical fee applies |
How much does it cost for a whole family?
Because dependants are priced the same everywhere, a household total is straightforward: take the main applicant's fee for your category and add AED 4,215 for each adult and AED 3,895 for each child under 18.
Worked example — a couple with one child. Non-property route: AED 4,215 + AED 4,215 + AED 3,895 = AED 12,325. Property route: AED 9,978 + AED 4,215 + AED 3,895 = AED 18,088. The AED 5,763 gap is purely the one-time DLD & admin fee on the main applicant.
What the Golden Visa price does not include
The amounts above are the government charges for issuing the visa, Emirates ID and medical. A few related costs sit outside them and depend on your situation.
- The qualifying investment — the AED 2 million property or fixed deposit is your investment, not a fee.
- Health insurance, priced separately by age and provider.
- Premium or express medical tiers; AED 320 is the standard test.
- Document attestation and translation for certificates issued abroad.
- Any third-party processing or PRO service charge.
How to keep your Golden Visa cost down
Most people who overpay do not pay higher government fees — they pay the same fees twice after a rejection or a wrong submission.
- Apply under the correct category the first time so no fee is paid twice.
- Remember children under 18 have no medical fee — budget AED 3,895 each.
- Take the 10-year Emirates ID once rather than repeating short renewals.
- Property owners pay the DLD & admin fee once, on the main applicant only.
- Total the whole household up front so there are no surprises.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the UAE Golden Visa cost?
The main applicant's government fees are AED 4,215 for most categories (nomination, fixed deposit, manager and skilled talent) and AED 9,978 for property owners. These cover immigration and visa, the 10-year Emirates ID and a standard medical, and exclude the AED 2 million investment.
Why do property owners pay more for the Golden Visa?
Property owners pay an additional DLD and admin fee of AED 5,763 linked to the title-deed property. That single line raises the main applicant's total from AED 4,215 to AED 9,978. Dependants are never charged this fee.
How much is the Golden Visa for dependants?
Each adult dependant (spouse or parent) costs AED 4,215, and each child under 18 costs AED 3,895. These amounts are the same in every category, including the property route.
Is there a medical fee for children under 18?
No. Children under 18 do not take the paid medical fitness test, so a child's government fees are AED 3,895 — the immigration and visa fee plus the 10-year Emirates ID.
Does the Golden Visa cost include the AED 2 million investment?
No. The AED 2 million property or fixed deposit is the qualifying investment, not a government fee. The AED 4,215 and AED 9,978 figures are processing fees only.
How much is the Emirates ID for a Golden Visa?
The Emirates ID for the full 10-year Golden Visa term is AED 1,185, and it is included in every total shown — for the main applicant and for each dependant.
How much does the Golden Visa cost for a family?
Add the main applicant's fee to AED 4,215 per adult and AED 3,895 per child. For example, a couple with one child pays AED 12,325 on a non-property route or AED 18,088 on the property route.
Are these government fees or the total price I pay?
These are the official government fees only. Health insurance, document attestation, premium medical tiers and any third-party service charge are separate and depend on your situation.
Is the Golden Visa a one-time fee or paid yearly?
The fees cover the full visa term, not a yearly charge. A 10-year Golden Visa is paid once at issuance, and the Emirates ID is also issued for the 10-year period.
Is the Golden Visa cost the same in Dubai and other emirates?
The core federal fees for the visa, Emirates ID and medical are consistent across the UAE. The DLD and admin fee is specific to the property route processed through the Dubai Land Department.
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