UAE Golden Visa for Special Talents (2026): Full Guide — Who Qualifies, Who Nominates You & Cost

Rules as of October 2026: the special talent Golden Visa is nomination-based. The authority for your field — for example the Ministry of Health for doctors and nurses, the Ministry of Education or KHDA for teachers, or the Department of Culture for artists — issues a nomination letter. With it, you need only a passport copy and a photo. The visa is 10 years, and government fees are AED 4,137.

There is no single salary or investment threshold for special talents: each field has its own criteria, set by the nominating authority. This guide lists who nominates whom, the published criteria for the main groups, the steps and the cost.

✅ How the special talent Golden Visa works (October 2026)

• Nomination first: the authority for your field reviews your profile and issues a nomination letter.
• Documents: nomination letter, passport copy, personal photo.
• Visa: 10 years, renewable; you are your own sponsor and not tied to any employer.
• Family: spouse, children of any age and parents can be included.

🏛️ Who nominates you

📚 Published criteria for the main groups

Each authority sets and updates its own criteria. These are the most recent published details we know of:

🧭 Which group are you in?

📄 Documents required (only three)

1. Nomination letter from the respective authority.
2. Passport copy.
3. Personal photo.

🗺️ The 12 steps, from profile to Emirates ID

1. Submit your profile — CV, licences, awards or certificates for your field.
2. Recommendation / nomination letter issued by the authority.
3. Application with immigration — GDRFA Dubai for Dubai residents, ICP for the other emirates.
4. Pre-approval — for applicants already living in the UAE.
5. Cancel the existing visa — for applicants already living in the UAE.
6. Medical application — applicants aged 18 and over only.
7. Medical screening — in person.
8. Fitness report issued.
9. Golden Visa issued.
10. Emirates ID application.
11. Emirates ID biometrics — in person, only if required.
12. Emirates ID delivered — your 10-year card.

🚶 Only two in-person visits

• Medical screening at an approved medical centre — one visit, adults 18+ only; children don't need it.
• Emirates ID biometrics — one visit, only for first-time applicants aged 15+; not needed if your biometrics are already on file.

⏱️ How long it takes

The timeline is confirmed after we review your profile, because the nomination step depends on the authority. Timelines are estimates, not guarantees.

💰 Special talent Golden Visa cost

👨‍👩‍👧 Adding your family

Your spouse, children of any age and parents can get the same 10-year residency under you. See Golden Visa for family dependents.

Managers and senior professionals with an AED 30,000 basic salary usually apply on the salary route instead — see Golden Visa for managers.

📝 Quick recap

• Rules as of October 2026: nomination by the authority for your field, then a 10-year Golden Visa.
• Scientists, artists, doctors and nurses, teachers and high-net-worth individuals each have their own nominating authority.
• Three documents: nomination letter, passport copy, photo.
• Government fees: AED 4,137.

Rules last reviewed in October 2026 by Razeeb Abdulla, CEO of FamilyVisa.ae, based on applications we process every week. Approval is always decided by the UAE authorities.

🔗 Related guides

• UAE Golden Visa 2026: routes, requirements and cost
• Golden Visa cost 2026: full fee breakdown
• Golden Visa for property owners
• Golden Visa for company owners
• Golden Visa for managers: salary & cost
• Golden Visa through a fixed bank deposit
• Golden Visa for family dependents

❓ Frequently asked questions

1. Who counts as a special talent for the UAE Golden Visa?

Scientists, artists and creative talents, doctors and nurses, teachers and educators, and high-net-worth individuals, among others. The UAE government also lists inventors, executives, athletes, PhD holders, outstanding students, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes.

2. What is the most important document?

The nomination (or recommendation) letter from the authority responsible for your field. With it, you only need a passport copy and a personal photo.

3. Who nominates doctors and nurses?

The Ministry of Health. In Dubai, Dubai Health also honoured nurses with more than 15 years of service with the Golden Visa in May 2025.

4. Can teachers get the UAE Golden Visa?

Yes. Teachers are nominated by the Ministry of Education or, in Dubai, by KHDA. In Dubai the school's principal or board nominates the teacher; in 2025 KHDA's window ran from 15 October to 15 December.

5. Who nominates artists and creative talents?

The Department of Culture. The UAE government's Golden Visa page also links creative recommendations to the Ministry of Culture.

6. Who nominates scientists?

The UAE's scientific authority for the scientists' category, after reviewing the applicant's research record.

7. Can high-net-worth individuals get a special talent Golden Visa?

Yes. High-net-worth individuals are nominated by the Department of Economy and Tourism.

8. Can students get the Golden Visa?

Yes. Outstanding high school students can receive a 5-year visa (published criteria: a grade of at least 95%), and top university graduates a 10-year visa (published criteria: for example a GPA of at least 3.5 from a top-100 university, within 2 years of graduation).

9. How much does the special talent Golden Visa cost?

Government fees are AED 4,137 for the main applicant: AED 2,710 immigration and visa, AED 1,154 for the 10-year Emirates ID and AED 273 for the medical test.

10. How long does it take?

The timeline is confirmed after we review your profile, because the nomination step depends on the authority. Timelines are estimates, not guarantees.

11. Can I sponsor my family on a special talent Golden Visa?

Yes. Your spouse, children and parents can get residency under you, at AED 4,137 per adult and AED 3,864 per child under 18 in government fees.