Immigration

United Arab Emirates | Golden Visa update

Summary

The United Arab Emirates Government has implemented a significant change to the eligibility requirements for Golden Visas under the ‘High Skilled Professional’ route for employees already working in the United Arab Emirates.

The detail

Effective immediately, employees applying for a Golden Visa under the Highly Skilled Professional route should have completed at least two years of continuous employment with their current United Arab Emirates employer (the sponsor of their Employment Residence Permit) prior to the date of their application.

• Employees who have worked for a different employer within the two years prior to their application may not be able to combine that time to meet the eligibility criteria.
• Situations such as transferring to a different jurisdiction within the same employer or moving between entities within the same corporate group may require further clarification to assess eligibility.

What this means

For Employees: Previously, an employee’s tenure with their current employer was not a pre-requisite to applying for a Golden Visa. However, UAE Employment Residence Permit (ERP) holders are now required to complete two years of continuous service with their current employer before becoming eligible to apply and they may need to renew their ERP (which is issued for two-years and renewable thereafter) before submitting an application to demonstrate a full two year period.

For Employers: Employers should inform employees of this updated requirement to avoid premature or ineligible applications. Workforce planning should consider this revised timeline, particularly for employees who have recently joined or who may be transitioning within the organisation. This update underscores the importance of demonstrating a sustained commitment to both their employer and the United Arab Emirates.

How we can help

At Vialto Partners, we provide expert guidance on navigating United Arab Emirates immigration policies and their implications for businesses and employees. Our team can:

• Assess your employees’ Golden Visa eligibility, especially for those transitioning between jurisdictions or entities within your organisation.
• Help you understand how these changes may impact your workforce and assist in planning accordingly.
• Offer ongoing insights into evolving immigration policies to ensure your business remains compliant and well-informed.

For tailored advice on how these changes may affect your business or employees, please contact our team.

Contact us

For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:

Anir Chatterji
EMEA Immigration Partner

Rekha Simpson
Director, Middle East Immigration

Umme Salma
Senior Manager, UAE Immigration

Ananth Prasad
Senior Manager, UAE Immigration

For additional alerts, please visit www.vialtopartners.com/regional-alerts

Contact us on the following address: me-immigration@vialto.com

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