Buyer Guides · 4 min read
How Much Does the Dubai Golden Visa Cost in 2026?
The EQT Private Office · RERA-registered brokerage · Published August 28, 2026 · Updated September 24, 2026
As an indicative 2026 guide, the Dubai Golden Visa costs roughly AED 9,700 to AED 10,250 in government fees on the property-investor route and around AED 3,500 on the skilled-professional route. Both figures cover the same core items: the application and issuance fee, the medical fitness test and the ten-year Emirates ID. The property route sits higher because it adds Dubai Land Department charges, mainly the valuation certificate. Each dependant, and any agency or PRO fee, comes on top. Fees are revised from time to time, so confirm current numbers before you budget.
Key takeaways
- •Indicative 2026 government fees: about AED 9,700 to AED 10,250 on the property route, about AED 3,500 on the skilled route.
- •Every route shares three core fees: application and issuance, medical fitness test and the ten-year Emirates ID.
- •The property route adds Dubai Land Department charges, mainly the DLD valuation certificate.
- •Budget about AED 3,000 to AED 5,000 per dependant.
- •Applying directly through ICP or GDRFA avoids agency or PRO fees.
- •The AED 2 million property is an asset you keep, and it is separate from the 4 percent DLD transfer fee paid on purchase.
Why there is no single price
The Golden Visa is a ten-year renewable residency, and its government fees are lower than most applicants expect. Two things move your total: the route you qualify through (property, a skilled profession, entrepreneurship or another category) and the channel you apply through.
If you apply directly through the official ICP or GDRFA channels, you pay the government fees and nothing else. A typing centre, law firm or PRO service adds a service charge, which some buyers pay for the convenience and to get the paperwork right the first time.
We quote ranges throughout. Every number here is indicative, so use the ranges to plan and get a firm figure for your own case before you commit.
The core fee components
Whatever your route, most of the total comes from the same building blocks. Knowing them lets you check any quote you receive.
The application and issuance fee is the main government charge for processing and issuing the visa: indicatively AED 2,000 to AED 2,800, depending on category and on your location (inside or outside the UAE) when you apply.
The medical fitness test is a mandatory health screening at about AED 500 to AED 700 for standard processing. Faster VIP options cost more.
The Emirates ID for the ten-year term is charged separately, indicatively from around AED 1,000 upward for the full validity period.
Visa stamping, and a status-adjustment fee if you are switching from another visa inside the country, add a few hundred dirhams each. Your route decides what goes on top of this base.
The property-investor route and its extra costs
The property route needs a Dubai home with an official Dubai Land Department valuation of at least AED 2 million on the day you apply; mortgaged and off-plan homes can qualify. The eligibility rules, documents and steps are in our guide to the Golden Visa through property.
On top of the core fees, you pay Dubai Land Department charges. The largest is the DLD valuation certificate, the official document confirming your property meets the AED 2 million mark, which adds an indicative few thousand dirhams.
As an indicative all-in figure for 2026, government and DLD fees on the property route come to about AED 9,700 to AED 10,250.
That figure covers the visa only. The property purchase and the standard 4 percent DLD transfer fee you pay when you buy are separate. The AED 2 million stays with you as an asset you own.
The skilled-professional route
If you qualify through a skilled profession, for example as a specialist, senior manager or holder of an eligible salary and qualification, you pay less because there is no property charge.
As an indicative 2026 guide, the skilled-professional route comes to about AED 3,500 in government fees: visa processing and issuance, the medical fitness test and the Emirates ID, with no Dubai Land Department layer.
The skilled route depends on meeting professional, salary or qualification criteria, while the property route is open to anyone who holds a qualifying asset. Our complete Golden Visa guide summarises the criteria for each route. Many clients pick the property route because the asset can appreciate and earn rent, while a fee is simply spent.
Dependants, agency and PRO fees
The route figures cover the main applicant only. Each dependant needs their own visa fee, medical fitness test and Emirates ID. Budget about AED 3,000 to AED 5,000 per dependant, depending on age and processing speed.
The Golden Visa lets you sponsor a spouse, children and, under current rules, domestic staff, so for a family the per-dependant cost is a large part of the real total.
An agency, law firm or PRO service charges its own professional fee on top. It varies widely by provider and by how much you hand over, from document preparation to end-to-end management. Applying directly avoids it, but many buyers pay it to save time and lower the chance of rejected paperwork.
Confirm current figures, and how EQT helps
UAE authorities revise fees from time to time, and processing costs can differ slightly between free zones, typing centres and service providers. Before you set a budget, check the current figures with an official ICP or GDRFA source, or ask an adviser to price your case.
EQT is a RERA-registered brokerage focused on Palm Jumeirah and Dubai's prime communities, so our part is the property. We help you find and buy a home that clears the AED 2 million DLD valuation comfortably, and we connect you with trusted partners for the visa processing.
If you are considering the property route, start by looking at what your budget buys. Speak to our team and we will walk you through suitable properties and the costs involved.
Frequently asked
How much does the Dubai Golden Visa cost in total in 2026?+
As an indicative guide, the property-investor route costs about AED 9,700 to AED 10,250 in government and DLD fees, and the skilled-professional route about AED 3,500. Both figures cover the main applicant only and are revised from time to time, so confirm current numbers before budgeting.
Why does the property route cost more than the skilled route?+
The property route adds Dubai Land Department charges to the core fees. The main one is the DLD valuation certificate confirming your property meets the AED 2 million threshold, indicatively a few thousand dirhams. The skilled route has no such charge.
Is the AED 2 million property investment a fee I lose?+
No. The AED 2 million buys an asset you own and keep. It is separate from the visa fees and from the standard 4 percent DLD transfer fee paid when you buy, and the property can appreciate and earn rental income.
What are the main cost components of the Golden Visa?+
The application and issuance fee, the medical fitness test and the ten-year Emirates ID. Visa stamping, and a status-adjustment fee if you are already in the UAE, add a few hundred dirhams each. The property route adds DLD charges on top.
How much does it cost to add family members?+
Each dependant pays their own visa fee, medical fitness test and Emirates ID. Budget about AED 3,000 to AED 5,000 per dependant, depending on age and processing speed, on top of the main applicant's total.
Do I need to pay agency or PRO fees?+
No. Applying directly through official ICP or GDRFA channels limits you to the government fees. An agency, law firm or PRO service charges a separate fee, which varies by provider, for handling the paperwork and saving you time.
