UAE Reports Increasing Demand For ‘Skilled Professionals’ Golden Visas
UAE Golden Visa applicants typically need to invest AED 2 million or more in real estate. However, recent developments show an alternative route via the professional category, making this visa more accessible to many.
As quoted by Gulf News, James Swallow, commercial director for PRO Partner Group, said applying through this job category is generally easier.
This is because many of these professionals already maintain an employment record with the Ministry of Human Resources and United Arab Emirates (MoHRE), which streamlines the application process, he added.
Recent data shows an upward trend in Golden Visa applications in the professional category. While 2022 was marked by applicants who primarily used real estate investments to obtain their visas, according to James, 2023 will see a change.
He said many professionals, including newcomers to the UAE, are interested in this long-term residency program. In view of this development, some companies in particular are providing incentives for their employees.
The increase in demand is due to the growth of the labor market. Sectors such as technology, digital services, retail, and hospitality are seeing strong hiring numbers, particularly for mid-level and senior-level positions.
The constant influx of new businesses in the region also highlights the growing demand for the Golden Visa.
James noted that the potential of the Golden Visa has not yet peaked, indicating continued interest in different categories going forward.
For those applying in the Qualified Professional category, the required documents are standard. According to him, candidates need their certified university degree, existing health insurance in the United Arab Emirates, salary slip, valid employment contract, and a letter confirming at least 5 years of experience in their current position.
The turnaround time for the Qualified Professional category is fast. The provisional approval takes about a week, followed by another two weeks for the final issuance of the Emirates ID card and visa. For comparison: The processing time for the investor class is about four weeks.
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