Dubai Golden Visa: How to Apply for a Golden Visa as a Student

Eric Nkom May 9, 2024

0 12 4 minutes read

Dubai Golden Visa: How to Apply for a Golden Visa as a Student

Are you a recent graduate of a UAE university hoping to have your academic record used to support your visa application? Depending on the application type, the UAE’s Golden Visa is a long-term, renewable residence permit that allows you to stay in the nation for five or ten years.

Academically gifted students or recent graduates may apply for this visa. To explain the application procedure for applicants in the United Arab Emirates, Khaleej Times spoke with an Amer agent.

Eligibility Criteria

The Golden visa must be applied for inside the same emirate as the one from which the applicant’s existing visa was obtained.

University graduates

Exceptional graduates from UAE universities

The UAE’s official website states that university students can apply for a 10-year Golden Visa if they meet the following requirements:

Not more than two years have passed since graduation.
The Ministry of Education must give the university an A or B class rating.
A letter of reference from the institution, an official graduation certificate, or an official academic record attesting to the fact that the student’s cumulative GPA (CGPA) is at least 3.5 for universities in class A and at least 3.8 for universities in class B is presented.

Exceptional graduates from overseas colleges

Students attending overseas colleges may be eligible for a 10-year Golden visa, per the UAE official webpage, if they meet the following requirements:

The Ministry of Education has accredited the graduation certificate.
Not more than two years have passed since graduation.
The university is ranked in the top 100 universities in the world by the Ministry of Education-approved rating system.
The pupil has a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.

High school students

Students in high school can apply for a five-year Golden Visa if:

The student is a national topper, having completed secondary school in a public or private institution with a minimum grade of 95%.
The Ministry of Education (Emirates Schools Establishment) submits a recommendation letter.
The Golden Visa has a five-year expiration date, however, it may be extended if the student is enrolled in a major or college in the nation that requires more than five years of study.

How can I find out if my university has an A or B rating?

The candidate can visit the university website or get in touch with the administrative department to find out the categorization of the institution.

An Amer247 messaging platform Technical Support Specialist who talked with Khaleej Times said that for applications made through Amer, the classification is “specifically reliant upon the governing authority that governs the educational institution” being headquartered. This classification may have a significant impact on the documents required.

The assistance specialist further stated: “Notably, for outstanding university students under KHDA, the school must coordinate with KHDA for certificate attestation, followed by MOFA attestation, and the award of an equivalency certificate to ensure compliance with the mandatory ministerial grading system, typically assessed out of 4 or 5.”

How to Apply

If students visit an Amer center after receiving clearance for their ICP nomination, they might anticipate a quicker process. The Amer representative claims that if the student uses the GDRFA platform or has UAE ICP nomination permission before traveling to Amer, the application procedure can be “expedited and made more efficient.”

The GPA requirement is established at 3.8, according to the agency, to “facilitate a seamless application process.” Nonetheless, ICP has classified some UAE universities as exempt from the 3.8 standard. According to him, graduates from these universities who obtain an ICP nomination may apply for a Golden Visa with a GPA of 3.5.

Visit icp.com to apply for a Golden Visa in Dubai.
Continue logging out on the homepage. After swiping to reveal the menu on the left, select “Golden Visa” from the Services section.
Under “high school students/college students,” select “start service.”
Next, select “Start Service” under “Visa—Golden Residence—Nomination Request for Golden Residence—New Request.”
Complete the application, include the necessary paperwork, and submit the application fee.
Take a screenshot of the email granting ICP approval for the nomination request, then bring the necessary paperwork to the closest Amer service center. As an alternative, you can apply through Customer Happiness Centers, the GDRFA website, or the smart application.

The technical support specialist at Amer states that students with a Golden Visa can “extend the permit to their parents, spouses, and children without any hindrance.”