--- title: "United Arab Emirates Golden · Exceptional talent 2026" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-exceptional-talent/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- United Arab Emirates · Talent schemes # United Arab Emirates Golden · Exceptional talent **First stay:** 10 yrs Golden Residency - Exceptional Talents (culture and arts, sport, innovators, digital) First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 10 yrs (10-year residence with automatic renewal per ICP; applicants outside the UAE receive a six-month multiple-entry entry visa, renewable for another six months, to complete the procedures.) - **Who can apply:** Any passport - **Spouse work:** Needs a permit (Spouse and children of any age and parents may be sponsored; the holder may sponsor domestic workers. If the sponsor dies, family may stay until their own permits expire. Your spouse or partner needs their own work permit to work in the United Arab Emirates.) ## Key facts Golden · Exceptional talent is a talent schemes route for United Arab Emirates. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Government fees:** AED 100 ≈ $27 · +2 more - **First stay:** 10 yrs ## Cost, time and long term **Government fees: AED 100 ≈ $27 · +2 more** - AED 100 (≈ $27) Application fee for the Golden Residence residence service. - AED 100 (≈ $27) Smart service fee. - AED 100 a year (≈ $27) Residence issuance fee per year of validity (AED 1,000 (≈ $270) for 10 years). **Renewal: Renewable** Ten-year residence with automatic renewal and no sponsor needed. [Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-golden-residency/) **Where to apply: Abroad or in-country** If you are outside the UAE you receive a six-month multiple-entry entry visa, renewable once for six months, to complete the procedures. [Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-golden-residency/) **Presence rules: Stay rule** Holders can stay outside the UAE for longer than the usual six months that would otherwise cancel a residence visa. [UAE Government Portal](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/golden-visa) ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - Eligible fields are culture and the arts, innovators and inventors, athletes, digital technology and other fields set by the authorities. - Culture and arts, Creative category: an internationally recognised award, nomination, certificate of recognition or honorary post. - Culture and arts, Distinguished category: a recognition certificate, nomination or honorary post from a local or regional body. - Culture and arts, Distinguished Professional category: five years of creative experience and works published in the past three years. - Sports: an outstanding sporting accomplishment, a leadership post in an international sports body or notable sports-medicine achievements. #### What you must show and pay - **A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27)** · Application fee for the Golden Residence residence service. - **A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27)** · Smart service fee. - **A fee of AED 100 a year (≈ $27)** · Residence issuance fee per year of validity (AED 1,000 (≈ $270) for 10 years). ## When you become tax resident How United Arab Emirates decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **10 years at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in 12 consecutive months** - **At least 90 days in 12 consecutive months** Applies to UAE nationals, holders of a valid residence permit, or GCC nationals who also have a permanent place of residence in the UAE or work or carry on business there. - **Foreign-source income:** **No personal income tax** The UAE levies no income tax on individuals; foreign-source salary, investment and rental income of an individual is outside Corporate Tax. [All tax rules for United Arab Emirates](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 **Full official text** 10-year sponsor-free Golden Residency for exceptional talents in culture and the arts, sport, invention and innovation, digital technology and other fields set by the competent authorities. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27) · Application fee for the Golden Residence residence service. (source 3) - A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27) · Smart service fee. (source 3) - A fee of AED 100 a year (≈ $27) · Residence issuance fee per year of validity (AED 1,000 (≈ $270) for 10 years). (source 3) #### Requirements - Eligible fields are culture and the arts, innovators and inventors, athletes, digital technology and other fields set by the authorities. (source 1) - Culture and arts, Creative category: an internationally recognised award, nomination, certificate of recognition or honorary post. (source 1) - Culture and arts, Distinguished category: a recognition certificate, nomination or honorary post from a local or regional body. (source 1) - Culture and arts, Distinguished Professional category: five years of creative experience and works published in the past three years. (source 1) - Sports: an outstanding sporting accomplishment, a leadership post in an international sports body or notable sports-medicine achievements. (source 1) #### Stay - 10-year residence with automatic renewal per ICP; applicants outside the UAE receive a six-month multiple-entry entry visa, renewable for another six months, to complete the procedures. - Initial permitted stay: 120 months. - Visa validity: 120 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. - Entry visa to complete procedures up to 6 months: Six months multiple entry, renewable once for six months (applicants outside the UAE). - Golden Residency up to 120 months: 10 years, automatically renewed. #### Work Golden Residency holders may live, work, study and invest in the UAE without a sponsor. #### Family Spouse and children of any age and parents may be sponsored; the holder may sponsor domestic workers. If the sponsor dies, family may stay until their own permits expire. Your spouse or partner needs their own work permit to work in the United Arab Emirates. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [Golden Residency Guide](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-golden-residency/) · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security · checked 2026-10-12 2. [Golden visa](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/golden-visa) · UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Issuing Residency Permit (terms, fees and documents for each applicant category)](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e64) · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) · checked 2026-10-12 4. [Work permits](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/work-permits) · The UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-10 ## Golden · Exceptional talent and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Golden · Exceptional talent | – | 10 yr, renewable | – | | [Blue Residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/blue-residency/) | – | 10 yr, renewable | – | | [Golden · Humanitarian pioneer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-humanitarian-pioneers/) | – | 10 yr, renewable | – | | [Golden · Scientists](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-scientists-specialists/) | – | 10 yr, renewable | – | | [J-Find](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/j-find/) Japan | – | 2 yr | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Golden · Exceptional talent? A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27). Application fee for the Golden Residence residence service. A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27). Smart service fee. A fee of AED 100 a year (≈ $27). Residence issuance fee per year of validity (AED 1,000 (≈ $270) for 10 years). ### How long can I stay on the Golden · Exceptional talent? 10-year residence with automatic renewal per ICP; applicants outside the UAE receive a six-month multiple-entry entry visa, renewable for another six months, to complete the procedures. ### Can I work on the Golden · Exceptional talent? Golden Residency holders may live, work, study and invest in the UAE without a sponsor. ### Can I bring my family on the Golden · Exceptional talent? Spouse and children of any age and parents may be sponsored; the holder may sponsor domestic workers. ### How are Golden · Exceptional talent holders taxed in United Arab Emirates? No special regime in our records is tied to the Golden · Exceptional talent. The standard rules apply: The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals; VAT is 5%. Individuals running a business in the UAE pay corporate tax only if business turnover exceeds AED 1 million (≈ $272,000) in a calendar year. ## More in United Arab Emirates [Virtual Work Visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/virtual-work-visa/) [Golden · AED 2M deposit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-investor-public-investment/) [Golden · AED 2M property](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-real-estate-investor/) [Golden · Humanitarian donor](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-humanitarian-supporter/) [Retirement visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/retirement-visa/) [Golden · Company investor](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-investor-company-capital/) [Golden · Taxpaying company](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-investor-tax-contribution/) [Green · Investor / partner](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/green-investor-partner/) ## Special talent visas elsewhere [🇮🇩 Golden Visa · Talent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/e33b-special-talent/) [🇸🇬 ONE Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/one-pass/) [🇰🇷 Top-Tier · science](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/f2t-top-tier-science/) [🇹🇼 Employment Gold Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/employment-gold-card/) [🇭🇰 QMAS](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/qmas/) [🇦🇺 Skilled Regional 491](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/australia/skilled-work-regional-491/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Golden Residency Guide](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-golden-residency/) · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security · checked 2026-10-12 2. [Golden visa](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/golden-visa) · UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Issuing Residency Permit (terms, fees and documents for each applicant category)](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e64) · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) · checked 2026-10-12 4. [Work permits](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/work-permits) · The UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-10 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.