United Arab Emirates Golden Visa (Skilled Professional) for Pakistanis
Last verified: September 2, 2026
Quick facts
- Processing time
- 4–12 weeks
- Government fee
- about $1,100
- Start preparing
- about 5 months before your move
- Steps in the plan
- 8
- Need an apostille
- None
- Need a translation
- None
- Job offer
- Required
“Start preparing” covers gathering documents, the 4–12 weeks decision wait and two weeks of slack. Add apostille and translation costs to the government fee.
Overview
Ten-year renewable residency that is not tied to a single employer, so you keep it if you change jobs. The skilled-professional route needs a basic monthly salary of at least AED 30,000 — basic only, housing and transport allowances do not count — plus a bachelor's degree or higher and a role classified by MOHRE at skill level 1 (managers and business executives) or level 2 (professionals in science, engineering, health, education, business, IT, law, sociology and culture). Senior executives with five years of managerial experience qualify at AED 50,000. You sponsor your own family without an employer.
This page covers Pakistanis. For every nationality we track, see the United Arab Emirates Golden Visa overview.
Requirements for Pakistanis
| Minimum annual income | $98,000/year |
| Minimum savings | No requirement |
| Job offer required | Yes |
| Degree required | Yes |
| Family can join | Yes |
| Path to permanent residency | Yes |
Processing time & costs
Typical processing takes 4–12 weeks after applying. The government fee is approximately $1,100. Difficulty: 3/5.
Documents you'll need
- Confirm your basic salary is at least AED 30,000Basic salary only, excluding allowances, proved by your MOHRE-registered contract.
- Confirm your MOHRE occupational classification is level 1 or 2Level 1 covers managers and executives; level 2 covers professionals in science, health, IT and law.
- Obtain an attested bachelor's degree or higherChain of HEC, Pakistan MOFA and UAE Embassy, then UAE Ministry of Education equivalency where required.
- Obtain the MOHRE-attested employment contract showing basic salaryMust show the basic salary figure separately from allowances.
- Gather salary certificate and six months of bank statementsSalary certificate from your employer and bank statements, evidencing the AED 30,000 basic salary.
- Submit the Golden Visa application via ICP or your emirate authorityVia the ICP smart services portal, the GDRFA portal for Dubai, or ADDED for Abu Dhabi.
- Complete medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometricsSame medical and biometric steps as the employment visa.
- Receive the 10-year residency and sponsor your familyThe 10-year visa is not tied to your employer and covers your spouse and children.
The full ordered checklist — with timing, dependencies, apostille and translation flags, and personalized due dates — is part of the paid plan.
Not moving yet?
The Golden Visa (Skilled Professional) takes about 5 months from first document to moving day. Tell us when you plan to move and we’ll email you once, on the day you should start.
Is the Golden Visa (Skilled Professional) right for you?
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Check my eligibilityFrequently asked questions
- How long does the United Arab Emirates Golden Visa (Skilled Professional) take for Pakistanis?
- Typical processing time is 4–12 weeks after applying, plus the time needed to gather documents.
- What does the Golden Visa (Skilled Professional) cost?
- The government fee is approximately $1,100. Additional costs (translations, apostilles, insurance) vary by case.
- Do Pakistanis need a job offer for the Golden Visa (Skilled Professional)?
- Yes. A job offer from an employer in United Arab Emirates is required before applying.
- Can I bring my family on the Golden Visa (Skilled Professional)?
- Yes — this visa allows accompanying family members, with additional documentation.
- What is the income requirement for the Golden Visa (Skilled Professional) for Pakistanis?
- The minimum income is about $98,000 a year, roughly $8,167 a month, expressed in US dollars. The official threshold is set in local currency and moves with exchange rates, so confirm the current figure with the official source.
Other United Arab Emirates visas for Pakistanis
Other destinations for Pakistanis
United Arab Emirates visas for other nationalities
Always confirm requirements with the official government source. This guide is general information, not legal advice.