This page explains how the United Arab Emirates Golden Visa works for Chinese nationals, the main investment routes and where to confirm the current rules.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
The Golden Visa is a long term residence permit, not citizenship. It is administered federally by the ICP, with emirate level offices handling much of the processing. The investor routes are open to most foreign nationals, including Chinese nationals.
Because this is residency rather than citizenship, a Chinese applicant does not face the dual nationality question that arises with a second passport. Confirm the current eligibility detail with the official authority.
Common investor routes include qualifying real estate, a deposit with an approved investment fund, or ownership of a company with qualifying capital. The widely cited property threshold is AED 2,000,000, which can be residential or commercial and may be mortgaged subject to bank confirmation.
The authority has clarified that digital currency holdings do not qualify. Verify the accepted routes and current thresholds with the official authority before you act.
Processing is generally measured in weeks once the qualifying evidence and the medical and identity steps are complete, but it depends on the emirate and the route. Confirm the present timeline with the official authority.
The qualifying investment, government charges and medical and identity fees are set by the authorities and revised over time. The table lists the headline items at an indicative level. Confirm every current figure with the official authority.
| Item | Indicative amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Property route | AED 2,000,000 | Residential or commercial, may be mortgaged, confirm with ICP |
| Investment fund deposit | Reported at AED 2,000,000 | Letter from an approved fund, confirm current figure |
| Company capital route | Reported at AED 2,000,000 | Qualifying licence and capital, confirm with the authority |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. It is a long term residence permit. It does not grant Emirati citizenship and does not raise the dual nationality issue.
The widely cited figure is AED 2,000,000. Confirm the current threshold and the valuation basis with the ICP.
The authority has clarified that digital currency holdings do not qualify. Verify with the official source.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
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