Tim Elliott
Welcome to Lawgical, the first regular podcast navigating the latest legal updates here in the UAE. My name is Tim Elliott, and I’m here with Ludmila Yamalova. Ludmila is the managing partner at Yamalova & Plewka. We’re on the 18th floor looking out across Dubai in JLT. Nice to see you, Ludmila.
Ludmila Yamalova
Great to see you too, and thanks for being back here in our studio.
Tim Elliott
I may have embellished that slightly. We’re in a darkened room—more like a coffin. It’s close. Halloween’s only just gone.
Look, this time it’s an essential topic for many, many residents and investors: the Golden Visa program. We’ve talked about this before, but I think it’s only reasonable to look at the updates because things change. Let’s start with an overview, Ludmila.
Ludmila Yamalova
Certainly. And you’re right—it’s only reasonable to do an overview, a refresher, and a status update. Since its introduction, the Golden Visa has been an incredibly successful initiative. It has grown and evolved in many ways and continues to be extremely appealing to many.
At a high level, the Golden Visa is a long-term residency visa for the UAE that grants 10 years of residency for qualifying individuals. It’s a residency visa in the UAE with all the benefits that come with residency, and that’s why it’s called the Golden Visa.
The program is aimed at investors, entrepreneurs, skilled professionals, and those in specialized fields. It supports the UAE’s vision of attracting top talent and fostering long-term economic stability.
Tim Elliott
And so, recent updates have included expanding eligibility criteria and new measures to simplify the process for certain professionals. Can we look at any specific updates? What’s new in the world of Golden Visas?
Ludmila Yamalova
Yes, absolutely. If you recall, when the Golden Visa was first introduced, it was only available to select individuals who were ultimately nominated by someone. Typically, these were individuals with longstanding relationships with the UAE, nominated by certain reputable members of society.
Then it quickly evolved to different categories, particularly for business professionals and those who earned a certain income—specifically, anything above AED 30,000 would qualify on the basis of employment.
Another category is investment, particularly in real estate. Any real estate investment valued at more than AED 2 million qualifies. There’s also a category for individuals with secured investments, such as significant funds deposited in a UAE bank for a specific period.
In addition, there are categories for specialized professionals, gifted students, and recent graduates from reputable universities. Many different categories exist, but when the program first launched, not all of them were available immediately. It started small and then gradually expanded.
More recently, there have been tweaks in the application process, particularly around documentation requirements. For example, the requirement for an equivalency certificate for applicants basing their eligibility on educational or professional qualifications has been introduced.
Tim Elliott
Can you elaborate on equivalency certificates? What does this requirement mean for Golden Visa applicants, and how do you obtain one?
Ludmila Yamalova
This equivalency certificate requirement is one of the more recent and notable changes. It was introduced this year, in 2024, and was less about specific legislation and more through announcements by the authorities.
The equivalency certificate essentially allows the UAE government, particularly the Ministry of Education, to verify your qualifications. Initially, it applied to those applying based on professional talent—doctors, engineers, tech professionals, and so on. However, since the categories were rolled out gradually, the requirement wasn’t widely enforced in the early years.
Back then, applicants applying on the basis of income or seniority in a company didn’t need to provide academic certifications. But now, almost all categories require equivalency certificates.
Tim Elliott
What’s the process for obtaining an equivalency certificate?
Ludmila Yamalova
To start, you need two key documents from each university you attended: your degree certificate and transcripts. These must be authenticated and submitted through the Ministry of Education’s online platform.
The UAE government also partners with a service called DataFlow Group, which performs primary source verification of academic documents. This ensures the qualifications are legitimate and recognized. It adds credibility and efficiency to the process.
For older graduates like me, this can be challenging. Digging out transcripts and certificates from decades ago isn’t easy. Thankfully, the DataFlow service streamlines much of this and makes the process more transparent.
Tim Elliott
That’s a lot to digest. Let’s shift to the DIFC Golden Visa. What’s unique for property owners in the Dubai International Financial Center?
Ludmila Yamalova
Great question. For property investors, most Golden Visa applications in Dubai are handled through the Dubai Land Department (DLD). They have a dedicated process for evaluating properties and issuing Golden Visas.
However, the DIFC operates as a separate jurisdiction, with its own property register. This means Golden Visa applications for DIFC properties don’t go through the DLD but rather through the DIFC’s property registry.
The DIFC has a sophisticated client portal for submitting applications, paying fees, and tracking status. The process is different but efficient. The same general rules apply—for example, the property must be worth at least AED 2 million, and you can combine multiple properties to meet the threshold.
Tim Elliott
If a property is used for a Golden Visa, does it get blocked during the visa’s duration?
Ludmila Yamalova
Yes. Properties linked to Golden Visas are effectively blocked, meaning they cannot be sold during the visa’s 10-year duration. You can still live in the property, rent it out, or use it in other ways, but you cannot sell it unless you cancel your Golden Visa first.
The system ensures that the visa criteria—ownership of the qualifying property—remain consistent. If you sell the property, the visa is no longer valid. However, the process is flexible. You can cancel your visa through the DLD and then proceed with the sale.
Tim Elliott
Let’s talk about some recent news: the inclusion of teachers in the Golden Visa program.
Ludmila Yamalova
That’s an exciting update. Teachers now qualify for Golden Visas under a specific initiative aimed at strengthening the UAE’s educational sector. This program is open until December 2024 and requires schools to nominate teachers.
While teachers typically wouldn’t qualify based on income or seniority, this initiative provides a new pathway. Applicants may also need equivalency certificates to verify their qualifications. The process involves using the DataFlow service, submitting documents, and applying through approved channels.
Tim Elliott
Golden Visas: another episode of Lawgical. Some of the steps being taken to make residency options more accessible and supportive for various professionals. Ludmila Yamalova, managing partner at Yamalova & Plewka, thank you.
Ludmila Yamalova
Thank you, Tim. Always a pleasure.
Tim Elliott
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