Abu Dhabi has expanded its Golden Visa programme, and seven categories of foreign nationals can now apply for the long-term residence permit. The announcement widens one of the United Arab Emirates' flagship immigration schemes beyond its original professional and investor base.

The Golden Visa grants qualified foreign nationals the right to live, work and study in the UAE without needing a national sponsor, and it remains valid for extended periods compared with standard residence permits. Holders may also sponsor family members, including spouses and children, under the same permit framework.

Who qualifies under the expansion?

The newly announced changes cover seven distinct categories of applicants. Each category sets its own eligibility conditions, and applicants must document their status before the relevant Abu Dhabi authorities process their file. The categories span groups previously outside the programme's core focus of investors, entrepreneurs and specialised talent.

What does this change for applicants?

For foreign nationals who fell outside the old eligibility rules, the expansion opens a direct route to long-term UAE residency. Applicants in the seven new categories can now submit Golden Visa applications rather than relying on shorter-term employment or visit visas that require renewal and employer sponsorship.

For those already in the UAE on standard permits, the change offers a path to greater stability: longer validity, fewer renewal cycles and the ability to sponsor dependents on a longer-term basis.

How to apply

Candidates should verify their category and its specific requirements through official UAE government channels before filing. Abu Dhabi's residency authorities administer the programme, and applications proceed through the approved federal platforms rather than through private intermediaries alone.

Because each of the seven categories carries its own documentation and eligibility thresholds, prospective applicants should confirm their qualifications directly against the official criteria published by the UAE authorities.

Passport File will update this story as the government publishes the full list of categories and detailed eligibility conditions.