The United Arab Emirates now lets Golden Visa candidates check their eligibility and nominate themselves through an official online portal. The change removes a step that previously required a third party to start the process on the applicant's behalf.

Gulf News, which reported the procedure, describes a two-stage process: a self-service eligibility check, followed by an online self-nomination filed directly by the applicant.

What does the new route change?

The key shift is who can start the file. Under the older route, applicants typically depended on an employer, host or authorised intermediary to submit the nomination. The online service places that first step in the applicant's own hands.

The process works in two stages:

• Eligibility check — the applicant answers questions on the portal to see whether they qualify for the Golden Visa.
• Self-nomination — if eligible, the same applicant files the nomination online without going through an intermediary.

In plain terms: the applicant can now open the file alone, on the official platform, before anyone else gets involved.

Who is the Golden Visa for?

The Golden Visa is the UAE's long-term residence permit. It targets groups the authorities consider high-value contributors — commonly investors, entrepreneurs, specialised professionals, outstanding students and graduates, and pioneers in fields such as medicine, science and the arts. The visa's defining feature is its long validity period, which sets it apart from standard renewable residence permits.

Holders gain long-term security of residence without needing the continuous sponsorship that ordinary permits require. That difference is the programme's core appeal for expatriates planning years ahead in the country.

What should applicants do now?

Anyone considering the route should first run the official eligibility check rather than assume they qualify. The portal gives a direct answer based on the criteria the federal authorities have set, category by category.

Applicants should rely on the official government channels for both the screening and the nomination. Gulf News, which published the guide, directs readers to the federal platform for the procedure itself. Anyone unsure about their category can verify their status through the official portal before filing.

The takeaway: eligibility screening and self-nomination now sit in one place online, so the first step of the Golden Visa process belongs to the applicant.