7 Dubai visa changes you need to know in 2025: New golden visas and faster systems
It's no secret that Dubai is one of the best places in the world to live and visit.
In the past year, the emirate has introduced a number of new Dubai visa changes and initiatives to make it easier to extend your stay, visit the city and even move with a long-term residence visa.
Whether you're interested in moving to Dubai or are looking at extending your stay, it's always worth knowing about the latest visa news.
Here's what you need to know.
The Blue visa has launched
The 10-year blue visa has officially been launched (Credit: Canva)
First announced in May of 2024, the blue visa was only officially launched in February 2025. Holders can get
The blue visa is a 10-year residence visa aimed towards people who have made a significant positive contribution to the environment inside or outside the UAE.
It will be given to supporters of environmental action, including members of international organisations and companies, global award winners, distinguished activists and researchers.
The visa is an extension of the highly sought-after UAE golden visa system and the green residency permit which have both been in place for some time.
After launching in February, applicants across the world will have 24/7 access to the blue visa service on the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security.
Nurses to get golden visas
Hamdan bin Mohammed issued directives to grant golden visas to nursing staff employed with Dubai Health who have served for more than 15 years. The decision comes in recognition of their invaluable contributions to the community and their crucial role in advancing the quality of… pic.twitter.com/v6c65q4eKT
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 12, 2025
The highly sought-after golden visa has been granted to nurses in Dubai.
Granting holders a 10-year residence, the golden visa is awarded to those who work every day to make Dubai such a great place to live.
To coincide with International Nurses Day, observed annually on May 12, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence of the UAE issued a directive to grant nurses golden visas.
Nursing staff who have served Dubai Health for more than 15 years will be issued with the long-term residency visa in recognition of their invaluable contributions to the community.
The nursing golden visa rewards those who have played a crucial role in advancing the quality of healthcare services in the emirate.
Influencers to get golden visa help
The Creators HQ in Dubai will help people get a UAE influencers golden visa (Credit: Canva)
If you're a content creator then you could be in line for a special long-term residency in the UAE.
The influencer golden visa has been rolled out following the 1 Billion Followers Summit in January 2025.
Influencers, photographers, writers and more content creators who push the boundaries of creativity and innovation are able to apply via the newly established Creators HQ.
The Creators HQ will assist up to 10,000 online personalities with getting their hands on a long-term residence permit.
Criteria for applicants to qualify include a proven track record of impactful or creative work and strong potential for contributing to the UAE's creative community.
New AI-assisted Dubai visa application
Dubai has introduced a new AI-powered digital platform which will make it easier and quicker to renew Dubai visas.
Salama will allow people living in the emirate to renew their existing Dubai visa within minutes.
The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs launched the platform on Monday February 24 to improve the efficiency of government services.
Available services include renewing and cancelling the residency of sponsored persons and finding the answers to questions.
Dubai visa rules expanded for Indian nationals
Indian nationals are now able to get a visa-on-arrival in Dubai and the rest of the UAE following an expansion to the visa rules.
Indian passport holders with valid residency permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea will now be able to get a visa upon entry at all UAE ports including Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central.
Previously rules were expanded to allow Indian nationals with valid European Union, United Kingdom and United States of America permits to also obtain a UAE visa-on-arrival.
It means that there is now much less hassle for Indian travellers coming to Dubai.
Golden visa for teachers introduced
The golden visa is now available to educators (Credit: Adobe Express)
Announced on Saturday October 5 in 2024, World Teachers' Day, educators are now able to get their hands on a golden visa.
It is available to exceptional educators who have demonstrated outstanding performance and made significant contributions to Dubai's private education sector.
Applicants need to meet a certain set of criteria to qualify including success in raising the quality of education at institutions they've worked at and having a positive impact on the wider educational community.
The full set of criteria can be found on the Knowledge and Human Development Authority site.
It's quicker to get a work visa
The work bundle changes outlined (Credit: Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security UAE)
Introduced in summer of 2024, the UAE work bundle means it's now quicker to go through the process of applying for a visa.
As part of the government's plan to eliminate bureaucracy, the application process has now been reduced from one month down to five days.
Previously you needed 16 documents to apply for a residency visa but now you need just five.
Life in Dubai
In pictures: Dubai then and now
See just how much the city has changed through the decades
UAE public holidays
All the details on the official public and private sector holidays here
New restaurants in Dubai that you need to visit right now
From casual eats to fine dining, there's bound to be a new venue you'll want to try
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Reuters
Trump administration plans $1,000 fee to fast-track tourist visas -memo
June 4 (Reuters) - The Trump administration is considering a $1,000 fee for tourists and other non-immigrant visa applicants seeking an expedited interview appointment though government lawyers have raised legal red flags over the plan, according to a U.S. official and an internal State Department memo. Individuals entering the U.S. on tourist and other non-immigrant visas already pay a $185 processing fee. The new $1,000 option the U.S. is considering would be a premium service that allows some people to jump to the front of the line for visa interviews. The program could arrive in pilot form as soon as December, the memo reviewed by Reuters said. The proposed fee for visa appointments, which has not been previously reported, comes alongside President Donald Trump's vision of a 'gold card' that would sell U.S. citizenship for $5 million, granting faster access to those willing to pay. But the State Department's legal team said there was a 'high risk' it would be rejected by the White House budget office or struck down in U.S. courts, the memo said. Setting a fee above the cost to provide the service "is contrary to settled Supreme Court precedent," the memo said. A State Department spokesperson said the department does not comment on internal documents and communications. "The department's scheduling of non-immigrant visa interview appointments is dynamic and we are continually working to improve our operations worldwide," the spokesperson said. Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has aggressively cracked down on immigration, including revoking some student visas and increasing scrutiny of all visa applicants. The State Department issued 10.4 million non-immigrant visas in fiscal year 2023, including 5.9 million tourist visas, according to the agency's most recent annual report, opens new tab. International travel spending in the United States is expected to decline about 7% in 2025 as opposition to Trump's policies and a strong dollar prompt foreign visitors to opt for other destinations, the World Travel and Tourism Council said in May.
BBC News
8 hours ago
- BBC News
Vanuatu looks into revoking Andrew Tate's golden passport
Vanuatu authorities are looking at revoking Andrew Tate's citizenship after it was revealed that he acquired a golden passport at around the same time as his 2022 arrest in Romania for rape and human trafficking. The self-described misogynist influencer acquired citizenship under a fast-track scheme for those who invest at least $130,000 (£96,000) in the tiny Pacific archipelago, according to an investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. The scheme has raised security concerns, and led the European Union to revoke Vanuatu's visa-free privilege in late 2024. A Vanuatu government spokesman said authorities were "definitely looking into" Tate's citizenship. "Once we have the files, definitely, the processes will be in place to revoke his citizenship," Kiery Manassah told ABC News. "The government does not want to encourage people of questionable backgrounds to be granted citizenship," he added. "Those who are wanted by their countries or who are investigated by police authorities from overseas are not welcome to be part of the citizens of Vanuatu." Passports-for-sale or citizenship by investment schemes are a source of income for countries like Vanuatu. But they have also been abused by organised crime suspects, oligarchs and even intelligence agents, said Aubrey Belford, Pacific lead editor at OCCRP. "It's caused a lot of alarm because it's one of those loopholes that allows people to get a new passport or even a new identity and be able to evade law enforcement," Belford told ABC News. Vanuatu granted Tate citizenship in December 2022. That same month, Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested in Romania and have since largely been under travel restrictions in the country. Vanuatu does not have a formal extradition treaty with Romania. It is unclear if Tristan Tate also acquired Vanuatu citizenship. In recent years, Andrew Tate has built a massive online presence, including more than 10 million followers on X, sharing his lifestyle of fast cars, private jets and yachts. He has also gained global notoriety for his views towards women, proudly proclaiming himself a "misogynist" and also using extreme language relating to acts of violence against women. He has also been singled out for the effect he has had in spreading misogyny online among boys and young men by authorities in the UK. The Tate brothers were both born in the US but moved to Luton in the UK with their mother after their parents divorced. They have denied allegations of criminal wrongdoing. Separately, the UK is seeking their extradition from Romania after they were charged in 2024 of rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking. Lawyers for the brothers have said that they will return to the UK to face those charges, that stemmed from allegation between 2012 and 2015. A Romanian court has ruled that the brothers could be extradited to the UK following the end of any trial there.
South Wales Argus
9 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
HMRC is urging anyone with kids aged 15
In a post on X, it said: "If you became a parent before May 2000, you may have Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) missing from your National Insurance record. This could mean you're missing out on State Pension payments." For someone with 13 missing years, who lives for another 20 years, it can be worth as much as £100,000 or more in State Pension payments. If you became a parent before May 2000, you may have Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) missing from your National Insurance record. This could mean you're missing out on State Pension payments. Check if you can apply for HRP below. ⬇️ — HM Revenue & Customs (@HMRCgovuk) May 19, 2025 What is Home Responsibilities Protection? Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) was given for full tax years (6 April to 5 April) between 1978 and 2010, if any of the following were true: you were claiming Child Benefit for a child under 16 you were caring for a child with your partner who claimed Child Benefit instead of you you were getting Income Support because you were caring for someone who was sick or disabled you were caring for a sick or disabled person who was claiming certain benefits National Insurance credits for parents and carers replaced HRP from 6 April 2010. Who qualified automatically for HRP? Most people got HRP automatically if they were: getting Child Benefit in their name for a child under the age of 16 and they had given the Child Benefit Office their National Insurance number getting Income Support and they did not need to register for work because they were caring for someone who was sick or disabled If your partner claimed Child Benefit instead of you, you may be able to transfer HRP from a partner you lived with if they claimed Child Benefit while you both cared for a child under 16 and they do not need the HRP. If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2008, you cannot transfer HRP. HRP for caring for a sick or disabled person If you spent at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a long-term illness or disability between 6 April 1978 and 5 April 2002, you may also be able to claim. They must have been getting one of the following benefits: Attendance Allowance Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest rate for personal care Constant Attendance Allowance The benefit must have been paid for 48 weeks of each tax year on or after 6 April 1988 or every week of each tax year before 6 April 1988. If you were getting Carer's Allowance You do not need to apply for HRP if you were getting Carer's Allowance. You'll automatically get National Insurance credits and would not usually have needed HRP, but check - just to be sure. Recommended reading: If you were a foster carer or caring for a friend or family member's child You can also apply if, for a full tax year between 2003 and 2010, you were either: a foster carer caring for a friend or family member's child ('kinship carer') in Scotland All of the following must also be true: you were not getting Child Benefit you were not in paid work you did not earn enough in a tax year for it to count towards the State Pension Married women or widows You cannot get HRP for any complete tax year if you were a married woman or a widow and had chosen to pay reduced rate Class 1 National Insurance contributions as an employee (commonly known as the small stamp), or you had chosen not to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions when self-employed
