The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) on 15 October issued new procedural rules—made public on 16 October 2026—requiring most UAE Golden Visa applicants to obtain a formal nomination letter before submitting their long-term residency request. The directive applies to investors, entrepreneurs, specialised professionals and high-achieving students and is designed to standardise vetting across emirates. Applicants must first initiate a nomination request via the ICP Smart Services portal, paying a non-refundable statutory fee of AED 150 (≈ US $41). Only after receiving endorsement from the relevant government body—such as the Ministry of Economy for investors or the Ministry of Education for outstanding students—can candidates proceed to the full visa application, which carries additional medical-testing and issuance charges. According to ICP, the change will streamline processing by filtering ineligible cases early and reducing document resubmissions. However, immigration advisers note that the extra step may extend overall timelines by one to three weeks, urging companies that rely on Golden Visas for senior hires to adjust onboarding schedules. The authority has also published an online dashboard where applicants can track each stage of their nomination and receive SMS alerts. Failure to upload correct supporting documents within 30 days will result in automatic closure of the file, requiring a new fee to restart. For mobility professionals, the revision underscores the importance of early talent-pipeline planning and close coordination with endorsing ministries—particularly during high-volume periods such as year-end bonus season when many executives seek to convert temporary permits into 10-year residency.
Source: UECN / Emirates 24|7
