The UAE retirement visa is a five-year renewable residence permit aimed at people aged 55 and above who want to settle, stay close to family, or simply enjoy the climate without depending on an employer or a Golden Visa nomination. In 2026 there are three clear ways to qualify, all of which can be combined with full family sponsorship.
What the retirement visa actually is
Officially known as the "Long-Term Retirement Visa for Residents," this category was introduced in 2018 by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and later adopted federally through ICP. It grants a five-year residence visa, renewable as long as the holder continues to meet the financial criteria. Holders can sponsor a spouse and children, hold UAE bank accounts, lease property, and access UAE healthcare under a private insurance policy.
It is not a citizenship route, it does not require a UAE employer, and it does not require an investment in a specific developer's property. Compared with the 10-year Golden Visa, the retirement visa is faster and cheaper to obtain, but renews more often.
Who qualifies in 2026
You must be 55 years of age or older, hold a valid passport with at least six months of validity, and meet one of three financial-proof routes. You can be either an existing UAE resident transitioning into retirement or a newcomer applying from outside the UAE.
Route 1: UAE property worth AED 1 million or more
You own one or more residential properties in the UAE with a combined value of at least AED 1 million. The property must be fully owned (mortgages count only against the equity portion you have paid). Joint ownership with a spouse counts proportionally — if you own 50 percent of a AED 2 million home, that satisfies the threshold.
Route 2: Savings of AED 1 million in a UAE bank
You hold at least AED 1 million in cash, fixed deposits, or recognised investment accounts with a UAE-licensed bank. The funds must have been in the account for at least three months and a no-objection / balance certificate is required.
Route 3: Active income of AED 20,000 per month
You receive at least AED 20,000 in monthly income from a pension, annuity, dividends, rental income, or other recognised passive source. Documentary evidence over the previous 12 months is required.
Cost breakdown
| Item | Fee (AED) |
|---|---|
| Government issuance (5-year retirement visa) | 2,800 – 3,400 |
| Medical fitness test | 320 – 750 |
| Emirates ID (5-year) | 500 |
| Status change (if applying inside the UAE) | 640 |
| Health insurance (annual, age-banded) | 3,500 – 12,000 |
| Service / typing / processing | 500 – 1,800 |
Total typical out-of-pocket spend, end-to-end, falls between AED 8,000 and AED 18,000 depending on your insurance choice and whether you use a service provider.
Step-by-step process
- Confirm which of the three financial routes you qualify under and gather supporting documents.
- Submit the application through the ICP smart services portal, the GDRFA Amer portal in Dubai, or via an accredited service provider.
- Receive pre-approval in 5 to 10 working days.
- If you are inside the UAE on another visa, request a status change to allow stamping locally.
- Complete the medical fitness test at a DHA, SEHA, or MOHAP centre.
- Apply for or renew your Emirates ID.
- The retirement visa is stamped electronically and the digital residence file becomes active.
- Apply for family sponsorship for spouse and children once the principal visa is active.
Documents required
- Passport with 6+ months validity.
- Two recent passport photos with white background.
- Proof of age (passport itself usually suffices).
- One of the following financial proofs: title deed plus current property valuation, bank balance certificate, or 12 months of pension / income statements.
- Tenancy contract or title deed showing UAE accommodation.
- Health insurance policy meeting DHA / DoH minimums.
- Medical fitness certificate.
- Marriage certificate and children's birth certificates if planning to sponsor family.
Sponsoring family
Once your retirement visa is active you may sponsor your spouse and unmarried children. The sponsorship rules are slightly more relaxed than for ordinary employment visas because the income threshold has already been demonstrated. There is no minimum salary check on the retirement-visa holder. You will still need attested marriage and birth certificates and health insurance for each dependent.
Adult children studying full time can usually be added until age 25; daughters may be sponsored as long as they are unmarried. Parent sponsorship under a retirement visa is possible but is treated case-by-case and typically requires a separate income demonstration.
Common mistakes
- Applying with a property that has an outstanding mortgage covering more than half of the AED 1 million threshold.
- Treating off-shore bank balances as eligible — funds must be in a UAE-licensed bank.
- Using salary slips alone instead of a 12-month formal income summary for Route 3.
- Forgetting that the retirement visa holder still needs UAE-compliant health insurance.
- Cancelling the previous employment visa before the retirement visa pre-approval is in hand, leaving a gap that triggers overstay fines.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply if I am already 60 or 70?
Yes. There is no upper age limit. Insurance premiums increase with age, but the visa criteria stay the same.
Can my non-UAE-resident spouse join me?
Yes. Once your retirement visa is active you can sponsor your spouse on a family residence visa with the standard documentation.
What happens if I sell the property I used to qualify?
You must continue to meet one of the three routes at the time of renewal. Selling the property is fine if you can show savings of AED 1 million or income of AED 20,000 per month at the next renewal.
Can I work part time while on a retirement visa?
The retirement visa is not an employment visa. You may earn passive income, manage personal investments, and consult informally, but you cannot be sponsored by a UAE employer under this status. To take a paid role you would need a separate work permit through MOHRE.
Is health insurance optional?
No. Health insurance meeting the minimum federal benefits package is mandatory for the principal applicant and any sponsored dependants.
How does the retirement visa compare with the Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa is 10 years and the retirement visa is 5 years. Property thresholds also differ — AED 2 million for Golden, AED 1 million for retirement. If you already qualify for both, the Golden Visa wins on tenure and absence rules; the retirement visa wins on simplicity.
Can I leave the UAE for long stretches?
Yes, although standard absence rules apply: residence visas are generally cancelled after six consecutive months outside the UAE unless you renew them in time. Plan your trips around that boundary.
How we help
Visa Simplified manages every step of the retirement visa journey — eligibility checks against the three routes, document attestation, ICP submission, medical and Emirates ID booking, and family sponsorship. See our dedicated retirement visa service page or compare with our Golden Visa complete guide if a 10-year option is still on the table.
Need help with this?
Our PRO consultants handle the full process end-to-end — documents, government submission, and delivery. Service fee is fully refundable pre-submission.