UAE Retirement Visa Guide 2026: Requirements, Costs, and How to Apply

The UAE retirement visa is a five-year renewable residency permit designed for people aged 55 and above who want to live in the country without running a business or working for an employer.

It is not the most straightforward visa in the UAE system — eligibility is tied to financial requirements that not everyone meets — but for the right person, it opens the door to long-term UAE residency without the complexity of company formation or employment sponsorship.

Here is what it costs, who qualifies, and how the application works.

What Is the UAE Retirement Visa?

The UAE retirement visa (formally the “Long-Term Residence Visa for Retirees”) was introduced as part of the UAE’s broader effort to attract and retain high-net-worth and financially stable long-term residents.

It grants a five-year residency permit that can be renewed repeatedly, provided the financial criteria are met each time.

Key features:

• Five-year renewable residency
• No requirement to work or run a business
• Family sponsorship allowed (spouse and children)
• Access to UAE healthcare, banking, and driving licence
• No income tax on pension income or savings

It is issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), and processing goes through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in the emirate where you apply.

Who Is Eligible?

You must meet all of the following:

Age Requirement

You must be aged 55 or older at the time of application.

Financial Requirement

You must satisfy one of the following three financial thresholds:

Option 1: UAE Property Investment Own real estate in the UAE with a value of at least AED 2 million (approximately £420,000 / $545,000). The property must be fully owned — mortgaged property typically does not count unless the paid-up portion exceeds AED 2 million.

Option 2: Savings Hold a minimum of AED 1 million (approximately £210,000 / $272,000) in a UAE bank account as a fixed deposit or savings account. The funds must be actively held in a UAE bank — offshore accounts do not qualify.

Option 3: Income Demonstrate a regular income of at least AED 20,000 per month (approximately £4,200 / $5,450). This can be a pension, investment returns, rental income, or any combination. You will need documentary proof of the income source.

Most applicants qualify via the property or savings route. The income route is less commonly used because AED 20,000/month is a relatively high bar for most retirees, and documenting non-salary income can be complex.

Health Insurance

You must hold valid UAE health insurance for yourself (and any dependants you sponsor) for the full duration of the visa.

No UAE Criminal Record

Standard requirement across all UAE visa types.

What Documents Are Required?

The document list varies slightly by emirate and application route, but typically includes:

• Valid passport (must have at least 6 months validity remaining)
• Recent passport photo
• Emirates ID (if you already have UAE residency you are converting)
• Proof of financial requirement: title deed, bank statement, income documentation
• Valid UAE health insurance certificate
• Medical fitness certificate (from an approved UAE medical centre)
• Completed application form

If applying via the property route, you will need a title deed issued by the relevant Land Department (Dubai Land Department, Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport, etc.).

If applying via the savings route, you will need a bank statement showing the funds held, often stamped and certified by the bank.

How to Apply

Step 1: Prepare Documents

Gather all required documents. If you are converting an existing UAE visa, you do not need to exit and re-enter. If you are applying from outside the UAE, you typically need to enter on a visit visa first.

Step 2: Medical Fitness Test

Book a medical fitness test at an approved government health centre (in Dubai, this is done through the Dubai Health Authority system). The test includes blood tests and a chest X-ray. Cost: approximately AED 300—500. Results are usually ready within 1—3 working days.

Step 3: Emirates ID Biometrics

If you are new to UAE residency, you will need to complete Emirates ID biometric registration. This is done at an ICA (Identity, Citizenship, Authority) typing centre. Cost: approximately AED 70—100.

Step 4: Submit the Application

Applications can be submitted:

• Online via the ICA Smart Services portal (smartservices.ica.gov.ae) or the GDRFA app/portal for your emirate
• In person at a typing centre authorised by GDRFA or ICA

Typing centre fees: AED 100—200 for document preparation and submission assistance.

Step 5: Visa Stamping

Once approved, your passport will be stamped with the residence visa. In Dubai, you can often track approval status via the GDRFA Dubai app.

Costs

Here are the full costs for a standard retirement visa application in Dubai:

Health insurance is the biggest variable. A basic plan covering a single individual can start around AED 1,500/year if you are under 70 and in good health. Comprehensive plans or coverage for older applicants can be AED 10,000—30,000/year.

The visa itself is relatively affordable — the main financial barrier is the entry criteria (property, savings, or income), not the application cost.

Renewal

The retirement visa must be renewed every five years. At renewal, you must re-demonstrate that you still meet the financial requirements.

If your UAE property value has dropped below AED 2 million, or your savings have fallen below AED 1 million, you will need to either top up or demonstrate income eligibility instead.

Renewal also requires a new medical fitness test and updated health insurance.

Renewal applications can be submitted via the same portals as the initial application, typically within 30 days before the visa expiry date.

Sponsoring Family Members

Once you hold a retirement visa, you can sponsor:

• Spouse
• Unmarried children under 18 (or under 23 if they are full-time students, depending on GDRFA discretion)

The same health insurance requirement applies to all sponsored dependants. Sponsoring a spouse costs approximately AED 1,200—1,500 in visa fees plus their own medical test costs.

See our UAE family sponsorship guide for the full process.

After Approval: What You Get

With a UAE retirement visa, you can:

Open UAE bank accounts. Full current and savings account access. Some banks are easier to work with for non-salaried residents — see our UAE personal banking guide for expats for details.

Own and drive a car. Apply for a UAE driving licence (convertible from most Western licences without a test) and register vehicles.

Access UAE healthcare. With health insurance, you can use private UAE healthcare on your insurance policy. UAE public hospitals also accept insured residents.

Travel freely. A UAE residence visa gives you access to UAE ports of entry without applying for visit visas, and simplifies entry to many other countries that treat UAE residents more favourably than non-resident travellers.

Potentially qualify for tax residency. If you spend more than 183 days per year in the UAE, you may qualify for a UAE Tax Residency Certificate, which is useful for people seeking to demonstrate non-residence in high-tax jurisdictions like the UK.

Common Questions

Can I apply from outside the UAE? You typically need to be in the UAE to complete the medical test and biometrics. Most applicants enter on a 90-day visit visa, complete the application process (which takes 2—3 weeks in total), and receive residency before the visit visa expires. If you are cutting it close, apply early.

Does my pension count as income? Yes, if it is regular and documentable. You will need bank statements showing the pension being deposited, plus a letter from the pension provider confirming the monthly amount and that it is ongoing.

Can I work with a retirement visa? No. The retirement visa is for non-working residents only. If you want to work part-time, consult, or run any business, you will need a different visa category — or a separate work permit added to your residency.

What happens if I leave the UAE for an extended period? UAE residency can lapse if you remain outside the country for more than 6 months continuously. The retirement visa is subject to the same rule. If you plan to spend long periods outside the UAE, keep this in mind — or look into the options for maintaining residency status while travelling.

Is it possible to combine the property and savings routes? Generally no. You need to fully meet one of the three options independently. Partial property ownership plus partial savings does not combine to meet the threshold.

Is the UAE Retirement Visa Right for You?

If you are aged 55+, meet one of the financial criteria, and want long-term UAE residency without employment, the retirement visa is a solid option. The UAE offers zero personal income tax, strong infrastructure, good healthcare access, and a well-connected airport for international travel.

The main considerations: the financial entry bar is real (AED 2 million in property or AED 1 million in savings is not a small number), health insurance costs can be significant if you are older, and the visa requires active management at renewal.

For those who qualify, the total annual cost of maintaining the visa (excluding the capital tied up in property or savings) is modest — roughly AED 3,000—5,000 in renewal fees and insurance admin, on top of health insurance premiums.

See our UAE visa types overview if you are comparing this against other long-term residency options such as the UAE Golden Visa or the freelance visa.