UAE Golden Visa for Students: A Complete Guide for 2025
Are you a student dreaming of studying and living in the UAE? Great news—UAE’s prestigious Golden Visa program now welcomes outstanding students, allowing them to live, study, and even work in the UAE with long-term residency benefits.
Table Of Contents
- UAE Golden Visa for Students: A Complete Guide for 2025
- What is the UAE Golden Visa for Students?
- Requirements for Golden Visa for Students in UAE
- List of Top 100 Universities Eligible for UAE Golden Visa
- Eligibility Criteria for UAE Golden Visa for Students
- Benefits of the UAE Golden Visa for Students
- How to Apply for the UAE Golden Visa for Students
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions – UAE Golden Visa for Students
What is the UAE Golden Visa for Students?
The Golden Visa for Students allows students to reside in the UAE long-term without the need for a local sponsor. Eligible students include top high school performers, university graduates in the UAE, and graduates from the Top 100 universities globally, as classified by the Ministry of Education using QS rankings.
Requirements for Golden Visa for Students in UAE
To be eligible for the UAE Golden Visa for Students, applicants must meet the following requirements:
General Requirements
- Age: 18–35 years
- Valid student visa or admission letter from a recognized UAE institution
- UAE health insurance and sufficient financial means
- Academic excellence and valid credentials validated by the Ministry of Education
- Completed application within 2 years of graduation for university graduates
High School Students
- Minimum 95% in grade 12
- Recommendation from the Emirates Schools Establishment (MOE)
- Eligibility for a 10-year visa without sponsorship
University Students in the UAE
- Graduated from an A or B-rated UAE university
- GPA ≥ 3.5 (Class A) or ≥ 3.8 (Class B)
- Applied within 2 years post-graduation
- Accredited documentation required
Graduates of Global Top 100 Universities
- Must have graduated from a top‑100 ranked university worldwide (QS)
- Cumulative GPA ≥ 3.5, with graduation within the last 2 years
- Degree equivalency attested by UAE Ministry of Education required
List of Top 100 Universities Eligible for UAE Golden Visa
Graduates from these internationally renowned institutions automatically qualify under the Student Golden Visa category. Selection is based on the QS World University Rankings criteria.
| No. | University Name | Country | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | United States of America | Top University |
| 2 | Harvard University | United States of America | Top University |
| 3 | Stanford University | United States of America | Top University |
| 4 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Republic of Singapore | Top University |
| 5 | University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | United States of America | Top University |
| 6 | University of Chicago | United States of America | Top University |
| 7 | University of Pennsylvania | United States of America | Top University |
| 8 | Cornell University | United States of America | Top University |
| 9 | The University of Melbourne | Australia | Top University |
| 10 | California Institute of Technology (Caltech) | United States of America | Top University |
| 11 | Yale University | United States of America | Top University |
| 12 | Peking University | China | Top University |
| 13 | Princeton University | United States of America | Top University |
| 14 | The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) | Australia | Top University |
| 15 | The University of Tokyo | Japan | Top University |
| 16 | The University of Hong Kong | China | Top University |
| 17 | Columbia University | United States of America | Top University |
| 18 | Université PSL | France | Top University |
| 19 | Tsinghua University | China | Top University |
| 20 | Nanyang Technological University (NTU) | Singapore | Top University |
| 21 | Johns Hopkins University | United States of America | Top University |
| 22 | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) | United States of America | Top University |
| 23 | Northwestern University | United States of America | Top University |
| 24 | University of Michigan–Ann Arbor | United States of America | Top University |
| 25 | Australian National University (ANU) | Australia | Top University |
| 26 | Technical University of Munich | Germany | Top University |
| 27 | Institut Polytechnique de Paris | France | Top University |
| 28 | New York University (NYU) | United States of America | Top University |
| 29 | Monash University | Australia | Top University |
| 30 | Zhejiang University | China | Top University |
| 31 | Fudan University | China | Top University |
| 32 | Shanghai Jiao Tong University | China | Top University |
| 33 | Carnegie Mellon University | United States of America | Top University |
| 34 | Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich | Germany | Top University |
| 35 | Duke University | United States of America | Top University |
| 36 | University of Texas at Austin | United States of America | Top University |
| 37 | University of California, San Diego (UCSD) | United States of America | Top University |
| 38 | University of Washington | United States of America | Top University |
| 39 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | United States of America | Top University |
| 40 | Université Paris-Saclay | France | Top University |
| 41 | Brown University | United States of America | Top University |
| 42 | Boston University | United States of America | Top University |
| 43 | Georgia Institute of Technology | United States of America | Top University |
| 44 | Freie Universität Berlin | Germany | Top University |
| 45 | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) | India | Top University |
| 46 | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) | India | Top University |
| 47 | Sciences Po | France | Top University |
| 48 | Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne | France | Top University |
| 49 | University of Delhi | India | Top University |
| 50 | Universität Mannheim | Germany | Top University |
| 51 | O.P. Jindal Global University | India | Top University |
| 52 | Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) | India | Top University |
| 53 | Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) | India | Top University |
| 54 | INSEAD (France) | France | Top University |
| 55 | HEC Paris | France | Top University |
| 56 | ESSEC Business School | France | Top University |
| 57 | ESCP Business School | France | Top University |
| 58 | Paris School of Economics | France | Top University |
| 59 | The University of Sydney | Australia | Top University |
| 60 | George Washington University | United States of America | Top University |
| 61 | King’s College London | United Kingdom | Top University |
| 62 | University of Oxford | United Kingdom | Top University |
| 63 | University of Cambridge | United Kingdom | Top University |
| 64 | London School of Economics (LSE) | United Kingdom | Top University |
| 65 | University College London (UCL) | United Kingdom | Top University |
| 66 | University of Edinburgh | United Kingdom | Top University |
| 67 | Imperial College London | United Kingdom | Top University |
| 68 | University of Manchester | United Kingdom | Top University |
| 69 | University of Bristol | United Kingdom | Top University |
| 70 | University of Warwick | United Kingdom | Top University |
| 71 | McGill University | Canada | Top University |
| 72 | University of Toronto | Canada | Top University |
| 73 | University of British Columbia (UBC) | Canada | Top University |
| 74 | University of Alberta | Canada | Top University |
| 75 | University of Montreal | Canada | Top University |
| 76 | KU Leuven | Belgium | Top University |
| 77 | University of Amsterdam | Netherlands | Top University |
| 78 | Utrecht University | Netherlands | Top University |
| 79 | Delft University of Technology | Netherlands | Top University |
| 80 | University of Copenhagen | Denmark | Top University |
| 81 | University of Helsinki | Finland | Top University |
| 82 | ETH Zurich | Switzerland | Top University |
| 83 | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) | Switzerland | Top University |
| 84 | University of Geneva | Switzerland | Top University |
| 85 | University of Basel | Switzerland | Top University |
| 86 | University of Zurich | Switzerland | Top University |
| 87 | Seoul National University | South Korea | Top University |
| 88 | KAIST | South Korea | Top University |
| 89 | Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) | South Korea | Top University |
| 90 | Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) | Hong Kong | Top University |
| 91 | City University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong | Top University |
| 92 | The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) | Hong Kong | Top University |
| 93 | University of Auckland | New Zealand | Top University |
| 94 | University of Otago | New Zealand | Top University |
| 95 | University of Cape Town | South Africa | Top University |
| 96 | University of the Witwatersrand | South Africa | Top University |
| 97 | American University of Beirut | Lebanon | Top University |
| 98 | Qatar University | Qatar | Top University |
| 99 | University of São Paulo | Brazil | Top University |
| 100 | Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) | Mexico | Top University |
Eligibility Criteria for UAE Golden Visa for Students
To qualify for the UAE Golden Visa under the student category, applicants must meet the following key requirements:
- Age Requirement: Applicants should be between 18 and 35 years of age, reflecting the UAE’s commitment to supporting youth and academic excellence.
- University Admission: A valid acceptance letter or active enrollment in a recognized UAE educational institution is mandatory.
- Academic Excellence: Students must demonstrate outstanding academic performance—either by maintaining a high GPA or ranking within the top 10% of their class.
- Recognized Institution: Enrollment must be in a university that is officially accredited and categorized as Class A or B by the UAE Ministry of Education.
- Valid Passport and Visa: A valid passport and any prior visa documentation must be submitted as part of the application.
- Health Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance coverage is required to ensure access to healthcare services while residing in the UAE.
- Financial Capacity: Applicants must show proof of sufficient financial means to support themselves during their stay in the country.
- Institutional Verification: Admission confirmation must include details such as the course name, study duration, and student status, verified by the institution.
Meeting these criteria ensures a smooth and successful application process for students wishing to pursue long-term residency and education in the UAE through the Golden Visa program.
Benefits of the UAE Golden Visa for Students
The UAE Golden Visa opens up exceptional opportunities for students who wish to study, live, and grow in one of the world’s most dynamic environments. Here’s what makes it a valuable choice:
- Long-Term Residency: Enjoy up to 10 years of uninterrupted stay in the UAE—without the need for a local sponsor.
- World-Class Education: Gain access to globally recognized universities, research institutions, and advanced academic resources.
- Work Opportunities: Eligible students can work part-time during their studies, gaining valuable experience while earning an income.
- Family Sponsorship: Students can bring their immediate family members to the UAE, creating a stable and supportive environment during their academic journey.
- Tax-Free Living: Benefit from the UAE’s tax-free policy on personal income, allowing students and their families to save more.
- Career Growth After Graduation: Golden Visa holders have better access to job markets and business opportunities post-graduation, helping build a successful future in the UAE.
Whether you’re a high school topper or a top-performing university student, the Golden Visa offers unmatched advantages for building your academic and professional life in the UAE.
How to Apply for the UAE Golden Visa for Students
Applying for the UAE Golden Visa as a student is a straightforward process when guided by the right professionals. At Property Visa Dubai, we make your journey simple and stress-free. Follow these easy steps:
- Visit Our Website
Navigate to the Property Visa Dubai website for complete guidance on how to apply. - Request Support Online
On your mobile or desktop, choose the “Let’s Chat” feature or request a callback. One of our dedicated Golden Visa consultants will get in touch with you promptly. - Get Expert Consultation
Our team will walk you through all legal and documentation requirements, ensuring that your application meets the criteria and avoids delays. - Visit Our Office (Optional)
For in-person guidance, you can visit us at our office:
📍Office 1802, 18th Floor, ETA Star Al Manara Tower, Al Abraj Street, Business Bay, Dubai.
Important Note:
The UAE Golden Visa for students is a relatively recent initiative, and eligibility criteria may be updated by authorities. We recommend checking back frequently or consulting with our team to stay informed on the latest requirements.
Conclusion
The Student Golden Visa transforms your academic excellence into a pathway for long-term residency in the UAE. Whether you’re a talent from the UAE or a top-ranked global university, this visa offers educational, financial, and lifestyle benefits beyond the classroom.
Ready to begin?
Contact Property Visa Dubai powered by Brightlink Consulting today to explore your eligibility and start your Golden Visa application with expert guidance.
