Abu Dhabi Details Golden Visa Eligibility for High School Graduates

Abu Dhabi has released the specific criteria that high school graduates must meet to be eligible for the 10-year Golden Visa, a long-term residency option in the UAE. The requirements vary significantly for students from public schools and different types of private schools.

Eligibility for Public and Ministry-Curriculum Private Schools

Students who completed Grade 12 at a public school or a private school following the Ministry of Education curriculum must provide two main items:

• A Grade 12 certificate demonstrating a GPA of 95% or higher, which must be attested by the Ministry of Education.
• A recommendation from the Ministry of Education.

Applicants are not required to seek this recommendation independently. When applications are submitted through the Abu Dhabi Residents web application, details are automatically forwarded to the Ministry of Education for nomination consideration.

Eligibility for Other Private Schools

For graduates of private schools that do not follow the Ministry of Education curriculum, the process is different. These applicants need a high school diploma and a nomination from the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK).

ADEK conducts its nominations at the end of each academic year, identifying eligible students based on specific criteria. Students who meet these criteria do not apply proactively; instead, they receive a direct invitation to apply for the Golden Visa once ADEK has selected them. This nomination-based approach means academic performance alone is not sufficient; students must also be identified through ADEK's official evaluation process.

The structured, nomination-based approach for private school graduates means that academic excellence alone is not sufficient — students must also be identified through the official evaluation process before they can proceed with an application.

The Golden Visa program offers long-term residency in the UAE and is available across various categories, including investors, entrepreneurs, brilliant talents, scientists, outstanding students, pioneers of humanitarian work, and frontline workers. Successful Golden Visa applicants can sponsor their spouses, children of any age, and an unlimited number of domestic staff.