UAE Golden Residency visa was announced in 2019, along with that Emirates Driving Institute has provided Golden Visa Holders with fast-track driving courses for those who do not have driving licenses or have previous driving licenses.
Who can obtain Golden Long-Term Visa?
UAE granted long-term residency permits via a Golden Visa to thousands of expats, including businessmen, investors, entrepreneurs, specialized talents, researchers, top students, high net worth individuals, celebrities, sportsmen, professionals, frontline heroes, and families.
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The golden card scheme was then extended to include medical doctors qualified for a long-term residency. Scientists and data experts can also gain long-term residency in the country. This also includes professionals in computer and electrical engineering, those with AI and programming expertise and individuals with extraordinary talents. Students with high rankings in high schools, with families and students scoring high GPA, also got included.
Is Golden Long-Term Visa renewable?
The visa offers a 10-year residency on a renewable basis. As long as the individual is fulfilling the conditions of the visa, he can renew the same, when it is about to expire. Generally, expatriate workers should renew their work visas every 2-3 years.
Eligibility to hold a driving license
Eligible Golden Visa residency holders, who are above the legal age and medically fit, just need to submit their valid driving license and pass the knowledge and road tests as they are no longer required to attend driving classes.
The UAE government announced that foreigners having Golden Visa can take advantage of appearing for a test for a new driving license without taking extra classes. As it is a norm for residents to get lessons before taking the driving test, Golden Visa holders are exempted from taking extra lessons to apply for a driving test.
Who does not need to take driving lessons?
Foreigners who have licenses from any of the 32 approved countries were exempted from taking driving lessons. Only Golden Visa Holders from non-exempt countries such as India, the Philippines, and Pakistan have to take the test.
Previously, only license-holders from select countries like including Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, and the USA can swap their driving license issued in their home country with a Dubai driving license.
One more condition that has been applied for a Golden Visa Holder is that if the individual does not have the required knowledge for getting the license would have to take a minimum of four classes before applying for the test again.
Documents needed for Dubai-issued license
As mentioned on the RTA (Road and Transport Authority) website, Golden Visa holders who provide the following papers can get a Dubai-Issued license:
Original Emirates ID
A copy of the previous valid driving license
Knowledge test and road test results
How to apply for a test?
According to the RTA website, one can apply for the Knowledge Test after opening a traffic file and paying the fees of Dh200 for RTA test fees, plus Dh20 as knowledge and innovation fees. The cost is Dh320 if someone would like to book an appointment within 48 hours after presenting the request.
Driving tests can be taken online through the Road and Transport Authority’s (RTA’s) official website or at one of the following driving institutes in Dubai:
Al Ahli Driving Centre
Belhasa Driving Centre branches
Dubai Driving Centre branches
Dubai International Driving Centre (Drive Dubai)
Galadari Motor Driving Centre branches
Excellence Driving Centre
Emirates Transport Driving Institute
Bin Yabber Driving Centre
How to complete the online process:
Go to the RTA website
In the menu tab, click on ‘Services’ and then click ‘Drivers and car owners’.
You will need to type ‘Apply for a New Driving License’ on the search bar once you have landed on the services portal.
Click on the first option, ‘Apply for a New Driving License’.
Scroll down and click on the red ‘Apply Now’ button.
Enter your Emirates ID number.
An OTP (One-Time Password) is sent to your registered phone number to verify your identity.
Golden Visa holders must provide a front and back copy of their previous driving license.
Schedule the date for the knowledge and road test.
After passing the test, pay the required fees.
Your new driving license will be issued once the process is complete.
