How to Get a Recommendation Letter for the Creative Industry to Apply for a Golden Visa

May 24, 2023

The UAE Golden Visa is an impressive move by the Government where residents of the UAE and expats can work, live or study without worrying about visa renewal. This five to ten years visa that gets automatically renewed is mostly given out to people in the field of investment, entrepreneurship and entertainment. The visa, for its perks, has caught attention from the who’s who of the said fields and many have already received it. If you are from the creative industry and wants to know the steps to apply for and receive the Golden visa, read further.

The first step to receive a residence for people from the creative field, is to get a recommendation letter from the Ministry of Culture.

The next step is to submit the following documents:

Copy of your passport
Copy of your ID
An updated Curriculum Vitae which includes the following information – contact details, biography, prominent creative works, achievements in the cultural and creative field.
Copy of current residency visa, if the applicant is a UAE resident.
Coloured photograph

Please note that, if the applicant is a resident of the UAE, the application must be made either by themselves as a public service or by the authority that is nominating them. If the applicant is not a UAE resident, a 6-month visa application is required to complete the procedure.

Category: Creative People in the field of Culture and Art

In the category of ‘Creative People in the field of Culture and Art’, the Golden Visa applicant must submit proof of at least three of the following:

Certificate of appreciation/nomination from a prestigious international or regional authority in the respective field.
An honorary position in a coveted international authority for of his/her outstanding creativity.
An active membership of a prestigious international art organization or association.
His/her creations that have received attention from critics, media or industry professionals.
His/her works that have been shown in prestigious forums locally, regionally or internationally, including exhibitions, forums, festivals and events.

Category: Media

In the category of ‘Media’, the Golden Visa applicant must submit proof of at least three of the following:

Certificate of appreciation/nomination from a prestigious international or regional authority in the respective field.
An honorary position in a coveted international authority for his/her outstanding creativity.
An active membership of a prestigious international art organization or association.
His/her creations that have received attention from critics, media or industry professionals.
7 years of experience in a reputable media agency and should be nominated from his workplace or a media agency, and has work published by media outlets periodically, which includes press reports, articles or television programmes.

Also note that, in certain cases, after submitting the form and proof, you may sometimes be asked to submit a recommendation letter from reputable creative/cultural entities additionally. The Customer Happiness Department will contact you and provide you with the appropriate template if required.