UAE’s Golden Visa for ₹23 Lakh? Not So Fast.

You’ve probably seen the headlines: “UAE now offering lifetime residency to Indians and Bangladeshis for ₹23 lakh!”

No villa. No startup. Just a payment and boom: a shiny new life in Dubai.

Tempting? Sure.

Real? Not really.

Let’s rewind a bit.

In early July 2025, the internet was buzzing. News outlets across India and Bangladesh were hyping up a supposed pilot Golden Visa scheme, just for their citizens. The claim? For AED 100,000 (around NPR 3.6 million), you could get lifetime residency in the UAE.

No need to buy a skyscraper apartment. No need to build an AI-powered tea startup. Just submit a few papers, pay the fee, and enjoy those Dubai sunsets forever.

The Rayad Group, a consultancy firm, said they were managing this mysterious new scheme. They claimed they’d vet applicants, run background checks, and forward qualified profiles to UAE authorities.

Basically, they made it sound like the UAE had scrapped its luxury real estate filter and replaced it with a talent-first, merit-based program.

But spoiler alert: if something sounds too good to be true (especially when it involves visas), it usually is.

Before we get into the details of this drama, lets walk through what was supposedly being offered here.

What Is the UAE’s Nomination-Based Golden Visa?

The so-called "Nomination-Based Golden Visa" was marketed as a dream deal.

Pay a one-time fee of AED 100,000 (roughly NPR 3.6 million), and if you have skills or achievements in a high-impact field, you might just get the golden ticket.

This was less about how much money you have, and more about what value you bring to the table. 

So, Who Could Apply?

As per the viral claims, the program was only open to citizens of India and Bangladesh, at least in the pilot phase.

Applicants would be vetted like finalists on a reality TV show. You’d need:

• A squeaky-clean criminal and financial record

• Compliance with anti-money laundering laws (basically, don’t be shady)

• A responsible social media presence (yes, your Facebook and LinkedIn rants might come under review)

• And some real-world impact in tech, science, business, culture, healthcare, or innovation

And What Was in It for You?

If you passed the filters, here’s what you were supposedly getting:

• Lifetime residency in the UAE (not just 5–10 years)

• The ability to sponsor your family; spouse, kids, even parents (and yes, support staff)

• Access to premium healthcare and education

• A legal driver’s license without needing to retake exams

• And the most amazing part? You could apply without stepping foot in the UAE. Just upload your docs, pay the fee, and wait for your golden ticket.

Naturally, people ate it up. Memes started showing up all over the internet. TikToks. Reels.You name it.

So naturally, this one started falling apart faster than a cheap desert tent in a sandstorm.

Official UAE Response: Just Kidding, That’s Not a Thing

Within days, the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) slammed the brakes. They called the reports “false rumours” with “no legal basis.”

To be clear:

• There is no such thing as a lifetime Golden Visa you can buy outright. (not yet)

• No external agency is authorized to process these visas outside of UAE.

• And no, you can’t just wire money and become a Dubai local.

The UAE went a step further, warning that they’d take legal action against anyone spreading false information or charging fees under fake visa schemes.

But is the "Golden Visa" thing all fake? well, not really.

The Real Golden Visa: What It Actually Is

Now, just because the ₹23 lakh shortcut isn’t real doesn’t mean the Golden Visa itself is fake.

The UAE does offer long-term (5 or 10 year) residency visas to high-achieving professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs. But:

• You need real investments (AED 2 million+),

• Or exceptional merit in fields like science, tech, health, business, or arts.

• And you must go through official UAE government channels.

There is a nomination route, but it’s strictly controlled by UAE authorities. Not consultants or agencies.

So, while the Golden Visa exists, it doesn't come with a backdoor shortcut. No one-off payments of INR 23 Lakh.

Can Nepal Do the Same?

We’d love to say yes. We really would. But here’s the honest truth:

Nepal isn’t even on the first lap of this race.

What Nepal Offers Today:

• Business Visas for foreign investors actually operating in Nepal (but with a healthy dose of paperwork, waiting, and sometimes... tears).

• Residential Visas that are rare, usually reserved for elderly foreigners, or those with strong ties to Nepal. Not investment-based. Not scalable.

What We Don’t Have:

• Long-term or permanent residency for skilled talent or investors

• Citizenship-by-investment? Forget it.

• Dual citizenship? Still constitutionally banned. Even if you built a hospital in your village. Even if you’ve been sending remittance for 25 years. Nope.

Nepal’s citizenship laws are based on bloodline and identity, not global mobility or economic logic. We guard it like grandma guards her pickle recipe.

So yeah, we’re a long way off.

Why It's Not Happening Anytime Soon

Let’s face it:

• Our passport is weak. You can go visa-free to...well, not many places. Not great for investors who like to move around.

• Our systems are paper-based, with lots of stamps and not enough scanners.

• And there is zero political conversation around this. Our lawmakers are still debating how many chairs to buy for the next committee meeting.

So while the UAE is rolling out the red carpet for global talent, Nepal is still asking whether to allow the NRN community to hold a second passport without getting treated like a foreign tourist at immigration.

Should We Even Try?

Yes. For the love of everything, yes.

But not to become Dubai. We don’t need skyscrapers in Mustang or 12-lane highways in Gwarko.

What we need is a Nepali version of this idea:

• A Diaspora Residency Card

• Long-term visas for professionals who want to contribute, not just donate

• And a policy that sees NRNs as partners, not just holiday visitors with dollars to spend

Because if we want our doctors in Sydney, engineers in Toronto, or entrepreneurs in New York to come back and build something here, we’re going to need more than sentiment.

So, What Should You Do?

If you're eyeing a future in the UAE, great, just stick to official sources:

• Don’t pay random agents.

• Don’t believe WhatsApp forwards.

• And definitely don’t trust anyone promising “guaranteed” visas for a fee.

Final Thoughts

Let’s not get carried away with a "Nepali Golden Visa". Even if Nepal woke up tomorrow and said, “Surprise! Golden Visa for all skilled diaspora,” would that actually change anything?

Well,  not unless the visa came with a system that actually works.

Because if it’s just another document to hang on your wall while you're stuck waiting three weeks for PAN verification or a business registration that moves slower than a Sajha bus in rush hour, then no, it won’t help. It’ll just be another glittery announcement with no real engine behind it.

But; and here’s the hopeful bit, if it comes with real rights, smoother processes, and actual respect for those who want to bring their talent (and not just their wallet) home, then yes. That could be powerful.

So it’s high time we ask the right questions.:

Do we want a Golden Visa or just golden headlines?

Can we fix the system underneath, not just polish the surface?

And most importantly, would you, as someone living abroad, actually come back if we made it easier, and worth your while?

Let’s talk. No sugarcoating, just straight-up ideas, grounded in reality and driven by a simple question:

Can we build a Nepal people want to return to, not just visit in Mangshir for weddings?

It starts here.