The UAE Golden Visa, the country's long-term residency permit, runs through a document many applicants meet for the first time mid-process: the nomination letter, issued through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

Emirates 24|7 has published a guide explaining what the nomination letter is, which applicants need one, and how to request it through the ICP. The letter functions as a formal endorsement step in the Golden Visa file: before the residency permit is issued, the qualifying achievement or status behind the application must be nominated and confirmed through the authority's channels.

What is the nomination letter?

The nomination letter is an ICP-linked document that supports a Golden Visa application. It sits between the applicant's eligibility category and the final issuance of the visa. Applicants who qualify for the Golden Visa under categories that require institutional endorsement will encounter this step; those applying through other routes may proceed without it.

Who needs one?

According to the Emirates 24|7 guide, the requirement depends on the applicant's route into the programme. The Golden Visa covers multiple categories, and not every path runs through a nomination letter. Applicants should confirm their own category against the ICP's official criteria before starting the file, because submitting the wrong sequence of steps can delay the process.

How do you apply via the ICP?

The application runs through the ICP, the federal authority that manages identity, citizenship and residency services in the UAE. The general sequence the guide describes is:

• Confirm which Golden Visa category you fall under.
• Determine whether that category requires a nomination letter.
• Submit the nomination request through the ICP's official channels.
• Complete the remaining Golden Visa application steps once the letter is secured.

What does this change for applicants?

For anyone preparing a Golden Visa file, the practical question is sequence: the nomination letter must be secured at the right point in the process, through the correct authority, before the visa can be issued. The Emirates 24|7 guide frames the letter as a gatekeeping document rather than a formality, and directs applicants to the ICP as the official source for the current procedure.

Applicants should treat the ICP's published requirements as the controlling reference. Requirements and procedural steps for UAE residency programmes are updated periodically, and the authority's own portal carries the authoritative version of the rules. Individual cases vary, and this summary does not constitute legal advice; readers with a specific application in progress should consult the ICP directly or a licensed immigration professional.

The Golden Visa remains one of the Gulf region's most sought-after long-term residency permits, and the nomination letter is one of the steps that decides how smoothly a file moves from eligibility to issuance.