Golden Visa residents who misplace or damage their passports while overseas no longer need to queue at an embassy: they can now log on to MoFA’s portal, upload a police report and photo, and receive a single-entry UAE return permit within half an hour. MoFA confirmed the service went live on November 1, 2025 after a successful soft launch last month.
The permit is free, valid for seven days, and issued entirely online using the UAE Pass digital ID. Airlines have been briefed to accept the digital document in lieu of a passport for boarding flights to the Emirates. Dependants—spouses and children—linked to the principal Golden Visa holder are eligible under the same application.
![30-Minute Online Return Permit Debuts for Golden Visa Holders Stranded Abroad]()
Immigration lawyers say the initiative closes a major gap that had worried executives on multi-country assignments. Previously, replacing a lost passport could take a week, delaying project timelines and incurring hotel and re-ticketing costs. Now, companies can keep travel disruptions—and insurance claims—to a minimum.
The service is part of a broader "Golden Residency Consular Pack" that includes emergency evacuation coordination and a 24-hour crisis desk. Industry observers view the move as another sign of the UAE’s ambition to become the world’s most convenient base for globally mobile professionals.
Practical tip: Golden Visa holders should store digital copies of their passport and visa on the MoFA app to speed up verification should they ever need to request the permit.
The permit is free, valid for seven days, and issued entirely online using the UAE Pass digital ID. Airlines have been briefed to accept the digital document in lieu of a passport for boarding flights to the Emirates. Dependants—spouses and children—linked to the principal Golden Visa holder are eligible under the same application.
Immigration lawyers say the initiative closes a major gap that had worried executives on multi-country assignments. Previously, replacing a lost passport could take a week, delaying project timelines and incurring hotel and re-ticketing costs. Now, companies can keep travel disruptions—and insurance claims—to a minimum.
The service is part of a broader "Golden Residency Consular Pack" that includes emergency evacuation coordination and a 24-hour crisis desk. Industry observers view the move as another sign of the UAE’s ambition to become the world’s most convenient base for globally mobile professionals.
Practical tip: Golden Visa holders should store digital copies of their passport and visa on the MoFA app to speed up verification should they ever need to request the permit.
