A complete guide to the UAE Green Visa
In September 2021, the UAE government announced the Green Visa at a prestigious event in Dubai. It is part of the UAE projects with the aim to attract outstanding individuals from around the world and help the UAE maintain its extraordinary growth for decades to come. Here is all the information the government has released so far about the Green Visa UAE.
ALL ABOUT THE UAE GREEN VISA
In the past, expatriates needed to have a sponsor to stay and work in the UAE. But now, mandatory sponsorship from an employer will no longer be a hurdle for holders of a UAE Green Visa. It provides a 90 to 180 days window to renew documents, rather than the usual 30-day limit. The new visa is one of the first 13 ”UAE Projects of the 50”.
BENEFITS OF UAE GREEN VISA FOR FAMILY MEMBERS
The target base for the visa includes highly skilled individuals, investors and businessmen. The primary benefit of UAE Green Visa is that successful applicants can get residence permits for their male children up to 25 years of age, while there is no age limit for unmarried daughters.
Moreover, children of determination (those with special needs) are also granted resident permits, irrespective of their age. Our guide to family visa covers every aspect of these rules briefly.
The Green Residence holder can bring their first-degree relatives. Note that in all cases, the residency of family members shall be the same duration as the original residence holder. It’s a perfect solution for those looking to make a move with the whole family.
GREEN VISA UAE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The UAE Green Visa now comes with a 5-year residence track for skilled professionals, freelancers, investors and entrepreneurs. The new visa has more benefits for expats, including flexible grace periods (that reach up to six months).
The new and improved system of entry and residence aims to attract a talented workforce from around the world.
Here are the requirements for UAE Green Visa in different categories.
GREEN RESIDENCE FOR SKILLED EMPLOYEES
This visa category is to attract talented individuals. The new track provides a 5-year residency for skilled employees without a sponsor or employer.
- Valid employment contract
- Applicants must be classified in the first, second and third occupational levels maintained by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is the minimum requirement for UAE Green Visa for skilled employees.
- The salary of the applicant should not be less than AED 15,000
UAE GREEN VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR FREELANCING AND SELF-EMPLOYMENT
The new Green Visa for Freelancing and Self-employment is for those with a flexible work model. The biggest advantage of this type of visa is that you don’t need to require a sponsor or an employer.
The UAE Green Visa requirements for Freelancing and Self-employment are:
- Obtain a freelance or self-employment permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
- Minimum education should be a specialised diploma or a bachelor’s degree
- The annual income from self-employment for the previous two years should not be less than AED 360,000
- Alternatively, an applicant needs to provide financial solvency throughout their stay in the country
However, to ensure the safety of professionals and freelancers, you have to observe the rules set by government. Therefore, it is important to familiarise yourself with overstay fines in the UAE.
GREEN RESIDENCE FOR INVESTOR OR PARTNER
As the name suggests, the investor UAE Green Visa is suitable for potential investors. The track includes a 5-year residency for investors who establish a new firm or participate in commercial activities. The Investor or Partner Green Visa replaces the previous visa with 2-year validity. The eligibility criteria for this visa are:
- Investment approval and proof of investment ( if the investor has more than one license)
- Total investment capital will be calculated
- Approval of the competent local authorities is mandatory
ABU DHABI GREEN VISA
This is also a long-term residency visa. The Abu Dhabi Green Visa allows you to sponsor sons up to age of 25 and unmarried daughters, regardless of their age. The visa is valid for 5 years and offers a wide range of visa options for investors, partners, freelancers and professionals.
FAQS ABOUT UAE GREEN VISA
WHEN DID THE UAE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCE THE GREEN VISA?
The project was first announced on 5th September 2021. In 2022, the UAE Green Visa underwent several amendments to make it lucrative for all stakeholders.
HOW CAN I GET A UAE GREEN VISA?
You’ll be able to determine your eligibility and ways to apply once the project has been entirely instigated.
ARE UAE ENTRY PERMITS AND UAE RESIDENCE VISAS THE SAME THING?
No, our article on the differences between Entry Permits and Residence Visas has all the details.
WHAT IS THE GREEN VISA UAE COST?
As of 2023, the Green Visa UAE cost is AED 5,260. It includes the entry permit of AED 1,035.
HOW CAN I CANCEL MY RESIDENCE VISA IN THE UAE?
If an individual or a company sponsored you, they can cancel your residence visa in the UAE. However, if you want to initiate the process on your own, our guide has got you covered.
That concludes our guide to the UAE Green Visa. We’ll update this article as more details are released. In the meantime, why not keep yourself updated with the new visa rules in the UAE.
While waiting for more information about the new visa, you can read about applying for the UAE visa or long-term golden visa. To promote the gig economy, the Dubai government has also started issuing visas to freelancers. Our guide to Dubai Freelancers Visas will assist you in finding out if you are eligible. Another option could be the UAE property investor residence visa.
Getting the dos and don’ts right can ensure that the whole process goes smoothly for you. You can also look up how to check UAE visa status online if you don’t have time to visit the official offices.
