UAE Green Visa explained: Who can apply, eligibility rules and how to get it

Dubai: Living in the UAE, you may already know about the Golden Visa, a long-term residence visa that enables foreign talents to live, work or study in the country. But have you heard of the Green Visa?

According to the u.ae, the UAE government’s official website, both Golden and Green Visas allow self-sponsorship and longer residence durations, but they differ significantly in their eligibility thresholds, target groups, criteria, and conditions.

We break down below exactly what the Green Visa is, who is eligible to apply, and whether it’s the best option for you.

What is the UAE Green Visa?

The Green Visa is a type of long-term residency permit, granted through self-sponsorship, which means the visa holder can live and work in the UAE without needing a sponsor. It’s valid for five years and is renewable for the same term, as long as relevant conditions are met at the time of renewal.

The Green Visa is part of a broader strategy by the UAE to attract and retain skilled professionals and flexible workers, such as freelancers, as well as specific categories of investors who contribute to the country’s economy.

Key features of the Green Visa

• A renewable five-year residency permit.
• No sponsor required within the country (self-sponsorship).
• Family members, including spouse and children, can be sponsored according to approved terms and conditions. Green Visa holders are subject to the same rules that apply to standard family sponsorship – so you may sponsor eligible family members if you earn at least Dh4,000 per month, or Dh3,000 plus accommodation. Check out the process for applying for family residence visas.
• Greater flexibility upon residency expiry through specified grace periods.
• Support for highly skilled individuals, innovators, investors, and freelancers.

Eligibility criteria

The Green Visa is limited to specific categories of residents who clearly meet defined conditions for professional work or investment. Three main groups are eligible to apply, according to the UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP): freelancers and self-employed individuals, skilled employees, and investors. Each of these groups have their own set of requirements and applicants must meet them all, in order to qualify.

1. Freelancers and self-employed professionals

The Green Visa is designed for people who choose to work independently, rather than through a standard employment contract with an employer. Here are the requirements, outlined by the ICP, for eligibility:

• The applicant must hold a freelancing or self-employment permit issued by the UAE Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE).
• The applicant must hold a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree, specialised diploma, or equivalent.
• The applicant must provide proof of stable annual income or financial solvency throughout the residency period.
• The annual income from freelancing must not be less than Dh360,000 in the past two years, or equivalent in foreign currencies.

If you are unable to show the required historic income, you must be able to prove that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself, while living and working in the UAE on a self-employment basis.

2. Skilled workers

The Green Visa caters to mid- to high-skilled professionals who work under an employer in the UAE, but wish to hold a five-year self-sponsored visa, rather than a standard employer-sponsored one. Here are the requirements for eligibility:

• The applicant must have a valid employment contract in the UAE.
• The employee must be classified under skill levels 1 to 3 according to the occupational classification of the MOHRE. These levels correspond to higher skilled occupations rather than lower-skilled or manual work.

Level 1: Legislators, managers, and business executives.

Level 2: Professionals in scientific, technical and human fields, such as doctors, engineers, programmers, and teachers.

Level 3: Technicians in scientific, technical, and humanitarian fields, such as sales supervisors, accountants and technicians.

• The applicant must hold a minimum educational qualification of a bachelor’s degree.
• The applicant must meet the minimum monthly salary requirement of Dh15,000, or equivalent in foreign currencies.

3. Investors and business partners

The Green Visa replaces the previous two-year residence visa that was applicable to certain investors, and offers a longer five-year period instead, on a self-sponsored basis. The eligibility criteria focus on the nature and quality of investment:

• The applicant must provide proof of investment or partnership in a project within the UAE. Not every investment qualifies automatically – it must meet the criteria set by the ICP under its investor rating framework.
• The applicant must hold all required licences and approvals from the relevant authorities. If the investor holds more than one licence, the total invested capital across the licences can be aggregated for assessing eligibility.

Documents required

Aside from the standard documents, such as a copy of your passport, each category of workers has different requisite documents, so it’s essential to ensure you have your papers in order, before applying for a Green Visa.

For freelancers and self-employed individuals:

• A copy of your passport, with at least six-month validity.
• A recent passport-sized photograph.
• A freelance permit or a permit of self-employment from MOHRE.
• A valid UAE health insurance policy.
• Attested bachelor’s degree or specialised diploma.
• Proof of at least Dh360,000 in annual income for the previous two years.

For skilled workers:

• A copy of your passport, with at least six-month validity.
• A copy of your MOHRE employment contract.
• A valid UAE health insurance policy.
• Attested bachelor’s degree or degree equivalency certificate.
• Salary certificate and six-month bank statements.

For investors and business partners:

• A copy of your passport, with at least six-month validity.
• A recent passport-sized photograph.
• A copy of the Partnership or Memorandum of Association (MoA) or investment contract.
• A valid business trade licence.
• A valid medical fitness certificate.
• Investment proof or documentation verifying your investment in a commercial project.

How to apply for a Green Visa

The process for acquiring a Green Visa involves first applying for an entry permit. Once the permit has been approved, you can complete your medical fitness test, apply for an Emirates ID and submit your passport for visa stamping.

Step 1: Apply for an entry permit

Apply for an entry permit online, via ICP Smart Services, or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA) portal. Alternatively, you can apply in-person at an Amer Centre in Dubai, or at a GDRFA Customer Happiness Centre.

Online: Follow these steps to apply via the GDRFA website:

• Visit the link: gdrfad.gov.ae. Log in using your UAE PASS.
• Click on ‘Services’ and head to ‘Entry Permits’. Then select ‘Issuance of Green Visa’. Here, you can choose whether you are applying as an investor, skilled worker, or as a self-employed individual.
• Fill in your personal details and pay the fees. Submit your application.

In-person: If you are visiting an Amer Centre, follow these steps:

• Head to a conveniently located Amer Centre.
• Receive an automatic ticket and wait for your turn.
• Fill out the application form and submit it. Ensure you meet all the conditions, and provide all relevant documents to the customer service employee.
• Pay the service fee.

Cost: If you are outside the country, the entry permit service fee is Dh200, along with a VAT of 5%. A knowledge and innovation Dirham fee of Dh20 also applies. However, if you are inside the country, and require a visa status change from a valid visit or tourist visa to a Green Visa, you will need to pay Dh500 for the service, according to the GDRFA website.

The processing time for entry permits is typically two to five working days.

Step 2: Complete your medical fitness test

Now, it’s time to pass your medical fitness test. The medical fitness certificate is a mandatory document that confirms the applicant is free from communicable diseases. It is legally required for all foreign nationals who are applying for a new UAE residence visa or renewing an existing one. However, residents under the age of 18 are exempt.

You can complete your medical fitness test after you have received your entry permit and before you proceed with visa stamping and Emirates ID registration.

Read our medical fitness test guide on how to apply, and where to complete the process.

Cost: The cost for a medical fitness test is between Dh250 and Dh350 for standard 24- to 48-hour service.

Step 3: Receive your Emirates ID

Once you have passed your medical fitness test, you will be able to complete your biometric data collection at an ICP-authorised fingerprinting centre, and receive your Emirates ID. At the time of applying for the visa at the typing centre or online, you will be able to choose how you would like to receive this important identity card. You can request for it to be delivered to you through a courier service, or collect it from an Emirates Post office near you.

Step 4: Submit documents for visa stamping

Once the medical test and Emirates ID application is complete, you must submit all relevant documents to the GDRFA. These include documents you submitted for the Green Visa entry permit, based on your work category (self-employed, investor or skilled worker), your medical fitness clearance reference, and the Emirates ID registration receipt.

When all conditions are met, the residence visa is issued digitally and linked to your Emirates ID. The GDRFA reviews your file, and this processing time is usually 2 to 10 working days from final submission.

Visa validity and expiry

Once the Green Visa is issued to you, it is valid for five years. A grace period of 180 days is provided, after the expiry of the Green Visa, during which, visa holders can remain in the country and plan for the renewal of their visas, or their departure from the UAE. The Green Visa is renewable, upon expiry, for the same period of five years.