UAE · Guide
UAE Green Visa: requirements, who qualifies, how it differs
The 5-year self-sponsored UAE Green Visa: requirements for professionals (AED 15,000), freelancers (AED 360,000) and investors, compared with other visas.
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- Globexpat Team
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#Visas#Residency
The UAE Green Visa (Green Residency) is issued for 5 years, is renewable and needs no sponsor: neither an employer nor your company is responsible for the visa. Under the ICP guide three groups qualify: skilled professionals earning AED 15,000 a month or more, freelancers and self-employed people with a MOHRE permit, and investors or business partners.
The main difference from the employment and partner visas: the Green Visa is not cancelled along with your job or company, and once it expires or is cancelled, according to ICP and GDRFA, you have a 180-day grace period instead of the usual short window. That suits people who change jobs or projects.
Below we go through the requirements for each category, compare the Green Visa with other options and show when you do not need it.
Who can get a Green Visa
| Category | Requirements under the ICP guide |
|---|---|
| Skilled professional | UAE employment contract; MOHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3; at least a bachelor's degree; salary from AED 15,000 a month |
| Freelancer or self-employed | MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit; bachelor's degree or specialised diploma; income of AED 360,000 or more in each of the two previous years, or proof of financial solvency for the full stay |
| Investor or partner | Proof of investment or participation in a UAE business; licences and approvals from the relevant authorities |
For investors and partners, GDRFA Dubai specifies that the share must be at least AED 1 million of paid-up capital.
Read more: UAE residence visa types.
Professionals: AED 15,000 and skill level
The AED 15,000 monthly salary threshold (or its equivalent in another currency) is based on the employment contract. The occupation must be in MOHRE skill levels 1-3: managers, specialists, technicians. A bachelor's degree is mandatory, however much experience you have.
GDRFA advises not to cancel your current residence visa until the Green Visa is issued. Otherwise you risk being left without status if the application is delayed.
The skill level is determined by the job title on the work permit, not by your actual duties. If the permit shows a title below level three, first ask your employer to change it in the MOHRE system, and only then apply for the Green Visa. A degree issued outside the UAE usually needs legalisation and recognition; this is the longest stage, so start early.
Freelancers: AED 360,000 or financial solvency
A freelancer first needs a MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit. Income is then proven: the ICP guide asks for at least AED 360,000 in each of the two previous years. The GDRFA Dubai page allows an alternative: proving financial solvency for the full period of stay. Which test applies to you depends on the emirate and the authority, so we advise preparing both sets of documents: two years of statements and proof of savings.
Other options for freelancers, including GoFreelance in Dubai and free zone permits, are covered in the UAE freelance visa.
Investors and partners
For a business partner the Green Visa makes sense if the shareholding is AED 1 million or more. The visa then does not depend on whether the company renews its visa quota. With a smaller share, the usual route is a partner visa through your own company.
GDRFA issues partners and investors a business entry visa that gives 60 days to complete the process. The fee is AED 200 plus 5% VAT.
The shareholding is proven with the company's articles of association and licence, and the capital payment with a bank statement. If the capital is only partly paid, only the paid portion counts. Keep in mind that when the Green Visa is renewed after 5 years, the company must be active with a renewed licence, otherwise the basis disappears just as it would with a standard partner visa.
Read more: The investor visa through a UAE company.
Green Visa compared with employment and partner visas
| Parameter | Green Visa | Employment visa | Partner visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | 5 years | 1-3 years | 1-3 years, depends on the free zone |
| Sponsor | Not required | Employer | Your company |
| Income threshold | AED 15,000 (professional) or AED 360,000 a year (freelancer) | None | None |
| Degree | Mandatory | Depends on the occupation | Not required |
| Grace period after cancellation | 180 days | Shorter, depends on the category | Shorter, depends on the category |
| Six-month rule for time abroad | No separate permit needed | Applies | Applies |
| Family | Spouse, children and first-degree relatives | Spouse and children if the income threshold is met | Spouse and children if the income threshold is met |
The figures on sponsored visa terms and the six-month rule come from the u.ae portal. It also states that Green Visa holders can sponsor first-degree relatives.
In short, the Green Visa works for people who value flexibility: you can change employer, close one project and start another without losing your status. The employment and partner visas are simpler to obtain and need no degree, but they depend entirely on the sponsor.
Read more: The 180-day rule.
How much the Green Visa costs
Federal ICP fees for the residence permit: AED 100 for the application, AED 100 for each year and AED 100 smart fee, so AED 700 for 5 years. A 5-year Emirates ID: AED 100 per year plus AED 100 smart fee, AED 600 in total. An in-country status change is AED 500.
As of October 2026, check emirate fees, the medical test, insurance and the cost of a MOHRE freelance permit.
The application process in outline:
- Prepare the basis: an employment contract with a salary from AED 15,000, a MOHRE freelance permit or documents for your business shareholding.
- Obtain an entry permit if you are abroad, or apply for a status change inside the country.
- Take the medical test (applicants aged 18 and over) and arrange health insurance.
- Give biometrics and receive an Emirates ID valid for the term of the visa.
- Sponsor visas for family members. An overview of all options is on the Green Visa page.
We advise on whether the Green Visa suits you and prepare the documents with you. The application is submitted by a licensed agent or by the applicant through ICP or GDRFA channels.
What changed in 2026
- The thresholds in the ICP guide as of October 2026 are unchanged: a salary of AED 15,000 for professionals and annual income of AED 360,000 for freelancers.
- ICP and GDRFA word the freelancer rules differently: ICP refers to income over two years, while GDRFA accepts proof of financial solvency. For applications in Dubai, check the current GDRFA service card.
- The 180-day grace period for Green Visa holders remains, and it is still one of the main arguments for this visa.
FAQ
When do I not need a Green Visa?
If you own a company with a share below AED 1 million, staying on a partner visa is simpler and cheaper. If your salary is below AED 15,000, a standard employment visa will do. The Green Visa wins when independence from an employer or company and a long grace period matter to you.
Can I get a Green Visa without a degree?
Not as a professional: you need at least a bachelor's degree. For freelancers a specialised diploma or equivalent is accepted. For investors the ICP guide sets no education requirement.
How is the Green Visa weaker than the Golden Visa?
The term is 5 years instead of 10, and the family coverage is slightly narrower. On the other hand, the thresholds are lower: AED 15,000 against AED 30,000 for professionals. Read more in UAE Golden Visa requirements.
Can I work as an employee on a freelancer Green Visa?
The freelancer Green Visa is designed for self-employment. To be employed, you need a work permit from the employer.
Can I change jobs without losing the Green Visa?
Yes. The visa is not tied to an employer. For professionals, however, the basis must remain: at renewal they will check that you hold a role at the right skill level with a salary from AED 15,000.
Do I need to live in the UAE to keep the Green Visa?
According to u.ae, Green Visa holders do not need a separate permit after 6 months abroad. For tax residency and visa renewal, however, real presence still matters.
Sources
- ICP, Green Residency Guide: icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-green-residency
- GDRFA Dubai, Issuing a green residence permit (High Skilled Worker; Self-employment): gdrfad.gov.ae
- GDRFA Dubai, Green visa issuance (investor/partner): gdrfad.gov.ae
- u.ae, Residence visa for doing business in the UAE: Green visa: u.ae
- u.ae, General provisions for the residence visa: u.ae
- ICP, Issuing Residency Permit and Identity Card Renewal (fees): icp.gov.ae