united arab emirates
green visa

The Green visa is open to both self-employed professionals and skilled employees. The basic eligibility requirements are as follows.

Freelancers and/or self-employed people who wish to apply for a Green visa must:

• Obtain a freelance/self-employment permit from Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
• Have a bachelor’s degree or a specialised diploma.
• Submit evidence of annual income from self-employment for the previous two years amounting to not less than AED 360,000, or proof of financial solvency throughout their stay in the UAE.

Skilled employees who wish to apply for a Green visa must:

• Have a valid employment contract.
• Be classified in the first, second or third occupational level as per Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
• Hold a minimum of bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Have a salary of at least AED 15,000 per month.

Applications for a UAE Green visa can be submitted online. The application process consists of the following basic steps:

• Complete the online application form.
• Submit your supporting documents. The required documents will differ depending on whether you are applying as a freelancer / self-employed person or a skilled employee.
• Pay the relevant fees.

Once the application has been submitted, you will receive a notification when a decision has been made.

The application fee for a UAE Green visa is currently AED200. Please note, the total amount of the visa may vary depending on your individual circumstances. For more information on UAE visa fees, please speak to the Global Immigration team at Smith Stone Walters.

Applications for a UAE Green visa are usually processed within 48 hours. Please note, the actual processing time remains at the discretion of local authorities and may vary. 

With a Green visa, you can stay in the UAE for up to five years. The visa is renewable for the same term upon its expiry.