The New UAE Green Visa 2022

The new UAE Green Visa offers five years validity, unlimited renewals, and it does not require a sponsor.

The government has announced a new visa scheme, known as “Green Visa,” which has been effective since 3 October 2022, offers a number of benefits for prospective investors, entrepreneurs and foreign nationals moving to the Emirates.

The Total Expat Population of UAE in 2022 is 8.92 million. Dubai is the most popular destination in the UAE, and recent initiatives have made it even more attractive to investors, entrepreneurs, and business owners. The UAE continues its pace in becoming the ideal location for business, working and living, by introducing a new system for its entry and residence visas aiming to attract and retain global talents and skilled workers from all over the world, increase the job market’s competitiveness and flexibility, and promote a high level of stability among UAE residents and their families.

In order to prevent the country from relying on just one or two industries, the UAE has been attempting to move away from oil, and building long-term economic and social development strategies. In addition to growing investment in the technology sector, the UAE is concentrating on creating sustainable growth through the tourism and construction industries. Therefore, different visas are being introduced to support this upcoming expansion and development strategies.

What is the UAE Green Visa 2022?

The UAE Green Visa is a new type of residence visa which enables highly skilled individuals, investors, entrepreneurs, and top students and graduates, to sponsor themselves without the need for initially association with companies established in the UAE. The Green Visa also provides a 90 to 180 days window for renewing documents, instead of the current 30 days window.

The UAE’s Green Visa is part of a program designed to help the growth and development of the country. For foreign professionals and entrepreneurs, this visa is a specific permit that enables them to reside, work, and invest in the UAE. Additionally, it offers them the opportunity to launch their own company and hire their own personnel.

The Benefits of the UAE Green Visa

The UAE’s new Green Visa is an exceptional opportunity for skilled workers from different backgrounds to live and work independently in the country, as well as for investors, business owners, and entrepreneurs. The main advantages of this scheme are as follows:

No Sponsor Required

The main advantage of the UAE Green Visa is that, unlike other visas, it doesn’t require sponsorship by an employer. This also means that the employer does not have the right to cancel the employee’s visa, which makes it a lot safer for employees.

Family Members Sponsorship

The Green Visa scheme enables the holder to sponsor parents, children and other family members including spouse, first-degree relatives, and dependents. They will each be qualified for the same rights and benefits as the holder.

Male children can be sponsored up until the age of 25. Unmarried daughters can be sponsored at any age, and widows are also eligible for sponsorship.

Children who have special needs or extenuating medical conditions are also eligible to be sponsored. These children are given a residency permit that have no age restrictions and with no limit. Parents with special care requirements can be sponsored as well.

This is a great incentive for international entrepreneurs, investors, or other self-employed people and business owners, to bring their family members, including parents and children with them while working in the UAE.

Flexible Lifestyle & Ease of Travel

The Green Visa makes it easy to travel in and out of the UAE. You could easily leave and enter the UAE if you need to travel to another country, without the obligation to return to the UAE within 180 days, as it is the case with employment visas.
As a foreign professional, you will be able to live and work in the UAE, which could be a great opportunity for business and living. Additionally, you may use this visa to attend educational programs in the UAE.

In addition to above advantages, in case of the cancellation or expiration of a residence permit, a Green Visa holder can benefit from a grace period of up to 6 months to stay in the UAE.

Who is eligible for the Green Visa in UAE?

• Investors
• Business Partners
• Entrepreneurs
• Skilled Workers
• Top students and graduates
• Self-employed individuals

Green Visa for investor or partner

The Green Visa for investors or partners has been introduced to promote investment. It offers 5 years residency for investors who establish or participate in commercial activities. Additionally, the validity period under this category has been extended from the previous 2 years to the current 5 years.

The requirements to apply for the Green Visa as investor or partner include:

• Approval of the investment and proof of investment of 1 million AED.
• In case, the investor or partner has more than one license, the total invested capital will be calculated.
• Approval of the competent local authorities is mandatory.

Green Visa for high skilled worker

For skilled workers, the new track of the Green Visa offers a 5 years residency without requiring a sponsor or employer.

To apply for the Green Visa, skilled workers must provide the following documents:

• Work permit in the UAE under a valid work contract;
• The person should be a skilled worker, first, second or third professional level according to the professional classification approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation;
• The minimum educational level must be a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent;
• The monthly salary should not be less than AED15,000.

Green Visa for freelancer or self-employment

The new Green Visa for freelancing and self-employment offers a 5 years residency for freelancers and self-employed people without the need for a sponsor or employer in the UAE, in light of the considerable global growth of the freelancing industry and the concept of flexible work models.

Freelancers and self-employed individuals who wish to obtain a Green Visa must provide the following documents:

• A free work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation;
• Bachelor’s degree or specialized diploma or its equivalent, as a minimum;
• The annual income from self-employment for the previous two years should not be less than AED360,000, or the applicant for this visa must prove his financial solvency throughout his stay in the UAE.

Cost of the visa

The government fee of issuing 60-days entry permit for Green Residence Visa is AED335.75. In the event that an entry permit is issued inside the UAE, an additional amount of AED650 will be applied for status change.

There will be additional expenses for medical test, biometrics and Emirates ID card and others.

The information announced about the Green Visa has been amended several times since the beginning of 2022, to make it more beneficial to all stakeholders. The cost of the visa as well as other announcements, has yet to be updated by the government authority.

The Green Visa is one of the most interesting features of the new visa schemes in the UAE, and there is high demand for it. The majority of the applicants for the Green Visa are those who have been living in the UAE for a long time but are not eligible for the Golden Visa.

Shanda Consult will be happy to assist you in obtaining a UAE Green Visa. Please contact us through the contact form below.

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