The Green Visa is a five-year UAE residence that you hold in your own name. No employer or family member sponsors you, and you can renew it on the same terms. It is open to three groups: skilled employees, freelancers and the self-employed, and investors or partners in a UAE business.
Each group has a specific test, and your documents have to show you meet it on the day you apply. This guide sets out the criteria as ICP and GDRFA Dubai publish them in October 2026, how to apply, what it costs and how the Green Visa compares with the Golden Visa. It is general information; the authorities make the final decision on every application.
Who qualifies for the Green Visa?
| Category | Main requirements |
|---|---|
| Skilled employee | Valid UAE employment contract, a job at MOHRE skill level 1, 2 or 3, a bachelor's degree or equivalent, and a salary of at least AED 15,000 a month |
| Freelancer or self-employed | A MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit, a bachelor's degree, specialised diploma or equivalent, and annual self-employment income of at least AED 360,000 for the previous two years, or proof of financial solvency |
| Investor or partner | Proof of investment in a licensed UAE business; GDRFA Dubai and ICP set a minimum cash contribution of AED 1 million |
These thresholds are as of October 2026. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) sets the skill levels, and the residence itself is issued by GDRFA Dubai for Dubai and by ICP for the other emirates.
Skilled employees: what gets checked
You still need a job. What changes is that the residence is in your name rather than your employer's. The first step is a high-level skilled worker permit from MOHRE, based on your employment contract, and that permit is the basis of the Green Visa application. Employees of mainland companies, free zone companies and government entities can all apply; free zone and government employees also submit their employment contract.
Three points need care:
- Skill level. It comes from MOHRE's classification of the occupation on your work permit, not from your seniority in the company. A senior person on a low-level job title can fail the test.
- Salary. As of October 2026, the contract and the salary records have to show at least AED 15,000 a month. Check how the figure is presented before you apply, not after.
- Degree. A bachelor's degree or equivalent is required. If it was issued abroad, expect to be asked for attestation, which takes time.
GDRFA Dubai's service note also says not to cancel your current residence before MOHRE has issued your Green Visa permit. Cancelling early can leave you without status if the application stalls.
Freelancers and the self-employed
This route starts with a freelance or self-employment permit from MOHRE. The permit lets you work independently, without an employer sponsoring you, and it is the document the Green Visa application relies on.
You then need a bachelor's degree, a specialised diploma or an equivalent qualification, and evidence of income. ICP's test, as of October 2026, is annual income from freelance work of at least AED 360,000 for the previous two years, or its equivalent in foreign currency. If you cannot show that, GDRFA Dubai's residence terms accept proof of financial solvency for the length of your stay instead, but neither GDRFA nor ICP publishes a figure for solvency.
Build the income evidence before you apply: bank statements that show client payments, contracts and invoices, and tax returns from your home country if you filed them. Income paid in cash or through a friend's account is hard to prove. If your income does not meet the test yet, a free zone freelance permit with its own visa may suit you better for now. Our guide to freelance permits in Dubai compares the options.
Investors and partners
As of October 2026, ICP's terms require the investor's contribution to the company to be at least AED 1 million in cash, made when the company is formed or when you join an existing one. In-kind contributions, such as equipment or intellectual property, are valued by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism to check they meet the minimum.
GDRFA Dubai lists the company forms it accepts, including limited liability companies and joint stock companies. A sole establishment is not on the list. You will need the trade licence and the memorandum of association, partnership agreement or investment contract.
The investment has to stay in place. ICP's terms say you must keep meeting the conditions to keep and renew the residence, and tell the issuing authority if you stop meeting any of them. If your stake is smaller, a standard visa sponsored by your own company may be the realistic route; see our guide to investor and partner visas.
Who can you sponsor on a Green Visa?
ICP lists sponsoring family members, including your spouse and children, as a core benefit. The federal government portal sets out the general rule for expatriate residents: a spouse, sons under 25, unmarried daughters and children with special needs. It adds that Green Visa holders may also sponsor first-degree relatives.
Family members aged 18 and over take a medical fitness test, and their residence cannot run past the expiry date of yours. Expect to provide attested marriage and birth certificates and evidence of housing. Our guide to sponsoring your family covers the documents in detail.
How do you apply, and what does it cost?
- Confirm your category and check every figure against your documents.
- Get the base document. That is the MOHRE permit for skilled employees and freelancers, or the trade licence and company documents for investors.
- Apply for the Green Visa. In Dubai, apply to GDRFA Dubai through its website, app or an Amer centre. In the other emirates, apply to ICP. From abroad, you receive an entry permit that lets you stay 60 days from entry while the residence is processed.
- Complete the medical test, Emirates ID and health insurance, as for any residence. Our guide to the residence visa process explains each step.
- Receive the five-year residence, linked to your Emirates ID.
Government fees are modest next to the cost of qualifying. As of October 2026, GDRFA Dubai lists AED 200 plus VAT for the Green Visa entry permit, plus AED 500 and two AED 10 charges (the Knowledge and Innovation Dirhams) if you are already in the UAE. The residence permit fee is also AED 200, plus smaller charges listed on GDRFA's service page. The medical test, Emirates ID and insurance are extra. GDRFA lists 48 hours to process each stage once the file is complete.
Green Visa or Golden Visa?
| Green Visa | Golden Visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Validity | 5 years | Up to 10 years |
| Salaried route | AED 15,000 a month, MOHRE level 1 to 3 | AED 30,000 a month, MOHRE level 1 or 2 |
| Investor route | AED 1 million cash in a company | AED 2 million share of company assets (Dubai) |
| Time outside the UAE | Not listed among ICP's benefits | Exempt from the 180-day rule |
The figures above are as of October 2026. If you meet a Golden Visa test, it is usually the stronger choice: longer validity, and GDRFA Dubai exempts holders from the rule that a residence lapses after 180 days abroad. The Green Visa fits people who earn well but sit below the Golden thresholds, and freelancers, who have no direct Golden route. Read our complete guide to the Golden Visa, or use our Golden Visa eligibility check to see whether you qualify.
What to check before you apply
- Your evidence matches the test on paper. Salary, skill level, income and capital are read from documents, not from what you tell the authority.
- Your current visa stays open. Do not cancel it before MOHRE has issued your permit, and only then in step with the new application.
- Your degree is ready. Attestation of foreign certificates often takes longer than the application itself.
- You can meet the test again in five years. Renewal is on the same conditions as the first issue.
- You know your grace period. ICP gives Green Residence holders up to six months after expiry, and GDRFA Dubai lists 180 days.
If you are weighing the Green Visa against a Golden Visa or a company-sponsored visa, our Golden Visa team can check your documents against each route and tell you which one your evidence supports. Once you have chosen, our PRO services team can handle the permits, medical test and Emirates ID steps.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the grace period after a Green Visa expires?
Can I apply for the Green Visa from outside the UAE?
Can I renew a Green Visa?
Is the Green Visa available in every emirate?
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