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Green Visa in the UAE
Five years, self-sponsored, no employer holding your residency — and a six-month grace period if your job ends. Far more attainable than a Golden Visa.
The short version
- The Green Visa is five years, self-sponsored. No employer holds your residency.
- Three routes: skilled employee (AED 15,000/month), freelancer or self-employed (AED 360,000 annual income), and investor.
- If you lose your job, you get a six-month grace period — not thirty days.
- It is materially easier to qualify for than a Golden Visa, and materially better than an employment visa.
The Green Visa sits in the gap most people do not know exists — between an employment visa that ties you to a company and a Golden Visa that requires AED 2 million or AED 30,000 a month. For a large number of professionals in Dubai, it is the right answer and nobody has told them about it.
The three routes
| Route | Threshold | Also required |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled employee | AED 15,000/month | MOHRE skill level 1–3 occupation, bachelor's degree or equivalent, valid contract |
| Freelancer / self-employed | AED 360,000 annual income, two years | MOHRE freelance permit, bachelor's degree or specialised diploma |
| Investor / partner | Investment based | Commercial licence and approved investment evidence |
| Degrees issued outside the UAE must be attested. Financial solvency evidence can substitute for the income history in some self-employment cases. | ||
The skilled employee route at AED 15,000 a month is far more attainable than the Golden Visa's AED 30,000, and it still removes your employer from your residency. If you earn between AED 15,000 and AED 30,000 and hold a degree, this is very likely your best available option.
Green Visa versus the alternatives
| Employment visa | Green Visa | Golden Visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | 2 years | 5 years | 5 or 10 years |
| Sponsor | Employer | Yourself | Yourself |
| Salary bar | — | AED 15,000/month | AED 30,000/month basic |
| Grace if job ends | 30 days | 6 months | Up to 180 days |
| Sponsor family | Yes, with thresholds | Yes | Yes, wider |
| Tied to one company | Yes | No | No |
The six-month grace period is the practical difference. On an employment visa, losing your job starts a thirty-day clock. On a Green Visa you have half a year to find the next thing without your residency being at risk — which changes how you negotiate, and whether you can afford to leave a bad role.
What we assess before you pay anything
Free eligibility check
- Which of the three routes actually fits your situation
- Your MOHRE occupation classification — skill level 1–3 is required for the employee route
- Salary as recorded on your registered contract
- Degree attestation status, and whether equivalency is needed
- For self-employment: income evidence across the preceding two years
- Whether a freelance permit is required first
- Outstanding fines or open cases that would hold the file
- Whether the Golden Visa is actually within reach instead
We will tell you if you do not qualify, and we will tell you if you are close enough that waiting six months makes more sense than applying now.
How long it takes
| Stage | Working days |
|---|---|
| Eligibility assessment and document audit | 1 – 3 |
| Freelance permit, if required | 5 – 15 |
| Application submission and review | 5 – 15 |
| Medical fitness | 1 – 3 |
| Emirates ID biometrics | 1 – 2 |
| Issuance and stamping | 3 – 7 |
| End to end | 3 – 7 weeks |
Where Green Visa applications fail
- Occupation outside skill levels 1–3. Salary alone is not enough on the employee route.
- Degree not attested, or attested but lacking MOHRE equivalency where the profession requires it.
- Self-employment income not evidenced across two full years — bank statements alone are often insufficient.
- No freelance permit in place before applying on the self-employed route.
- Applying on the wrong route — a strong file in the wrong category still fails.
- Outstanding liabilities, including ILOE and traffic fines.
Green Visa questions
What salary do I need for a UAE Green Visa?
AED 15,000 per month on the skilled employee route, provided your occupation sits in MOHRE skill levels 1 to 3 and you hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent. The self-employed route requires AED 360,000 annual income over the previous two years instead.
How is a Green Visa different from a Golden Visa?
Green is five years with a AED 15,000 monthly bar; Golden is five or ten years with a AED 30,000 basic salary bar or AED 2 million investment. Both are self-sponsored, but Green is considerably easier to qualify for.
What happens to a Green Visa if I lose my job?
You keep a six-month grace period to find new work or change status, rather than the thirty days that applies on an employment visa. Your residency remains valid during that time.
Do I need a freelance permit for the Green Visa?
On the freelancer and self-employed route, yes — a MOHRE freelance or self-employment permit is required as proof you are legally entitled to operate independently. It is a separate application that comes first.
Can I sponsor my family on a Green Visa?
Yes. Green Visa holders can sponsor a spouse and children, subject to the standard accommodation and documentary requirements.
Does my degree need attesting for a Green Visa?
Yes, if it was issued outside the UAE it must be attested, and many professions also require MOHRE equivalency. Start that chain early — it commonly takes longer than the visa application itself.
Hand it over
Send the document. We will tell you where you stand.
Government fees passed through at cost, our service fee fixed and agreed before we start, and updates on WhatsApp until the file closes.
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