The UAE keeps expanding its menu of self-sponsored residency options, and the five-year Green Visa UAE is now one of the most popular. First announced in 2022 and updated for 2025, this long-term residency permit lets skilled professionals, freelancers, and investors live, work, and sponsor family members in the Emirates without a local employer or guarantor. In the guide below you will learn exactly what the Green Visa UAE is, its benefits, who qualifies, how much it costs, and how to apply-step by step.
Related reading: Comprehensive UAE residence visa routes.
1. What exactly is the Green Visa UAE?
Think of the Green Visa UAE as a middle ground between the two-year employment visa and the ten-year Golden Visa. Issued for five years and renewable, the permit is self-sponsored: once approved you become your own sponsor and can bring immediate family to live with you. Applications are handled by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), and can be filed online, via the official ICA/GDRFA apps, or in person at an Amer centre.
2. Key benefits at a glance
- Self-sponsorship – no need for an employer, which means you can change jobs or projects freely.
- Five-year validity – compared to the standard two-year work visa, saving both time and renewal fees.
- Generous grace period – stay in the UAE for up to 180 days after expiry or cancellation to sort out next steps.
- Family sponsorship – bring your spouse, daughters (unmarried, no age cap) and sons up to 25. Parents can also be sponsored on humanitarian grounds.
- Business flexibility – ideal for consultants, creatives, or investors managing several ventures.
Need help sponsoring dependants? Our team explains every requirement in this family-visa guide.
3. Who is eligible for Green visa UAE? (MECE categories)
3.1 Skilled employees
- Valid UAE employment contract.
- Job must fall under MoHRE occupational levels 1–3 (executives, professionals, technicians).
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- Minimum monthly salary AED 15,000.
Tip: If your salary or job title does not meet the threshold, a two-year standard work visa may be faster; see how Amer’s VIP service speeds things up here.
3.2 Freelancers & self-employed professionals
- Freelance or self-employment permit issued by MoHRE.
- Bachelor’s degree or specialised diploma.
- Proof of annual income of at least AED 360,000 for the last two years or evidence of financial solvency (e.g., savings, retained earnings).
The Green Visa UAE sits alongside other non-employment routes such as the Remote Work Visa and Retirement Visa-explained in our in-depth post on what is non working visa
3.3 Investors or partners
- Proof of investment or share in a UAE company.
- Company or licence approval letter from the competent local authority (free-zone, mainland DED, or offshore registrar).
- When holding multiple licences, the ICP aggregates the total invested capital to satisfy the threshold.
For entrepreneurs comparing the Green Visa UAE with the ten-year Golden Visa, see the legal checklist that helps avoid costly scams: Golden Visa red-flags explained.
4. How much does the Green Visa UAE cost in 2025?
| Cost item | Fee (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry permit | 1,035 | Issued before residency stamping if you are outside the UAE |
| Green Visa UAE issuance | 2,200 | Five-year residency sticker / e-visa |
| Change of status (inside UAE) | 570 | N/A if you entered on an entry permit |
| Medical fitness test | 755 | Standard Dubai VIP clinic rate |
| Emirates ID (5 years) | 700 | Includes biometrics |
| Knowledge Dirham & Innovation Dirham | 20 | AED 10 each |
Total outlay for a first-time applicant inside Dubai therefore averages AED 5,280. Fees differ slightly by emirate, service channel, and visa category, so always check the ICP smart services fee schedule .
5. Step-by-step application process
5.1 Prepare your documents
Skilled employee:
- Passport (6-month validity)
- UAE employment contract
- Degree certificate (attested)
- Salary certificate ≥ AED 15,000
- Recent passport-size photo
- Medical fitness and police clearance
Freelancer:
- Passport
- MoHRE freelance permit
- Diploma or professional certificate
- Bank statements proving AED 360,000 annual income (last 2 years)
- Medical fitness & police clearance
Investor:
- Passport
- Trade licence & Memorandum of Association
- Audit report or capital verification letter
- Local authority approval
- Medical fitness & police clearance
5.2 File online (recommended)
- Create/activate UAE Pass.
- Log in to ICP Smart Services (nationwide) or GDRFA Dubai.
- Select “Green Residence” and the correct sub-category.
- Upload documents, confirm data, pay initial fees.
- Track status; the e-entry permit (if outside UAE) or e-change-of-status (if inside UAE) will arrive by email.
5.3 Complete medicals & Emirates ID
• Book a medical fitness test; results are usually sent within 24 hours.
• Register biometrics at the ICP service centre.
• Once approved, the residence e-visa is endorsed digitally, and your Emirates ID is printed.Please check out our Emirates id typing services for more information
5.4 Alternative: in-person submission
Applicants who prefer human assistance can visit an Amer service centre or ICP Customer Happiness Centre. Take a queue ticket, hand over hard-copy documents, pay at the counter, and receive SMS/email updates. Processing is typically 5–15 working days-faster if you opt for premium service.
For urgent filings, Amer’s dedicated VIP desk on Sheikh Zayed Road can shorten the queue; details here.
6. Practical insights & common pitfalls
• Misclassified job titles: MoHRE’s occupation matrix is strict. If your HR department uses a generic title that falls outside levels 1-3, the application will bounce. Have the contract amended before submitting.
• Income evidence for freelancers: tax returns from your home country rarely satisfy ICP clerks. Bank statements, invoices, or audited accounts in Arabic/English work best.
• Overstaying after cancellation: while the Green Visa UAE offers a 180-day grace period, fines accrue after that. Mark your calendar or hire a PRO to handle timely renewal-our PRO team explains the value of ongoing compliance in this case study.
• Switching to Golden Visa: qualifying Green Visa holders (e.g., investors increasing capital to AED 2 million) can upgrade mid-cycle without exiting the country. See how requirements differ in our Golden Visa comparison guide.
7. Ready to start?
The Green Visa UAE is a forward-looking residency pathway that fits perfectly with the UAE’s push toward flexible employment and knowledge-based investment. Whether you are a C-suite professional, a globe-trotting consultant, or a partner in a fast-growing start-up, the permit unlocks stability and freedom for you and your family.
At Arabian Business Center, our licensed consultants can pre-check your eligibility, translate and attest documents, lodge your application through ICP or Amer, and even collect and deliver paperwork free of charge.Looking for reliable services at an Amer Typing Center Dubai? Arabian Business Center ensures quick and hassle-free processing for all your government documentation.
Reach out today for a personalised quote or visit our office for a same-day eligibility assessment-because your next five years in the Emirates should start with confidence, not guesswork.
