The Green Visa is the UAE's five-year, self-sponsored residence permit. Unlike a standard employment visa, no employer holds it: you sponsor yourself, you keep it if you change jobs, and you can sponsor your family on it.
It sits between the standard two-year work visa and the ten-year Golden Visa. The thresholds are deliberately reachable for mid-career professionals, which makes it the most underused upgrade in the UAE visa system.
Here is who qualifies in 2026, what evidence you need, and how the application actually runs.
The three routes in
- Skilled employee. You need a valid employment contract, a job classified in MOHRE occupational skill levels 1 to 3 (managerial, professional or technician roles), a bachelor's degree or equivalent, and a salary of at least AED 15,000 per month.
- Freelancer or self-employed. You need a MOHRE freelance permit, proof of a bachelor's degree or specialised diploma, and evidence of annual self-employment income of around AED 360,000 over the previous two years, or proof of financial solvency for your stay. Our freelance visa guide covers getting the permit itself.
- Investor or partner. Investors establishing or partnering in commercial activity qualify with proof of the investment and the relevant licence approvals.
If your salary is below AED 15,000 or your role sits in skill levels 4 or 5, you stay on the standard employer-sponsored visa, which works perfectly well; the Green Visa is a convenience upgrade, never a requirement.
What you get for five years
- Self-sponsorship. Your residence does not depend on one employer. If you resign or are made redundant, the visa stays valid.
- A long grace period. Up to six months to stay in the UAE after the visa expires or is cancelled, against 30 days on many standard visas. Details in our grace period guide.
- Family sponsorship. You can sponsor your spouse and children, with sons up to age 25 and unmarried daughters without an age cap. See the family sponsorship requirements.
- First-degree relatives can also be sponsored, subject to the standard income conditions.
You still need your employer to hold a valid work permit for you while you are employed; the Green Visa replaces the residence sponsorship, not the MOHRE work permit.
How to apply, step by step
- Gather evidence. Passport, current Emirates ID if you have one, attested degree certificate, employment contract or freelance permit, salary certificate and six months of bank statements showing the qualifying income.
- Apply online. Through the ICP smart services portal (or GDRFA for Dubai residents), select the Green Residence category that matches your route.
- Pay the fees. Expect total government fees in the region of AED 2,000 to 3,500 including issuance and Emirates ID for five years; confirm the current figures on the ICP portal before paying.
- Medical and biometrics. Same routine as any residence visa: medical fitness test plus Emirates ID biometrics if your record needs updating.
- Cancel and convert. If you hold an existing employer-sponsored visa, it is cancelled and the Green Visa is issued in its place. Your employer's PRO usually coordinates the handover.
Processing normally takes one to two weeks once documents are complete. The single most common delay is an unattested degree certificate, so fix that first.
Green Visa vs Golden Visa
The Golden Visa runs ten years and targets investors, property owners and high earners (typically AED 30,000+ monthly salary for professionals, or AED 2 million in property). The Green Visa runs five years at half the salary bar and with lighter evidence.
If you qualify for both, take the Golden. If you earn AED 15,000 to 30,000, the Green Visa is the realistic option, and you can upgrade later without penalty. Salary benchmarks for your role are in our 2026 salary guide.
Key takeaway
If you earn AED 15,000+ a month in a degree-level role, you can swap your employer-sponsored visa for a five-year self-sponsored Green Visa for roughly AED 2,000 to 3,500 in fees. Your residence stops depending on your job, and your family sponsorship gets longer and simpler.
FAQ
What salary do I need for the UAE Green Visa?
At least AED 15,000 per month for the skilled employee route, evidenced by your contract and salary certificate. Freelancers instead show around AED 360,000 in self-employment income over two years or proof of solvency.
Can I keep my Green Visa if I lose my job?
Yes. The visa is self-sponsored, so resignation or redundancy does not cancel it. Your new employer simply issues a fresh work permit; the residence visa is untouched.
Does the Green Visa lead to citizenship?
No UAE residence visa leads automatically to citizenship. The Green Visa is a five-year renewable residence permit, renewable indefinitely as long as you still meet the criteria.
Can Green Visa holders sponsor parents?
First-degree relatives can be sponsored subject to income conditions. In practice parents' sponsorship still carries higher salary and insurance requirements, so check the current ICP conditions before applying.
