How to apply for the UAE Green Visa for skilled workers
Find out the eligibility, documents, and process for the Green Visa for skilled workers
Dubai: Are you an engineer, marketing manager or IT professional who wants to consider long-term residency options in the UAE? With the launch of the UAE Green Visa, also known as Green Residency, highly skilled professionals living in the UAE can now apply for a visa that has a validity of five years.
What is the Green Visa?
The Green Visa is part of the revamped UAE visa system which came into effect in 2022.
The visa is granted for a period of five years and is subject to renewal. Some of the additional benefits of this visa, apart from an extended validity, include:
The ability for the visa holder to sponsor their first-degree relatives.
A longer grace period after the visa is cancelled, allowing them to stay in the UAE for up to six months.
Categories of the Green Visa
The three groups of Green Visa are:
Green residency for the skilled worker.
Green residency for self-employment.
Green residency for the investor or partner in a commercial activity.
For those wishing to obtain a Green Residence permit under the skilled worker category, it is advised not to cancel the current residence (if any) before obtaining the Green Residence permit issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
Requirements
To qualify for the Green Residence permit as a skilled worker, the following conditions apply:
Obtain a High-Level Skilled Worker permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) under an approved employment contract, or from governmental, semi-governmental, and free zone facilities.
The skilled labour category must be for levels 1, 2 or 3 in the occupation classification approved by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.
The minimum level of education required is a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
The salary must be at least Dh15,000 or the equivalent in other currencies.
Required documents
Applicants will need to prepare the following:
A personal photo.
A copy of the passport, valid for at least six months.
A work permit from MOHRE.
An employment contract if the facility is governmental, semi-governmental, or from free zones.
Salary certificate or bank statement.
Recent coloured passport photos.
You may also be asked to provide additional documents based on your application.
How to apply
For Dubai, you can apply through an Amer Centre, which facilitates visa applications on behalf of GDRFA Dubai, or online via the GDRFA website.
Online application steps
Visit the GDRFA website – www.gdrfad.gov.ae. On the home page, click on ‘Entry permits’ under the ‘Services’ section.
Select ‘Entry permits’ and then ‘Entry permit services’ to access ‘New Entry Permit for Green Residence’.
From the categories, choose ‘Issuing Entry Permit for Green Residence (High Skilled Worker)’.
Click ‘Start service’. You will be directed to the login page. Select ‘Individuals’ from the top tab and log in with your GDRFA account details. If you do not have an account, click ‘Register now’ to create one. You can also log in using UAE Pass.
After logging in, you will be redirected to your personal dashboard. Click on the green ‘New application’ button, then select ‘Green residence for high-skilled workers’.
Fill in the application form with:
Applicant Information: Name, mobile number and email address. (If asked for your name in Arabic, type it in English – the system will translate it automatically.)
Personal Information: Passport details, educational qualifications, family details and address.
Click ‘Next’ and upload the required documents. Submit the application and complete the payment.
According to GDRFA, you will receive a text message and email with the status of your application. If there are any missing documents, you will be notified to submit them within 30 days. Failure to do so will result in automatic cancellation of the application.
Fees
Work visa fee: Dh200 (plus VAT).
Additional fees (if the applicant is inside the country):
Knowledge Dirham: Dh10
Innovation Dirham: Dh10
Fee inside the country: Dh500
Note: The total amount may vary depending on the applicant’s circumstances or for other reasons that may arise.
Important reminder
This article is for informational purposes only. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always contact the relevant immigration authorities:
General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai: 800 5111
Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security - 600 522222
The article was published in 2022 and has been updated since.
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