Dubai: With the newly announced UAE residency rules making news, here is an explanation of the new visa schemes that the country currently offers.
What is a Green Visa?
The UAE has announced a new category of resident visas, the Green Visa. ‘Projects of the 50’ is a series of development and economic projects commemorating the UAE’s 50th anniversary, to make the country a center of excellence in all sectors and a top destination for talent and investment.
What type of visa is it?
The green visa, like the golden visa, provides the holder with self-residency status. There is a difference between residency and work permits. This means that the work permit is not linked to your residence permit. In the case of employed employees, the self-residency visa will be sponsored by the employees themselves, not by their employers.
Who is eligible for the Green Visa?
In addition to investors and entrepreneurs, top students and graduates and highly skilled individuals can now qualify for a Green Visa and obtain self-residence. Small and medium-sized businesses, scientists, and other talented individuals will also be considered.
What are the benefits of the Green Visa?
- Sponsorship extended to 25 (instead of 18 previously)
- The sponsoring of parents
- The grace period for leaving the country after losing your job or being retired has been extended from 30 days to 90-180 days.
What is a Freelancer Visa?
The Freelancer Visa was announced along with the Green Visa as a new federal visa for self-employed workers. As the first federal program of its kind, it allows self-employed individuals to sponsor themselves.
Who can apply for the Freelancer Visa
Employed as self-employed workers in specialized fields such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital currencies.
What has changed for the Golden Visa?
Business executives, managers, scientists, engineers, health care providers, educators, technologists, and business managers are now eligible for Golden Visas. A path has been smoothed for highly skilled and specialized residents, investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, pioneers, as well as leading students and graduates, to qualify for the coveted 10-year visa category.
What are the other specific regulatory changes related to visas?
- An extension of three months to six months for business trip permits
- Sponsorship of parents under the visa of direct family members
- Extension of one-year residency for humanitarian cases
- Children’s residency age limit is extended from 18 to 25 years
- Extending the grace period upon job loss or retirement to 90 to 180 days
Why has the UAE made all these residency changes?
In the new measures, the UAE plans to increase its competitiveness and flexibility in the labor market, enable sectorial growth, promote knowledge transfer and skill development, as well as increase stability and security for its residents.