Businesspeople from all over the world have chosen the UAE as their preferred destination for doing business and establishing companies. And getting the visas they need to perform their activities, such as the Green Visa in the UAE, is easy. Other visa options you can find available are Employment Visas or work permits, which can be easily obtained as well.

In this article, you will learn all the details you need to know about these UAE visas for foreign professionals. Firstly, we will explain the benefits of Green Visas and the requirements and steps to apply for them. Then, we will talk about the UAE Employment Visas and the difference between these visas and Green Visas. Let’s observe:

1. What is a Green Visa in the United Arab Emirates?

2. What are the benefits that a UAE Green Visa offers?

3. How can you get a UAE Green Visa?

4. What are the requirements for getting a Green Visa?

5. What should you know about the Employment Visa in the UAE?

6. Differences between a Green Visa and an Employment Visa

7. How can Kinza HR help you obtain a UAE Green Visa or Employment Visa?

1. What is a Green Visa in the United Arab Emirates?

The Green Visa in the UAE is the result of one of the initiatives the government launched to attract foreign talent. In fact, the long-term residency scheme of the UAE also included other visas similar to this one, like the Golden Visa. And with this special type of long-term visa, foreigners can live and work in the UAE while getting other benefits.

And while a Green Visa holder can live in the UAE, they can also invest in property and other assets. But depending on the applicant’s eligibility, a Green Visa can be valid for 2 or 5 years. And after it expires, Green Visa holders can renew their documents indefinitely. Besides, you should also know that a renewed Green Visa in the UAE offers the same benefits as the original.

As for the eligibility criteria and requirements, you need to learn about the available categories. And below, we will outline the eligible individuals who can apply for this particular type of UAE visa.

1.1. Who can apply for a Green Visa in the UAE?

As we previously mentioned, a Green Visa is a legal document that you can get if you meet certain requirements. But before applying for a Green Visa in the UAE, you should be aware of the categories of eligible individuals. As a matter of fact, there are only three categories of individuals who are eligible for applying for Green Visas. Let’s take a brief look at them:

• Investors or partners.
• Skilled employees.
• Freelancers or self-employed individuals.

Therefore, in order to start your visa application process, you need to belong to any of these Green Visa categories. And besides, you should also know that the visa requirements will vary depending on the visa category you belong to. Below, we will further explain the benefits, requirements, and visa application steps that a Green Visa in the UAE involves.

2. What are the benefits that a UAE Green Visa offers?

Among the most remarkable benefits of the Green Visa in the UAE, we can find these:

• It is a residence permit valid for 5 years.
• To obtain this visa, you do not need a sponsor.
• It allows you to sponsor your family members for 5 years.
• And it provides longer grace periods of up to 6 months to stay in the country after the visa expires.

If you desire to sponsor your family members, this visa allows you to sponsor your spouse, children, and first-degree relatives.

Furthermore, when it comes to sponsoring children, it allows you to sponsor male children up to 25 years old. Plus, there is no age limit when it comes to sponsoring unmarried daughters. In addition, with this visa, children of determination will be able to receive a residence permit regardless of their age.

3. How can you get a UAE Green Visa?

In order to obtain your Green Visa in the UAE, you must meet the requirements and follow these simple steps:

• Firstly, you will need to register for the UAE’s ICA services (the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship website).
• Secondly, it is essential to check your eligibility criteria and make sure to gather all required documents for the process.
• Thirdly, you need to fill out your application form. During this step, make sure to provide your personal information and select the category you are applying for.

Once you complete all these steps and pay the necessary fees, you will receive your desired visa.

4. What are the requirements for getting a Green Visa?

As we mentioned before, the requirements you must meet to get your Green Visa in the UAE may vary. And they will mainly vary depending on the visa category you belong to. For example, if you are a freelancer, you must have evidence of your income as a self-employed person. Below, you will discover all the requirements that this category involves, as well as the ones that other categories require:

4.1. Freelancers and self-employed individuals

In case you are a freelancer or self-employed person, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must hold a bachelor’s degree or specialized diploma.
• You need to provide evidence of your income as a freelancer or self-employed individual from the previous 2 years.
• As a freelancer/self-employed, you must have a minimum salary of at least AED 360,000. In case you do not meet this criterion, you can opt for proving your solvency for the duration of your stay in the UAE.
• Also, you must have a valid freelance or self-employment permit from the MOHRE

4.2. Skilled employees

Requirements are different for skilled employees. For instance, these are some of the most important ones:

• Applicants must have a valid employment contract and a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.
• Their salary must be at least AED 15,000 per year.
• They must be employed in a role considered by the MOHRE to be in the first, second, or third occupational level. You should know that it includes business executives, managers, professionals, and technicians in scientific, technical, and humanitarian fields.

4.3. Investors and partners

And if you are an investor or partner, you must meet these two main requirements to get your Green Visa:

• Get the required approval or proof of investment.
• And get the required approval of the pertinent local authorities.

Furthermore, keep in mind that, as an investor or partner, you can stay in the country for up to 5 years. And compare with a standard UAE residence visa, the UAE Green Visa allows you to stay 3 more years.

5. What should you know about the Employment Visa in the UAE?

Apart from the Green Visa, you can also find the UAE Employment Visa. However, unlike the UAE Green Visa, applicants cannot sponsor themselves when applying for this type of visa. As a matter of fact, they will need a sponsor (their employer) in order to complete the application process. Therefore, before applying, they need to find a job in the country and get a valid employment contract.

After getting a job opportunity, their employer must apply for a work permit with the MOHRE. Then, the MOHRE will convert this permit into a residency visa. And with this document, the employee will be allowed to enter the country to live and work there.

However, this permit will only be valid for 2 months. Therefore, the employer will only have 2 months to arrange all formalities (Emirates ID, Labour Card, medical testing, residency visa).

5.1. Who can apply for this type of UAE visa?

Foreigners and ex-pats can apply for this type of visa in the UAE. However, there are three conditions that will decide whether or not they need this visa, which are:

• They have been hired while they were still in their origin country.
• They found a job opportunity while they were in the UAE on Visit/Tourist Visa.
• Or they were already working in the UAE but decided to switch companies.

5.2. What are the requirements applicants must meet to get this visa?

During the application process for getting an Employment Visa in the UAE, applicants must provide the following documents:

• A photograph against a white background.
• A copy of their passport. Note that the passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
• And copies of their education certificates that the job requires. Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the applicant’s country must attest these documents.

5.3. Other details about the UAE Employment Visa

Usually, it is possible to receive this visa within a week, but it may take longer depending on many factors. And the validity of your visa can vary depending on the nature of your employment. So, its validity usually ranges between 1 and 3 years. On the other hand, it is also a requirement to pay a certain fee to get this visa (around AED 100).

6. Differences between a Green Visa and an Employment Visa

Before applying, you should be aware of the differences between a Green Visa and an Employment Visa in the UAE. This way, it will be easier to choose a visa that suits your needs and helps you achieve your goals. And among the key differences between these visas that you need to be aware of are the following:

• To apply for a Green Visa, you can sponsor yourself, so you do not need an employer/job offer. However, having an employer as a sponsor is a requirement for applying for a Work Permit in the UAE.
• With a Green Visa, holders can sponsor their older children (up to 25 years old for male children). But with a standard Employment Visa, holders can only sponsor children of up to 18 years old.

As you can see, you can remain in complete control of your visa application if you apply for a Green Visa. But when applying for Employment Visas, applicants must depend on their employers since they are their sponsors.

7. How can Kinza HR help you obtain a UAE Green Visa or Employment Visa?

Whether you choose an Employment Visa or a Green Visa in the UAE, Kinza HR will help you get it. And before starting your visa application process, we will provide you with the information, guidance, and advice you need. This way, you will not make mistakes, and completing your application and getting your desired visa will be easier.

On the other hand, Kinza HR can also provide you with other useful services if you are a business owner. For example, these are some of our solutions for your company:

• EOR and PEO solutions
• Temporary staffing and short-term hiring solutions
• Permanent hiring solutions
• Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)
• Contingent staffing services
• Mass hiring and volume staffing services
• Emiratisation

Furthermore, our specialists will provide your business with expertise in the following areas:

• Audit and Accounting
• Banking and Finance
• Sales and Marketing
• IT and Technology
• Health Care
• Oil and Gas

Would you like to apply for a Green Visa or Work Visa in the UAE? With our visa specialists by your side, you will get the assistance you need to start and complete your application. And we will adjust our service to your needs so you can get the best results. But before we offer our services, make sure to contact us and let us know about your visa requirements. Send an email to contact@kinzahr.com so we can provide you with the solutions that best fit your needs.

And in case you are a job seeker, visiting a dynamic job portal such as thetalentpoint.com can be your best option. Exploring a limitless number of job offers in the UAE and other Middle East countries is possible on this platform. Besides, once you find a perfect option, you can easily apply for that job by sending your CV to contact@thetalentpoint.com.