What’s the Difference Between a Golden and Green Visa in the UAE?

The UAE’s new visa system has come into effect from 3rd October 2022. The Green Visa is one of the visas included in this new system, but what makes it different from the Golden Visa? There are some standard and other parameters that differentiate these two visa systems, even though both allow people to live in the UAE.

For example, both Golden and Green Visa allow residents to sponsor themself. This means a company (like an employer) doesn’t have to be the visa sponsor. The term for this is ’self-sponsorship.’ Also, these visas offer long-term options for living in the country than the usual two- or three-year visas.

But, what makes them different is the length of time for each visa, the requirements to get it, and the benefits. Here is what should be known about the Golden and Green Visa.

Green Visa – Duration: Five years

Benefits:

1. A perfect visa to live in the UAE for five years.
2. You can be your sponsor
3. You can sponsor your close family members.
4. Six-month grace period after visa cancellation or expiry is available

Eligibility: The UAE Cabinet decided in April of this year that the Green Visa is available to these three groups:

1. Freelancers (Self- Employment)

• Applicants should get a permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation to work independently (MOHRE).
• Applicants must have at least a bachelor’s degree or a specialized diploma should be required.
• The applicant’s annual income from self-employment for the last two years should be at least AED 360,000, or they must show that they have enough money to stay in the country for the whole time.

2. Skilled Workers

• Applicants should have a valid contract to work for the company.
• According to MOHRE, they should be put in the first, second, or third occupational level.
• You must be a bachelor’s degree holder or something similar.
• The pay should be at least AED 15,000.

3. Investors and Partners for five years

• In this category, too, the person with a Green Residency will not need a sponsor.

How do I request a Green Visa?

The Green Visa and the other new visas was announced by the government 3rd October. Details about how to apply are likely to be made public by the authorities.

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Golden Visa- Duration: Ten years

Benefits: According to the changes that were announced on 18th April of this year, the following are the benefits of the Golden Visa:

• You can sponsor and bring as many family members as you want, including your spouse, children, and helpers.
• There is no limit regarding the duration of your stay outside of the UAE, with Golden Residency status.
• Applicants will be given an e-visa that is good for six months while they get a residence visa.
• In case the primary member of the Golden Visa dies, family members can stay in the UAE until the exhaustion of their permit period.
• You do not need a sponsor or an employer.

Eligibility: In the new version of the Golden Visa program, the list of people who can get one was expanded to include the following:

1. Those who invest:

• Investing public money
• Real estate investment

2. Entrepreneurs:

• Owners of successful start-ups that have been registered
• Those who have a business idea that has been approved
• Previous founders of a successful start-up that was sold in or outside the UAE

3. Extraordinary skills in the following:

• Art and culture
• Entrepreneurs and investors
• Games
• The use of computers
• Other important places

4. Experts and scientists

• Scientists
• Business leaders and top government officials
• People who work in science
• People who work in engineering
• People in the medical field
• People who work in education
• People who work in business and administration
• People who work in information technology
• Legal, social and cultural professionals

5. Students and graduates who stand out

• High school students with the best grades
• Best graduates from the UAE universities
• Graduates of the world’s top 100 universities

6. Leaders in helping people

• Members of international and regional organizations who are well-known
• Outstanding members of groups that help the public
• People who have won awards for their work in humanitarian fields
• Helpful people who give their time and money to help others

7. Frontline heroes

• People who were employed on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic and did extraordinary work

How to get the Golden Visa?

If you belong to one of the above groups, you can apply for a Golden Visa through:

1. An Amer center in Dubai;. The General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs, located in Dubai, sends visa applications to Amer centers, which handle them.
2. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP); it has a customer satisfaction center in other Emirates as well. Start the process by going to the center with your passport and information about your job or investment.

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