Relatively simple visa processing and a myriad of work opportunities make the UAE one of the most popular destinations for expatriates. The UAE, also known as the United Arab Emirates or Emirates, is also the most popular destination for businesses that are willing to grow internationally because of simple processes. However, just like in any other country, there are some requirements that must be followed for immigration, residence visas, and work permits.

Residence visa to work in the UAE

If you want to live in the UAE for work, there can be three cases in terms of visa:

• Standard work visa
• Green visa for work
• Domestic worker visa

The standard work visa is issued for employees who work in the government or private sector. The green visa is for highly skilled employees and freelancers and it is issued for 5 years. The third and last type of visa is for domestic helpers. Let’s understand the Green work visa and standard work visa in detail.

Green visa for work

What is the Green visa for work in the UAE?

It is a type of visa that allows the holder to sponsor himself or herself for the next 5 years. With that, there is no need for a UAE national to sponsor a visa. 

Who can easily apply for a Green visa to work in the UAE?

1. Freelancers and self-employed

Freelancers and self-employed who want to apply for a Green visa require to submit:

• A freelance or self-employed permit issued by the Ministry of Human Resource and Emiratisation
• A bachelor’s degree or certificate of a specialized diploma
• Evidence of annual income through self-employment for the last two years that shouldn’t be less than AED 360,000 or proof of solvency throughout their stay in the UAE
• Skilled employees

To apply for a green visa skilled employees require to:

• Have an employment contract
• They should be classified in the first, second, or third occupational level as per the Ministry of Human Resource and Emiratisation
• They should hold at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• They should have a salary of at least AED 15000 per month

Standard work visa

A foreigner can get a normal employment visa which is usually issued for two years. In order to get a standard work visa a person must:

1. Employed in the private sector
2. Employed in the government sector/ free zone

Some other important things to consider

One thing that you need to consider for working in the UAE is that the residence visa for working in the UAE should be sponsored by an entity that is locally licensed as well as incorporated in the UAE. Some employees who wish to bring their family members with them to the UAE can sponsor residency visas for them.