The UAE Green Visa 2026 gives you 5 years in the UAE. You can live and work here on this visa. You need no sponsor for it. A sponsor is a person or a company that handles your visa for you. With this visa, no one handles your visa for you. You handle it yourself.
Bolo Asan wrote this guide in simple words for people who live in the UAE. You will find the three types, the money rules, the fees, and the steps. We checked every fact on the official pages of u.ae, ICP, and GDRFA Dubai.
Quick Answer: The UAE Green Visa 2026 is a 5-year residence visa with no sponsor. ICP gives it to skilled workers, freelancers, and investors. You pay AED 700 on the ICP channel or AED 540 to AED 1,040 on the GDRFA Dubai channel.
Who Can Get the UAE Green Visa 2026
ICP is the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. This office runs visas and Emirates ID across the UAE. ICP gives the Green Visa to three types of people. The u.ae page lists the same three types. Bolo Asan lists the three types below.
| Type | Main rule |
|---|---|
| Skilled worker | A job, a degree, and pay of AED 15,000 a month |
| Freelancer or self-employed | A MOHRE freelance permit and income of AED 360,000 in 2 years |
| Investor or business partner | A company share of AED 1,000,000 or more |
Important: You sponsor your own visa in all three types. No employer and no company sponsors you. That is why people call it a self-sponsored visa.
Skilled Workers
You need a valid work contract with an approved job. MOHRE is the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. This office looks after jobs and work permits in the UAE. MOHRE ranks jobs by skill level. MOHRE must place your job in level 1, 2, or 3. You also need a bachelor’s degree or an equal degree. Your pay must reach AED 15,000 a month or more.
Good to Know: GDRFA Dubai uses the same rules when you renew this visa. You keep the same job type, the same degree, and the same pay level. Keep your papers in order from day one.
GDRFA asks for your passport copy and your MOHRE work permit. Your passport must stay valid for 6 months or more. If you work for the government, a semi-government body, or a free zone, GDRFA also asks for your job contract. A free zone is a special area in the UAE with its own business rules.
Freelancers and Self-Employed People
You need a freelance work permit from MOHRE. You also need a bachelor’s degree, a special diploma, or an equal paper. Then you must show proof of your own work income. The proof must cover the last 2 years. Your income must reach AED 360,000 or more in those 2 years.
Note: The income rule covers two full years, not one. You must show AED 360,000 across both years together.
Investors and Business Partners
ICP asks for proof of your investment and the licences for your work. Your share in the company must reach AED 1,000,000 in cash. You can also pay the same value in another currency. GDRFA Dubai uses the same money line for its entry permit. If your share is in goods or rights instead of cash, the Ministry of Economy checks its value. The Ministry must agree that your share meets the line.
Example: You own a share worth AED 1,000,000 in a Dubai company. You meet the money line for this type. You still need the trade licence and the partnership papers. A trade licence is the official paper that lets a company do business.
GDRFA asks for your photo, your passport copy, your partnership or investment contract, and your trade licence. Your passport must stay valid for 6 months or more. Your company can take one of the legal forms GDRFA lists. A limited liability company is one common form.
What Does the UAE Green Visa 2026 Cost
The fee depends on the channel you use. ICP runs the federal channel. GDRFA runs the Dubai channel. The two fee lists are not the same. Never mix them into one figure.
Warning: The two fee lists look close, but they are not the same. The ICP channel and the GDRFA Dubai channel charge different lines. Read the list for your own channel only.
On the ICP channel, you pay AED 100 to apply. You pay AED 100 for each year of the visa. For 5 years, that is AED 500. You pay AED 100 for the smart service. The three lines add up to AED 700. If you change your status inside the UAE, ICP adds AED 500. A status change means you move from one visa to a new one without leaving the UAE.
On the GDRFA Dubai channel, the residence permit fee is AED 200. You also pay AED 10 for the Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 for the Innovation Dirham. These are two small fixed charges. You pay AED 20 for delivery. The fee grows by AED 100 for each year over two years, so AED 300 for a 5-year visa. Outside the UAE, the total is AED 540. Inside the UAE, you add AED 500, so the total is AED 1,040.
The entry permit is a separate step. GDRFA charges AED 200 plus 5% VAT for the investor or partner entry permit. VAT is a small tax on the fee. The total is AED 210 outside the UAE. Inside the UAE, you add AED 520, so the total is AED 730. GDRFA gives a 60-day entry visa for this type.
| Channel | Fee lines | Total |
|---|---|---|
| ICP, federal channel | AED 100 apply + AED 100 per year + AED 100 smart service | AED 700 |
| GDRFA Dubai, outside the UAE | AED 200 + AED 10 + AED 10 + AED 20 + AED 300 | AED 540 |
| GDRFA Dubai, inside the UAE | AED 540 + AED 500 status change | AED 1,040 |
Tip: Check the fee on the official page before you pay. The page shows the exact lines for your type and your channel. Fees can change, and the official page is the only safe source.
The medical test, your Emirates ID, and health insurance sit outside these fees. An Emirates ID is your UAE identity card. It costs AED 100 for each year plus AED 100 for the smart service, so AED 600 for 5 years. ICP lists a medical report as a paper you must give for some types. The medical fee depends on the centre you pick. ICP also lists valid health insurance as a paper you must give.
Bolo Asan checked both fee lists on the live official pages. The ICP lines come from the ICP residence permit page. The GDRFA lines come from the GDRFA service pages.
How to Apply
You apply for the UAE Green Visa 2026 in two main stages. First you get an entry permit. Then you get the residence permit. ICP gives you 60 days from entry to finish the residence steps. GDRFA gives a 60-day entry visa for the investor or partner type. Bolo Asan lists the steps below.
- Pick your type from the three types above.
- Collect your papers for that type.
- Apply for your entry permit through the official channel.
- Do the medical test at an approved centre.
- Give your Emirates ID papers and your health insurance.
- Get your residence permit and check the dates on it.
Key Point: You must finish the residence steps within 60 days of entry. ICP states this rule on its residence permit page. If you miss the window, ICP charges a fine of AED 50 for each day.
You can apply on the ICP smart services website or the ICP app. You sign in with UAE Pass. UAE Pass is the official app you use to sign in to UAE government services. GDRFA Dubai also takes forms on its digital channels, day and night. You can also visit a Customer Happiness Centre or an Amer centre. An Amer centre is a service centre in Dubai that handles GDRFA visa work.
Pro Tip: Keep your UAE Pass ready before you start. You will sign in with it at the first step. A slow sign-in can waste a lot of time.
GDRFA lists 48 hours for its services. ICP lists 2 days for its residence permit service. The time can grow if a paper is missing. Send clean and complete papers to keep it fast.
Your Family Can Come With You
ICP lets you sponsor your family on this visa. You can bring your spouse and your children. ICP also lets Green Visa holders sponsor first-degree relatives. First-degree relatives are your closest family, such as your parents.
Checklist: Keep these papers ready for your family. You need proof of kinship, such as a marriage contract or birth papers. You need an employment paper that shows your pay and your housing. Your family members also need a medical report and valid health insurance.
ICP asks you to show enough pay to support your family. You need AED 3,000 a month plus housing from your employer. Or you need AED 4,000 a month with no housing. Your family visa lasts as long as your own visa. It cannot run past your visa.
Bolo Asan wrote a full guide on family sponsorship. Read our family guide for the steps.
Green Visa or Golden Visa
Many people ask which visa fits them best. The UAE Green Visa 2026 lasts 5 years. The Golden Visa lasts 10 years. The table below shows the main difference between the two visas. Both visas need no sponsor. The Golden Visa asks for more money from investors. Bolo Asan compares the two visas in the table below.
| Point | Green Visa | Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Years | 5 years | 10 years |
| Investor money line | AED 1,000,000 | AED 2,000,000 |
| Sponsor | None, you sponsor your own visa | None, you sponsor your own visa |
| Main rule | A job, freelance income, or a company share | Bigger money or top skills |
Benefits: You stay for 5 years with no sponsor. You control your own visa papers. You can bring your family with you.
Read our Dubai Golden Visa 2026 guide to compare the two visas in full.
Renewal and Extra Days
You can renew the UAE Green Visa 2026 on the same terms as the first time. GDRFA states this rule on its renewal pages. ICP states the same on its FAQ page. Keep meeting the rules for your type.
After your visa ends or after a cancellation, you get 180 extra days. ICP calls this time up to 6 months. These are extra days to renew your visa or to leave the UAE. The official name for these days is the grace period. If you stay past these days, the fine is AED 50 for each day.
Bolo Asan wrote a full renewal guide. Read our renewal guide for the steps to renew a Dubai residence visa.
Common Mistakes
Common Mistakes: Do not mix the ICP fee list with the GDRFA fee list. Do not use the AED 1,000,000 line for the skilled worker type. Do not miss the 60-day window after entry. Do not send your form with missing income papers.
Many people mix the two fee lists and pay the wrong amount. Others forget the income proof for the freelancer type. Check the official page for your own type before you send your form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bolo Asan answers the most common questions about this visa below.
How long does the UAE Green Visa 2026 last?
It lasts 5 years. You can renew it on the same terms as the first time. You must keep meeting the rules for your type.
Do I need a sponsor for the UAE Green Visa 2026?
No. You sponsor your own visa. No employer and no company sponsors you.
What pay does a skilled worker need?
You need pay of AED 15,000 a month or more. You also need a bachelor’s degree and a job in skill level 1, 2, or 3.
How much income does a freelancer need?
You need income of AED 360,000 or more over the last 2 years. You must show proof of this income with your papers.
How much does the UAE Green Visa 2026 cost?
On the ICP channel, you pay AED 700. On the GDRFA Dubai channel, you pay AED 540 outside the UAE or AED 1,040 inside the UAE. The entry permit costs extra.
Can my family come with me on this visa?
Yes. You can sponsor your spouse, your children, and first-degree relatives. You need pay of AED 3,000 a month plus housing, or AED 4,000 a month with no housing.
What happens after my visa ends?
You get 180 extra days to renew or leave. If you stay past these days, the fine is AED 50 for each day.
Official Sources
- Green Visa – u.ae, the official page with the three Green Visa types.
- Green Residency – ICP FAQ, ICP answers on the 5-year visa, no sponsor, family, and extra days.
- Issuing Residency Permit – ICP, ICP fee lines, investor money line, and family rules.
- Issuing a green residence permit, investor or partner – GDRFA Dubai, entry permit, 60-day visa, and fees for investors.
- Renewal of Green Residence, high-level skilled worker – GDRFA Dubai, pay, degree, and fee lines for skilled workers.
- Green residence permit renewal, self-employment – GDRFA Dubai, income rule and fee lines for freelancers.
Disclaimer: This guide gives general facts from official pages. It is not legal advice. Rules and fees can change. Check the official page before you apply.
Last Updated: 7 November 2026