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The UAE offers four types of residence visas for expatriates to work in the country with various lengths ranging between two years, five years, and 10 years.

According to the UAE Digital Government, these types of residence visas are the standard work visa, Golden visa, green visa and domestic worker’s visa.

The standard work visa is issued to expatriates working in the public and private sectors and free zones, while the green visa is issued to skilled workers for five years, it said.

The Golden visa is issued for up to 10 years while the last type is issued for domestic workers, it added. 

The Golden visa is a long-term residence visa that enables foreign talents to live, work or study in the UAE while enjoying exclusive benefits. Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and graduates, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes are among those eligible for the Golden visa.

The UAE’s green visa is a type of residence visa that allows its holder to sponsor himself/herself for 5 years, eliminating the need for a UAE national or employer to sponsor his/her visa.

Freelancers, self-employed and skilled employees can apply for a Green visa but freelancers and self-employed expatriates must get a freelance/self-employment permit from Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) and must submit proof of a bachelor’s degree or a specialized diploma. Self-employed expatriates must submit evidence of annual income from self-employment for the previous two years amounting to not less than Dhs360,000, or proof of financial solvency throughout their stay in the UAE.

A skilled employee can also get a green visa for work after meeting four conditions: He must have a valid employment contract, must be classified in the first, second or third occupational level as per MoHRE, must hold a minimum of bachelor’s degree or equivalent and must have a salary of not less than Dhs15,000 per month.