Expats can work in the UAE with four types of residence visas
The UAE offers four types of residence visas of different durations - two, five and ten years - for expatriates working in the country.
According to the UAE's digital government, these types of residence visas are the Standard Work Visa, the Golden Visa, the Green Visa and the Domestic Worker Visa.
Standard work visas are issued to expatriates working in the public and private sectors and free zones, while green visas are issued to skilled workers and are valid for five years.
The Golden Visa is valid for up to 10 years, while the last type of visa is issued to domestic workers.
The Golden Visa is a long-term residency visa that enables foreigners to live, work or study in the UAE while
enjoying exclusive benefits.
Investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, talented students and graduates, and humanitarian pioneers are all eligible for the Golden Visa.
The UAE's Green Visa is a residency visa that allows holders to sponsor themselves for up to 5 years without the need for Emirati or employer sponsorship.
Freelancers, self-employed and skilled employees can apply for a Green Visa, but freelancers and self-employed must obtain a freelance/self-employment permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE) and submit proof of a Bachelor's Degree or Professional Diploma. Self-employed expats must submit proof of annual self-employment income of not less than Dh360,000 for the previous two years, or proof of financial solvency during their stay in the UAE.
A skilled worker may also be granted a green visa after meeting four conditions: he must have a valid employment contract, he must belong to the first, second or third occupational class as defined by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization, he must hold at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, and he must earn a monthly salary of not less than Dh15,000.