--- title: "United Arab Emirates Green · Skilled worker 2026" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/green-skilled-worker/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-12 --- United Arab Emirates · Work # United Arab Emirates Green · Skilled worker **Income needed:** AED 15k+ a month ≈ $4,080 Green Residence - Skilled Worker Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **Income needed:** AED 15k+ a month ≈ $4,080 (Income of at least AED 15,000 a month (≈ $4,080) · Minimum monthly salary under a valid employment contract. A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27) · Application fee for the Green Residence residence service. A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27) · Smart service fee. A fee of AED 100 a year (≈ $27) · Residence issuance fee per year of validity (AED 500 for 5 years).) - **Who can apply:** Any passport - **Spouse work:** Needs a permit (Spouse and children may be sponsored under the approved requirements. Your spouse or partner needs their own work permit to work in the United Arab Emirates.) ## Key facts Green · Skilled worker is a work route for United Arab Emirates. Applicants need income of AED 15k+ a month ≈ $4,080. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source. - **Money needed:** AED 15k+ a month ≈ $4,080 - **Government fees:** AED 100 ≈ $27 · +2 more ## Cost, time and long term To apply: 3 government fees listed below; income to show AED 15k+/mo ≈ $4,080. No lawyer or agent fee is included. **Government fees: AED 100 ≈ $27 · +2 more** - AED 100 (≈ $27) Application fee for the Green Residence residence service. - AED 100 (≈ $27) Smart service fee. - AED 100 a year (≈ $27) Residence issuance fee per year of validity (AED 500 (≈ $140) for 5 years). **Shown, not spent: AED 15k+/mo ≈ $4,080** - AED 15,000 a month (≈ $4,080) Minimum monthly salary under a valid employment contract. **Renewal: Renewable** Five-year residence that can be renewed, with specified grace periods after it expires. [Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-green-residency/) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Needs a job offer from an employer in United Arab Emirates ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant has a valid employment contract in the UAE. - The occupation is at levels 1 to 3 of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation classification. - The applicant holds at least a bachelor's degree. #### What you must show - Monthly salary under the contract is at least AED 15,000 (≈ $4,080). ## When you become tax resident How United Arab Emirates decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in 12 consecutive months** - **At least 90 days in 12 consecutive months** Applies to UAE nationals, holders of a valid residence permit, or GCC nationals who also have a permanent place of residence in the UAE or work or carry on business there. - **Foreign-source income:** **No personal income tax** The UAE levies no income tax on individuals; foreign-source salary, investment and rental income of an individual is outside Corporate Tax. [All tax rules for United Arab Emirates](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 **Full official text** Five-year renewable residence for skilled employees with a valid UAE employment contract, a degree and a monthly salary of at least AED 15,000 (≈ $4,080). No sponsor is needed, but the employment contract is required. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4) #### What you must show and pay - Income of at least AED 15,000 a month (≈ $4,080) · Minimum monthly salary under a valid employment contract. (source 1) - A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27) · Application fee for the Green Residence residence service. (source 3) - A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27) · Smart service fee. (source 3) - A fee of AED 100 a year (≈ $27) · Residence issuance fee per year of validity (AED 500 (≈ $140) for 5 years). (source 3) #### Requirements - The applicant has a valid employment contract in the UAE. (source 1) - The occupation is at levels 1 to 3 of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation classification. (source 1) - The applicant holds at least a bachelor's degree. (source 1) - Monthly salary under the contract is at least AED 15,000 (≈ $4,080). (source 1) #### Stay - Five years, renewable; specified grace periods apply on expiry. - Visa validity: 60 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Work Live and work in the UAE without a sponsor. To qualify in this category the applicant must have a valid employment contract in the UAE. #### Family Spouse and children may be sponsored under the approved requirements. Your spouse or partner needs their own work permit to work in the United Arab Emirates. Checked 2026-10-12 ## Official sources 1. [Green Residence Guide](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-green-residency/) · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security · checked 2026-10-12 2. [Work visa](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/residence-visa-for-working-in-the-uae) · UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Issuing Residency Permit (terms, fees and documents for each applicant category)](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e64) · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) · checked 2026-10-12 4. [Work permits](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/work-permits) · The UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-10 ## Green · Skilled worker and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Green · Skilled worker | Needs income of AED 15k+ a month ≈ $4,080 | – | – | | [Standard work visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/standard-work-visa/) | – | – | – | | [LTR · Highly Skilled](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/thailand/ltr-highly-skilled-professional/) Thailand | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – | | [Engineer/Specialist visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/japan/engineer-specialist/) Japan | – | 5 yr, renewable | Limited | | [Golden Visa · Parent rep $25M](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/indonesia/e28g-parent-company-representative/) Indonesia | Needs an investment from $25M | 5 yr, renewable | – | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Green · Skilled worker? Income of at least AED 15,000 a month (≈ $4,080). Minimum monthly salary under a valid employment contract. A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27). Application fee for the Green Residence residence service. A fee of AED 100 (≈ $27). Smart service fee. A fee of AED 100 a year (≈ $27). Residence issuance fee per year of validity (AED 500 (≈ $140) for 5 years). ### How long can I stay on the Green · Skilled worker? Five years, renewable; specified grace periods apply on expiry. ### Can I work on the Green · Skilled worker? Live and work in the UAE without a sponsor. ### Can I bring my family on the Green · Skilled worker? Spouse and children may be sponsored under the approved requirements. ### How are Green · Skilled worker holders taxed in United Arab Emirates? No special regime in our records is tied to the Green · Skilled worker. The standard rules apply: The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals; VAT is 5%. Individuals running a business in the UAE pay corporate tax only if business turnover exceeds AED 1 million (≈ $272,000) in a calendar year. ## More in United Arab Emirates [Blue Residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/blue-residency/) [Golden · Exceptional talent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-exceptional-talent/) [Golden · Humanitarian pioneer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-humanitarian-pioneers/) [Golden · Scientists](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-scientists-specialists/) [Virtual Work Visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/virtual-work-visa/) [Golden · Entrepreneur](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/golden-entrepreneur/) [Green · Freelancer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/green-freelancer/) [Student visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-arab-emirates/student-visa/) ## Work visas elsewhere [🇸🇬 Employment Pass](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/singapore/employment-pass/) [🇲🇾 Residence Pass-Talent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/malaysia/rp-t/) [🇰🇷 K-STAR to F-2](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/south-korea/kstar-f2-talent-track/) [🇹🇼 Job-seeker visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/taiwan/employment-seeking-resident-visa/) [🇭🇰 IANG graduate visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/hong-kong/iang/) [🇵🇭 Work visa (9G)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/philippines/9g-employment/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Green Residence Guide](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services/uae-green-residency/) · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security · checked 2026-10-12 2. [Work visa](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/Types-of-visas/residence-visa-for-working-in-the-uae) · UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Issuing Residency Permit (terms, fees and documents for each applicant category)](https://icp.gov.ae/en/services-details/?serviceid=64afe3c1035448005bd52e64) · Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) · checked 2026-10-12 4. [Work permits](https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/jobs/Sector-of-employment/employment-in-the-private-sector/work-permits) · The UAE Government Portal (u.ae) · checked 2026-10-10 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.