The United Arab Emirates has moved swiftly to dispel a swirl of social-media rumours that the popular freelance or “Green Residency” visa has been suspended. Speaking to local Arabic-language daily Emarat Al Youm, Lt-Gen Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA-Dubai), said issuance of the five-year permit continues “as normal,” but with a new layer of scrutiny designed to stamp out abuse.
The Green Residency was unveiled in 2022 to give self-employed professionals—from coders and creatives to translators and trainers—an employer-free path to residence. Demand has surged as remote and project-based work patterns take root across the Gulf. According to government data, more than 50,000 permits were issued in the year to September 2025, attracting talent from India, the UK, Russia and Egypt.
![UAE tightens freelance visa procedures but confirms scheme remains active]()
Officials now acknowledge that popularity has encouraged a cottage industry of illegal “visa trading,” with intermediaries charging desperate applicants thousands of dirhams for forged contracts or phantom assignments. The GDRFA has already referred several such cases to public prosecution. Under the revised rules, every application will undergo an additional audit step that cross-checks declared projects, proof of income (currently AED 360,000 over the previous two years) and tax-registration records where applicable.
For genuine freelancers, the changes should be largely invisible. Processing times will remain at around five working days, and renewal criteria are unchanged. What will differ is the frequency of post-issuance compliance checks: visa holders may be asked to upload recent invoices or show evidence of active client engagements when exiting or entering the country. Failure to respond could trigger a 60-day grace period to rectify status before penalties apply.
Corporate mobility managers see the tightening as a positive signal. “Our regional clients want the flexibility of hiring contractors in Dubai, but they also need assurance that the system isn’t being gamed,” says Samira Khan, Immigration Lead for MENA at a Big-Four consultancy. She recommends that companies engaging UAE-based freelancers formalise contracts, insist on UAE tax-registration numbers, and keep digital copies of deliverables to satisfy any spot audit. For individuals considering the Green Residency, experts advise preparing a clear portfolio of work, bank statements and reference letters to avoid delays under the new regime.
The Green Residency was unveiled in 2022 to give self-employed professionals—from coders and creatives to translators and trainers—an employer-free path to residence. Demand has surged as remote and project-based work patterns take root across the Gulf. According to government data, more than 50,000 permits were issued in the year to September 2025, attracting talent from India, the UK, Russia and Egypt.
Officials now acknowledge that popularity has encouraged a cottage industry of illegal “visa trading,” with intermediaries charging desperate applicants thousands of dirhams for forged contracts or phantom assignments. The GDRFA has already referred several such cases to public prosecution. Under the revised rules, every application will undergo an additional audit step that cross-checks declared projects, proof of income (currently AED 360,000 over the previous two years) and tax-registration records where applicable.
For genuine freelancers, the changes should be largely invisible. Processing times will remain at around five working days, and renewal criteria are unchanged. What will differ is the frequency of post-issuance compliance checks: visa holders may be asked to upload recent invoices or show evidence of active client engagements when exiting or entering the country. Failure to respond could trigger a 60-day grace period to rectify status before penalties apply.
Corporate mobility managers see the tightening as a positive signal. “Our regional clients want the flexibility of hiring contractors in Dubai, but they also need assurance that the system isn’t being gamed,” says Samira Khan, Immigration Lead for MENA at a Big-Four consultancy. She recommends that companies engaging UAE-based freelancers formalise contracts, insist on UAE tax-registration numbers, and keep digital copies of deliverables to satisfy any spot audit. For individuals considering the Green Residency, experts advise preparing a clear portfolio of work, bank statements and reference letters to avoid delays under the new regime.
