New 10-Year Blue Residency Visa Introduced

21 May 2024 - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a new 10-year residency visa, known as the Blue Residency visa. This visa is specifically designed for individuals who have made significant contributions to environmental protection, including areas such as marine life, land ecosystems, air quality, sustainability technologies, and the circular economy.

The Blue Residency visa is part of the UAE's wider efforts to mark 2024 as the Year of Sustainability. The visa aims to attract and retain global environmental leaders, thereby contributing to the UAE's sustainable economic and social development.

Eligibility for the Blue Residency visa extends to environmental activists, members of international organizations and companies, members of associations and non-governmental organizations, global award winners, and distinguished researchers in environmental work.

Qualifying applicants can apply directly to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) or through nominations by competent authorities in the UAE.

In addition to the Blue Residency visa, the UAE also offers two other long-term visas. The Green visa is a 5-year residency visa for skilled professionals, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. The Golden visa is a 10-year residency visa for a variety of applicants, including investors, entrepreneurs, doctors, and high-achieving students.

Deloitte’s view

We view the introduction of the Blue Residency visa as a positive step towards promoting sustainability and environmental protection. 

The Blue Residency visa could potentially attract a new wave of environmental leaders and innovators to the UAE, fostering a culture of sustainability and driving economic and social development. For our clients, this could mean increased opportunities for collaboration and innovation in the environmental sector, as well as potential access to a wider pool of talent with specialized skills in sustainability and environmental protection.

We encourage our clients to explore the potential benefits and opportunities that these new residency programs may offer. We will monitor and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Our immigration experts listed below would be happy to discuss the above matters in more detail or support you through a further discussion on your immigration requirements.