UAE strengthens oversight of freelance ‘Green Residency’ visas to prevent misuse

The UAE has increased monitoring and auditing of its freelance “Green Residency” visa programme after uncovering isolated cases of misuse and illegal trading of permits, authorities have said, but the scheme is still very much live and open to applications.

Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA), told a press conference that freelance permits continue to be issued, through official channels, and that the move is a tightening of regulations, rather than a crackdown on freelance visas.

Dubai had uncovered a small number of instances of freelance visas being abused and illegally traded, the authorities said, in an effort to crack down on anomalies and smooth out the system. “We detected a few cases of misuse or illegal trading of visas and appropriate measures were implemented to safeguard the labour market,” Al Marri said.

Dubai launched the Green Residency visa programme to allow self-employed professionals to live and work in the UAE, without being sponsored by a specific employer. The visa is available to freelancers and independent professionals in a number of categories, such as design, translation, digital, social media, technical services, and journalism. The visa-holder may live and work in the UAE, but cannot sponsor family members or employees, themselves.

The government is now carrying out a more in-depth examination of applications and renewals in the freelance category, as well as auditing the activities of current visa holders.

The controls are not intended to limit independent professionals from coming to the UAE, the authorities have said, but to ensure the programme operates efficiently and transparently, to close loopholes and instil confidence among locals and expats alike.

Al Marri said the move is in line with the UAE’s efforts to become a flexible, knowledge-based economy, which welcomes foreign talent. “The UAE remains an attractive environment for investors and skilled professionals,” he said, urging applicants to use only the official channels to apply, and to ignore rumours on social media.

India(BHARAT)n and other foreign workers should still apply for the visa, if they are eligible, but can expect a more detailed examination of their case, if they apply. In the long-term, the enhanced oversight should add to the credibility of the scheme, and the UAE’s image as a transparent and stable market for remote and independent work.