In what is considered to be a groundbreaking shift towards cultivating a culture of sustainability, the UAE government has approved and greenlit a 10-year Blue Residence visa. Meant for individuals who have made positive impacts with their contributions towards the protection of the environment, this visa will allow eligible personnel to apply through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security.
In this space, we are going to dig deep into the mechanism of this visa, its eligibility, application process, and why it is so crucially connected to making positive changes in the environment.
Rewarding Commitment to Environmental Sustainability
At the conclusion of a pivotal cabinet meeting that took place on May 15, 2024, at Qasr Al Want in Abu Dhabi, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the decision on the Blue Residence visa. Explaining the importance of the visa, he stated, “The sustainability of our economy has become linked to the sustainability of our environment, and our national directions in this area are clear and consistent.”
This is believed to be a huge step towards reiterating the goal of the nation to protect its environment, improve its higher education systems, and adopt new-age international technologies to bring development and sustainability to society.
The decision aligns perfectly with the long-term goals of the country’s intent to promote environmental protection through sustainable and economical practices. 2024, being the year of sustainability, is a further boost to this advancement.
He further added on social media the alignment of the decision with 2024 by stating, “The year 2024 will be the year of sustainability. Today we approved the “Blue Residency” which is a long-term residency for a period of 10 years that will be granted to individuals with exceptional contributions and efforts in the field of protecting the environment, whether marine or land or the quality of the air environment, sustainability and its modern technologies, the circular economy, or other fields.”
Eligibility Criteria for Blue Visa
The Blue visa is a special residency permit that is offered to individuals who have made a positive impact on distinct environmental domains. This can include anything from land-based ecosystems, marine life, air quality, circular economy, and sustainability technologies, among others.
The recipients of the visa will also get a distinguished opportunity to collaborate on prestigious environmental projects and have access to resources and funding. Their effort in improving the quality of the environment will also be acknowledged in the process.
Application Process for Blue Visa
Eligible personnel can directly apply for this Blue visa through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security. Furthermore, relevant and concerned authorities can also nominate distinguished individuals who have made notable positive changes to the environment to take into consideration.
Golden & Green Visas
While the standard residency visa in the UAE remains valid for just two years, there have been a couple of initiatives taken by the government in recent years to introduce more flexible visa options. Granted to specific individuals, these visas are in line with the Blue visa in terms of their validity and approach.
Back in 2019, the government initiated the Golden visa which involves a 10-year residency program. It applies to entrepreneurs, investors, humanitarian leaders, scientists, and exceptional graduates and students. For real estate investors, recently, the minimum down payment of 1 million Dirham which was earlier needed for people to apply for a Golden visa was also cancelled, making it more accessible.
In 2022, another residency option was introduced by the UAE government known as the Green visa. It is aimed at entrepreneurs, investors, and freelancers and offers them a 5-year residency program.
To Conclude
The Blue visa has been hailed as a positive step towards the creation of a sustainable nation. It is believed that it will further encourage more interested individuals to research and make an exceptional impact on improving the health of the environment and strive for a greener and sustainable nation, and in turn, the Earth.