UAE Introduces New 10-year Blue Residency Visa: Eligibility and Application Process

 

The UAE has introduced a new initiative aimed at granting long-term residency to advocates for environmental causes, dubbed the 'Blue Residency.'

This special 10-year visa is designated for individuals who have demonstrated remarkable dedication and contributions toward environmental protection, encompassing sustainability endeavors both within and beyond the UAE.

The Blue Residency will be bestowed upon champions of environmental activism, including members of international corporations, associations, and non-governmental organisations, as well as recipients of global accolades and esteemed activists and researchers in the field of environmental conservation.

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Eligible candidates are encouraged to submit their applications through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security, while competent authorities also have the option to nominate candidates for this extended residency program.

Highlighting the intertwining of economic and environmental sustainability, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, emphasised during a recent Cabinet meeting the significance of this initiative in fostering sustainable practices.

The initiative is part of a broader set of actions launched to commemorate 2024 as the year of sustainability, following the momentum generated by last year's focus on green themes, which rallied residents to embrace sustainable lifestyles.

Traditionally, the UAE issues residency visas with a two-year validity period. In 2019, the country introduced the Golden Visa programme, offering 10-year residencies to investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, outstanding students and humanitarian leaders.

Building on this, the UAE subsequently unveiled the Green Visa programme in 2022, providing five-year residencies to skilled professionals, freelancers, investors, and entrepreneurs, further enriching its visa offerings.