Applying for the UAE's 10-year Blue Residency Visa for environmental specialists: Eligibility criteria, steps to follow, and necessary prerequisites

UAE Introduces 10-Year Blue Residency Visa for Environmental Champions

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a new 10-year Blue Residency visa for individuals who have made significant contributions to environmental protection and sustainability. This visa is aimed at attracting experts in sustainability and climate change, allowing them to support the UAE's environmental, economic, and social development.

To be eligible for the Blue Residency visa, applicants must fall into one of the following categories: distinguished members of international organisations focused on the environment, energy, sustainability, and climate change; notable members of regional, national, and international associations and institutions related to environmental work; financial supporters of environmental initiatives; recipients of global, regional, or national awards in environmental sustainability and climate change; holders of master's or doctoral degrees in environmental science, energy, sustainability, or climate change; researchers specialising in environmental, energy, sustainability, and climate change fields; and environmental activists and advocates.

Before applying for the Blue Residency visa, a nomination request or nomination by a competent authority in the UAE is required. The competent authorities responsible for nominating applicants are the Dubai Land Department and the relevant free zone authorities.

Applicants must upload the required documents and complete the payment for the visa service fee through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) via its official online visa services platform - smartservices.icp.gov.ae. The fee for requesting a nomination is Dh350, and the cost for a six-month multiple-entry visa for applicants outside the UAE is Dh1,250.

Mandatory requirements for the Blue Residency visa application include a valid passport with at least six months of validity and a recent passport-sized photograph with a white background. The application form requires full name, contact details, category, nomination request number, identification details, personal details such as nationality, occupation, date of birth, passport information, faith, marital status, and residential address. All applicants must also submit supporting documents that demonstrate their contributions and achievements in sustainability, climate change, and environmental protection.

If the applicant is already a UAE resident, they must update their visa status accordingly. Once the nomination request is approved by the ICP, the visa application can be proceeded with. The Blue Visa is a 10-year residency visa introduced by the UAE government to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to environmental protection and sustainability, both within the country and globally.

Applications for the Blue Residency visa can be submitted through the ICP's online visa services platform: https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/. For more information, visit the ICP's website or contact the relevant authorities.

Applying for the UAE's 10-year Blue Residency Visa for environmental specialists: Eligibility criteria, steps to follow, and necessary prerequisites