Key takeaways
- The Blue Residency is a 10-year, renewable residence, launched in 2024, with no sponsor needed in the UAE.
- ICP lists five categories: influencers, scientists and researchers, investors and entrepreneurs, inventors and innovators, and elite specialists.
- ICP lists self-application as well as nomination; scientists need the UAE Scientists Council and specialists need an employer nomination.
- Holders can sponsor a spouse, children of any age and parents for 10 years, plus domestic workers.
- The federal fee schedule lists AED 1,100 for the 10-year permit and AED 1,100 for the 6-month multiple-entry visa.
What the Blue visa is and what it gives you
ICP describes Blue Residency as a long-term residence launched in 2024 for people who make exceptional contributions to environmental protection and sustainability, inside or outside the UAE. ICP's director general wrote on the UAE government portal that ICP launched it with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. It's valid for 10 years, renewable, and you don't need a sponsor in the UAE.
- Family. 10-year renewable residence for your spouse, children regardless of age, and parents.
- Domestic workers. You can sponsor domestic workers.
- Entry visa. A 6-month multiple-entry visa, renewable for a similar period, to complete the residence procedures.
- Family protection. If the main holder dies, dependent family members can stay for the rest of the residence.
- Golden holders. Golden Residency holders who meet the criteria can apply to convert to Blue Residency.
- Grace period. ICP gives Golden, Green and Blue holders and their families 180 days after expiry or cancellation. After that, a fine of AED 50 a day applies.
To keep it, ICP says you must be able to support yourself financially, hold valid health insurance for you and your family, and keep meeting your category's requirements.
Who qualifies for the Blue Residency
| Category | Key requirements | Backing needed |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental and sustainability influencers | Evidence such as active membership in environmental initiatives or in organisations accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or UAE authorities, recommendation letters, awards from accredited bodies, financial support of at least AED 1 million for accredited projects, and reports on how the funds were used | Accreditation proof from relevant entities |
| Scientists and researchers | Master's or PhD in an environmental field (PhD from a top-500 or master's from a top-250 university, or top-100 in the subject); FWCI of 1.0 or more, or an h-index of 10 or more | Approval or nomination from the UAE Scientists Council |
| Investors and entrepreneurs | Investment in high-value environmental projects; fully owned capital of at least AED 2 million; project registered as an SME; annual revenue of at least AED 1 million | Approval from the relevant authorities |
| Inventors and innovators | A patent in clean energy, environment, climate change or sustainability, with proof of its added value | Recommendation or approval from the relevant authorities |
| Elite specialists at government and private environmental institutions | A leadership or specialised role; at least a bachelor's degree | Nomination, including an official letter from the employer |
The UAE government portal describes the groups more broadly: members of international organisations, international companies, associations and NGOs, global award winners, and distinguished activists and researchers in environmental work. ICP's five categories hold the detailed criteria, so check your evidence against them.
Nomination or self-application, and where things stand
ICP lists two routes. With self-application, you submit online, attach documents and pay the fees. With nomination, a relevant authority submits the application, then the form and fees are completed. ICP reviews both. The UAE government portal says nominations come from competent authorities in the UAE.
Some categories need an authority's backing on either route: the UAE Scientists Council for scientists, the employer for elite specialists, and the relevant authorities for investors and inventors.
On timing, ICP says the residence launched in 2024, and the UAE government portal links its Blue visa page to the February 2025 announcement of the first phase. In April 2025, ICP's director general wrote that the first phase is granted by nomination on the recommendation of competent authorities, with self-nomination to follow later. ICP's current service pages list both routes but don't give a date for when self-application opened, so check the live service on ICP's platform before you prepare.
How to apply, documents and fees
- 1. Match your category. Compare your evidence with ICP's requirements in the table above.
- 2. Get the backing letter. Scientists need a letter from the UAE Scientists Council, specialists an employer nomination, and investors and inventors approval or a recommendation from the relevant authorities.
- 3. Prepare the documents. Every applicant needs a passport valid for at least 6 months, a recent photo, valid health insurance covering the stay and medical fitness. Add your category's documents, such as degree certificates and Scopus reports, company documents and audited financial statements, or a patent certificate.
- 4. Apply online. Submit through ICP's smart services platform. ICP's director general says the service runs around the clock on ICP's website and smart app.
- 5. Enter if you're abroad. ICP offers a 6-month multiple-entry visa to complete the residence procedures.
- 6. Review. ICP reviews and evaluates the application and makes the decision.
| Fee item | Application fee | Issue fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Residency permit, new or renewal, 10 years | AED 100 | AED 1,000 | AED 1,100 |
| Blue Residency multiple-entry visa, 6 months | AED 100 | AED 1,000 | AED 1,100 |
| Extending that visa for 6 months | AED 100 | AED 1,000 | AED 1,100 |
ICP's own Blue Residency pages list fee payment as a step without an amount, so treat these as the government fees at the time of writing and go by the total ICP shows before you pay. Medical fitness and health insurance are separate requirements with their own costs. The same schedule also lists Emirates ID at AED 100 per person for each year (item 64) and a smart-services fee of AED 100 per transaction (item 77), so the total ICP shows may be higher. ICP doesn't publish a processing time for Blue Residency.
Blue visa vs Golden visa vs Green visa
| Feature | Blue visa | Golden visa | Green visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 10 years, renewable | 5 or 10 years, renewable | 5 years, renewable |
| Who it's for | Exceptional contributors to the environment and sustainability, in five categories | Investors, entrepreneurs, exceptional talents, outstanding students, humanitarian pioneers and frontline heroes | Skilled workers, freelancers and self-employed people, investors and partners |
| Sponsor needed | No sponsor in the UAE | No | No |
| Family | Spouse, children regardless of age, parents | Spouse and children | Spouse, children and first-degree relatives |
| Grace period after expiry or cancellation | 180 days | 180 days | 180 days |
The Blue visa is the only one of the three built around environmental work. If your profile fits an investor or talent route instead, see our golden visa service and the green visa guide, or compare every route in types of UAE visa.
We help you match your evidence to an ICP category, prepare and organise the documents, submit the application on ICP's platform and follow it up. ICP and the nominating authorities make the decisions, so no one can promise an outcome. See our pro services to get started.
Sources
- ICP: Blue Residency (service page)
- ICP: What is Blue Residence?
- UAE government portal: The Blue visa
- UAE government portal: Blue Residency, a new service supporting sustainability (ICP director general)
- UAE Legislation: ICP fee schedule, Cabinet Resolution No. 88 of 2022
- ICP: renewal of residency permits (grace periods)
- UAE government portal: Golden visa
Official sources checked on 10 November 2026. This guide explains published rules in plain English and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we check the current position for your case before you act.