Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

Subscribe via RSS ↗ · 5 entries shown

Country All countriesAQAntarcticaAUAustraliaBRBrazilCACanadaCNChina (Mainland)EGEgyptFRFranceDEGermanyHKHong KongIEIrelandITItalyJPJapanMXMexicoMAMoroccoNLNetherlandsNZNew ZealandPTPortugalSGSingaporeZASouth AfricaKRSouth KoreaESSpainAEUnited Arab EmiratesGBUnited KingdomUSUnited States
Category All categoriesVisa & immigrationResidencyCitizenshipTaxationLabourHousingHealthcareOther
In force 1 Sept 2024
In force Residency

Two-month visa amnesty launched September 2024

The federal government launched a two-month visa amnesty (September–October 2024, later extended to end-December 2024) allowing visa-overstayers to either regularise their status or leave the UAE without penalty. The largest such amnesty since 2018; widely-used by long-term overstayers.

Who it affects: Non-UAE residents with overstays seeking to regularise or exit without penalty.

ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security ↗ · Emirates News Agency (WAM) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Sept 2024
In force Residency

Family-visa sponsor income thresholds clarified federally

ICP issued clarifying guidance in mid-2024 on family-visa sponsor income thresholds across emirates: AED 4,000+/month for spouse/children with employer-provided accommodation (or AED 4,000 plus accommodation evidence if not), and AED 20,000+/month to sponsor parents. Reduces the historic emirate-by-emirate variation in interpretation.

Who it affects: UAE residents sponsoring family members.

ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security ↗ · GDRFA — General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (Dubai) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Sept 2024
In force Residency

Blue Residency launched for environmental contributors

Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security launched the "Blue Residency" — a 10-year residency for individuals making exceptional contributions to environmental protection, sustainability, conservation, or related fields. Eligibility via direct nomination by entities or self-application with supporting evidence. Distinct from the Golden Visa's broader categories.

Who it affects: Environmental scientists, conservationists, and recognised environmental contributors.

ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security ↗ · Emirates News Agency (WAM) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 3 Oct 2022
In force Residency

Green Visa launched for skilled workers and freelancers

The Green Visa — 5-year self-sponsored residency for skilled workers and freelancers — was launched October 2022 under the broader 2022 visa reform. Materially reduces the historic dependency on employer sponsorship. Eligibility refined through 2024 to include broader freelance categories and clearer income-evidence pathways.

Who it affects: Skilled workers and freelancers without UAE employer sponsorship.

UAE Government Portal ↗ · ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 3 Oct 2022
In force Residency

Golden Visa eligibility substantially expanded

Federal Decree-Law 21 of 2021 (in force October 2022) substantially expanded the Golden Visa scheme: lower thresholds for property-investor track (AED 2M from AED 5M), broader executive track (AED 30k+ monthly salary), expanded specialised-talent categories (PhD holders, top scientists, healthcare professionals), and inclusion of exceptional students and humanitarian workers. Continued operational refinements through 2023–2025.

Who it affects: Investors, executives, top-talent professionals, students, and humanitarian workers.

UAE Government Portal ↗ · ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security ↗ · verified 2026-04-19