NEW VISA SCHEMES

■ Green Visa, which distinguishes between work permits and residencies, enables highly skilled individuals, investors, entrepreneurs and top students and graduates to sponsor themselves.

Green Visa involves: ■

■ Sponsorship of young people until the age of 25 instead of 18.

■ Extending the grace period for leaving the country upon job loss or retirement to 90-180 days instead of 30.

■ Sponsorship of parents.

Freelancers Visa

■ Freelance Visa is the first federal scheme of its kind, and enables self-employers to sponsor themselves.

Other specific regulatory ■ changes include:

■ Extension of business trip permits from 3 months to 6 months.

■ Sponsorship of parents under the visa of direct family members.

■ One-year residency extension for humanitarian cases.

■ Extension of children’s age limit on parents’ residency from 18 to 25 years.

■ Extension of grace period upon job loss or retirement to 90-180 days.