United Arab Emirates vs Republic of Cuba
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
United Arab Emirates
The UAE issues residence via employer-sponsored work permits, Golden Visa long-term residence for skilled professionals and investors, the Green Visa for self-sponsored skilled workers, and a remote-work visa for overseas employees.
- Languages
- Arabic
- Currency
- UAE dirham
Republic of Cuba
Cuba publishes a current eVisa-Cuba portal through the Cuban Foreign Ministry for tourist eVisa applications, activation and verification, plus DViajeros for traveller declarations and Cuban diplomatic mission pages for consular family, journalist, business, special-purpose and permanent-residence services. The current Visa Atlas packet is conservative: it covers the official tourist eVisa, DViajeros entry declaration, A-2 family visa, D-6 journalist visa, business visa, other consular visas and permanent-residence application, while avoiding unsourced employment or temporary-residence claims.
- Official portal
- Cuban Foreign Ministry (MINREX)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Cuban peso
How United Arab Emirates and Republic of Cuba differ
| Dimension | United Arab Emirates | Republic of Cuba |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 6 | 7 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 5 | 7 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 1 | 1 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | Arrival → Golden Visa (direct for qualifying income/qualifications) → 10-year residence. Citizenship only via separate Presidential decree. | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | UAE Green Visa | Permanent Residence Application |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | Green Visa self-sponsored residence typically 5–15 days end-to-end where documentation is complete. | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | Arabic | Spanish |
| Currency | UAE dirham | Cuban peso |
| Primary regulator | MOJ | MINREX |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
United Arab Emirates
UAE Green Visa
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- Green Visa self-sponsored residence typically 5–15 days end-to-end where documentation is complete.
- Sponsor required
- No
- Leads to settlement
- No
Republic of Cuba
Permanent Residence Application
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- No
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Routes unique to United Arab Emirates
Visa routes side by side
United Arab Emirates (6)
UAE Golden Visa
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · 10 years, renewable.
UAE Green Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 5 years, renewable.
UAE Employment (Standard Residence) visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · 2 or 3 years, tied to employer.
UAE Virtual Working Programme
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 1 year, renewable.
UAE Investor / Partner residence visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 2 or 3 years, renewable.
UAE freelance permit with residence
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 2–5 years depending on scheme.
Republic of Cuba (7)
Tourist eVisa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Single entry; 90-day stay, extendable for 90 days according to the official eVisa-Cuba portal.
DViajeros Entry Declaration
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry declaration for a specific trip; it does not grant immigration status by itself.
Family Visa A-2
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Confirm validity and permitted stay with the Cuban consulate that issues the A-2 visa.
Journalist Visa D-6
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Confirm validity and stay terms with the Cuban Embassy press office and issuing consulate.
Business Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Confirm validity and permitted stay with the commercial office and issuing consulate.
Other Consular Visas
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Depends on the visa purpose and consular authorisation; confirm with the relevant Cuban consulate.
Permanent Residence Application
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent-residence application; timing and status terms must be confirmed with the Cuban consulate and migration authorities.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, United Arab Emirates or Republic of Cuba?+
United Arab Emirates’s UAE Green Visa is the dominant skilled route; Republic of Cuba’s Permanent Residence Application is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does United Arab Emirates or Republic of Cuba have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Republic of Cuba has more: 7 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 5 for United Arab Emirates. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.