The establishment card in the UAE
Registering the company with the immigration service — a mandatory government payment for issuing residence visas through the company.
- People relocating
- Families
- Remote professionals
What the establishment card is and why a company needs it
The establishment card is the company's card at the immigration service. It links the company to the immigration system: without it no residence visa can be filed, the owner's included.
The card has a term and is renewed. An expired card stops all the company's visa work: no new visas can be arranged and existing ones can't be renewed.
The terms the expert works on
Guarantees the outcome by contract
Writes the outcome and the timeline for every service — including opening a bank account — into the contract, and answers for them.
Bills in stages
You do not pay the whole sum up front: invoices come in instalments as each stage closes.
Fixes the price in the contract
The cost is locked in and does not grow as the work goes on. Prices on the site are indicative — the final figure comes after your case is reviewed.
Charges no hidden fees
No penalties or surcharges beyond the contract. No Pactors markup either: you pay the expert their own price.
Works with lawyers of 8+ years in UAE law
The licence for your activity is matched, and the requirements worked through, by qualified lawyers.
Thinks a step ahead
Picks the zone and the licence so that a year from now you do not hit a limit and have to redo the whole thing.
Deals with authorities directly
Handles government bodies, free zones and UAE banks personally — no chain of subcontractors.
What a UAE company needs before it can hire
You can't hire someone in the UAE in one step — the company first has to become an employer. The order is strict and no link can be skipped: each one rests on the previous.
- Registration with the labour ministry — the company gets an electronic employer file
- The establishment card at the immigration service, without which visas can't be filed
- The visa quota — how many employees the company may sponsor
- The work permit and residence visa for a specific person
- Connection to the wage system — salaries are only paid through it
The order is the same for everyone, but the documents and timelines depend on whether the company is registered in a free zone or on the mainland.
What the service includes
| Choosing the grounds for your case | |
| Preparing and filing the documents | |
| Support through to the status being granted | |
| State and visa fees— billed separately | |
| Flights and accommodation— billed separately |
Documents and programme requirements
- 1A passport
- 2Proof of income or of the grounds
How the process runs
1–4 weeks- Step 1We check the licence and the company's details.
- Step 2We file the application with the immigration department.
- Step 3Receipt of the establishment card.
- Step 4Monitoring the expiry date and renewing on time.
Frequently asked questions
Can a visa be arranged without the establishment card?
What happens if the card expires?
How does the establishment card differ from labour ministry registration?
Is the card needed if there'll be no employees?
Which free zones do you arrange the card for?
Related breakdowns
UAE staff visas 2026: quotas and establishment card
You cannot hire in the UAE without an establishment card, a MoHRE file and a free visa quota. The order of steps, timelines and permits from AED 250.
Opening a company in Dubai in 2026: steps and prices
A licence in 5 minutes for AED 1,370, the Invest in Dubai single window and what the Unified Licence really is. The real steps and the ones needing a trip.
UAE taxes 2026: 9% corporate tax and relief until 2029
UAE corporate tax: 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it. Small business relief now runs to 2029. The 15% top-up only touches groups above €750m.
We'll check your case before you pay
Send an enquiry — we will check your case and help you arrange “The establishment card in the UAE” in UAE. No markup on top.
We'll cover: whether you qualify, the full cost with fees, realistic timelines, the document list. If it's not for you, we'll say so.