Visa quotas in the UAE — visa allocation
Visa allocation — a payment per visa where no office is leased.
- People relocating
- Families
- Remote professionals
What a company's visa quota is in the UAE
The quota is the number of residence visas the company may sponsor. It isn't unlimited and isn't granted on request: its size depends on the type of licence, the floor area of the premises and the activity.
People remember the quota at the worst moment — when the employee is hired and waiting for a visa. It has to be checked before hiring, not after.
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.
How to increase the visa quota
- Move to a licence package with more visas
- Increase the floor area of the leased premises
- File a justification with the relevant authority
Which route is open depends on the free zone: each has its own rules for calculating the quota.
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 current quota and how many visas have already been used.
- Step 2We work out the requirement against the hiring plan.
- Step 3We choose the way to increase it: the licence package, the floor area or a justification.
- Step 4Filing and receipt of the increased quota.
Frequently asked questions
What determines the size of the quota?
What happens when the quota is used up?
Is a place freed up when an employee leaves?
Does the owner's visa count against the quota?
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We'll check your case before you pay
Send an enquiry — we will check your case and help you arrange “Visa quotas in the UAE — visa allocation” 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.