Key takeaways
- An immigration card for a free zone company is the company's electronic record with the immigration authority; the federal authority, ICP, calls it an establishment card and lists a processing time of 2 days (ICP, checked October 2026).
- A free zone company can't apply for the card on its own: ICP says the request must be submitted through the respective free zone authority, and the company needs a valid trade licence and an authorised signatory with an Emirates ID or Unified Number.
- Government fees listed by ICP for a private sector or free zone company are an application fee of AED 100, an annual issuance fee of AED 100, a smart service fee of AED 100 and a system subscription of AED 2,000 at issuance (ICP, checked October 2026), but each free zone also sets its own fee, such as AED 1,975 at Jafza (checked October 2026).
- A free zone company needs its immigration card before any entry permit or residence visa application, because Jafza states the card is needed before any immigration application can be made.
- The card is yearly: Jafza gives a validity of 1 year with annual renewal, and ICP charges AED 100 per month of delay, up to a maximum of AED 1,000, once a renewal is more than 30 days late.
What is an immigration card for a free zone company?
It's the document that registers your company with the immigration authority so it can sponsor visas. The official name is the establishment card: ICP describes it as an electronic card that shows the registered establishment data, such as trade name, licence number, partners and activity type.
"Immigration card" is a trade term, not a separate government product, and free zones use their own labels. Jafza, for example, calls its version the Computer Immigration Card (CIC) and describes it as a card for the company registered with Jafza that is needed before any immigration application. In Dubai, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA Dubai) publishes the same service as the "Establishment Card for Institutions in the Private Sector / Free Zone".
Does a free zone company need one?
Yes, if it will sponsor anyone, including its owner. A free zone company applies for visas through its own free zone authority, and the immigration card is the first step in that chain.
u.ae says free zone employees are generally governed by the relevant free zone authority's employment regulations, and that work permits and residence visas are applied for with that authority (updated 28 September 2026). It also says the number of visas depends on factors such as the package the business signed up for. Two exceptions: DIFC and ADGM run their own employment frameworks, so confirm the process with the authority that issued your licence.
A company with no visas planned may never open the file. Jafza's wording is that the card is needed before any immigration application is made, so the question is really whether you will make one.
How much does a free zone immigration card cost?
The cost has two layers: the federal fees and whatever your free zone adds on top. The table shows the figures published by the authorities, which don't always match each other.
| Item | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | AED 100 | ICP |
| Annual issuance or renewal fee | AED 100 | ICP |
| Smart service fee | AED 100 | ICP |
| Electronic system subscription (issuance) | AED 2,000 | ICP |
| Electronic system subscription (renewal) | AED 1,000 | ICP |
| Establishment card issuance (private sector or free zone) | AED 200 plus 5% VAT, with small add-on charges | GDRFA Dubai |
| Computer Immigration Card (new) | AED 1,975 | Jafza |
Accurate as of 17 October 2026. ICP's page was last updated on 11 December 2024 and doesn't label which fee list belongs to which applicant category, and GDRFA Dubai's page also mentions an annual issuance or renewal fee of AED 100, which conflicts with its AED 200 figure. Ask your free zone for an itemised quote that names the government fees separately.
How do you get the card?
You apply through your free zone authority, which then works with the immigration authority. The exact portal differs by zone, but the sequence is the same.
- Confirm your trade licence is valid, because ICP lists a valid licence as a condition for private sector and free zone companies.
- Name an authorised signatory with a valid Emirates ID, or a Unified Number if the person doesn't yet hold one.
- Open your free zone authority's service portal and submit the establishment card or immigration card request (at Jafza this is the Dubai Trade portal, under the Service Provider section).
- Upload the trade licence; for an LLC, include the copy that shows the partners, and add the signature authorisation letter and, for a partnership, the Memorandum of Association if the system can't retrieve them.
- Pay the government and free zone fees.
- Wait for approval: ICP lists 2 days, GDRFA Dubai lists 48 hours and Jafza lists 1 working day.
AED 1,000: the maximum ICP late fee for renewing an establishment card more than 30 days after expiry (AED 100 for each month of delay). Source: ICP, Renewal of Establishment Card, checked 17 October 2026.
When does the immigration card need renewing?
Every year. Jafza gives the card a validity of 1 year with yearly renewal, and GDRFA Dubai's page refers to an annual fee without stating a validity period, which fits a one-year term. ICP's renewal service asks for a valid trade licence, so the card and the licence have to move together.
ICP lists the following charges once things go wrong.
| Situation | ICP penalty |
|---|---|
| Renewing more than 30 days after expiry | AED 100 per month of delay, up to AED 1,000 |
| Changing establishment information without notifying ICP | AED 1,000 |
| Violating ICP instructions or decisions | AED 2,000 |
| Misusing smart services | AED 2,000 |
| Entry permits issued to an establishment not conducting any business | AED 20,000 |
Accurate as of 17 October 2026. Whether your free zone passes these on directly or handles a late card differently isn't published in one place, so check with your zone.
If you'd rather not track these dates by hand, the free UAE compliance calendar lists them for your company.
What most guides don't tell you
- The label changes by zone, but the card is the same. Jafza's CIC, a "company immigration card" quoted by a PRO and ICP's "establishment card" all point at the same step, so ask which authority issues it and ignore the name when comparing quotes.
- A low package price may not include the card. Government fees and zone fees are charged separately, and Jafza's published AED 1,975 for a new card is far above ICP's AED 100 application and annual fees. Ask whether the quote includes the card and its yearly renewal.
- A lapsed licence blocks the card. Both ICP and its renewal service require a valid trade licence, so a licence that expired quietly can stall the card and every visa behind it. Renew the licence first.
- An idle company can still be penalised. ICP lists AED 20,000 for entry permits issued to an establishment that isn't conducting any business; this is a reason to keep the licensed activity real before you request visas for a shell.
Which deadlines apply to your company?
An immigration card, a trade licence and each visa renew on separate dates, and a miss on one can hold up the rest. The free UAE compliance calendar is a free calendar of your company's UAE tax and compliance deadlines, personalised from a few questions, as a PDF and calendar file.
Frequently asked questions
What is an establishment card and why do I need it? An establishment card is the immigration authority's electronic record of your company, showing data such as trade name, licence number, partners and activity type. You need it because Jafza states it is required before any immigration application can be made.
How long does a UAE employment visa take to process? The card step alone takes 2 days at ICP, 48 hours at GDRFA Dubai and 1 working day at Jafza, but the entry permit, medical test and Emirates ID that follow have their own timings. Ask your free zone authority for its current timeline for each stage.
How much does a UAE employee visa cost in 2026? A free zone company pays its own authority's visa fees, which differ by zone and package, so there is no single national figure. Get an itemised quote that separates the establishment card, the entry permit, the medical test and the Emirates ID.
What is the medical test and Emirates ID process for new employees? Once the entry permit is issued and the employee arrives, the employee completes a medical fitness test and Emirates ID registration before the residence visa is finalised. The exact centres, fees and sequence are set through your free zone authority, so confirm them there before the employee travels.
About Qawi · Qawi is a corporate services firm licensed in the Sharjah Media City (SHAMS) free zone, handling company formation, visas and PRO, bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax for UAE businesses. Guides are researched from FTA, Ministry of Finance and free zone sources. Qawi on LinkedIn
Sources
- ICP: Issuing an Establishment Card
- ICP: Renewal of Establishment Card
- GDRFA Dubai: Establishment Card for Institutions in the Private Sector / Free Zone
- Jafza: New Computer Immigration Card (CIC)
- u.ae: Recruiting in free zones
Last checked: 17 October 2026
This is general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.