By Adil Ahmad, Business Setup Consultant at Gulf Corporate Services
Summary
An establishment card in the UAE, also called an immigration card, registers your company with the immigration authority so it can sponsor visas. In Dubai, GDRFA issues it in about 48 hours for a base fee of AED 200 plus charges. Free zones such as DMCC issue their own. Late renewal can cost AED 100 a month. This guide covers fees, renewal, documents, and status checks.
Establishment Card UAE at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Also called | Immigration card, immigration establishment card, company card |
| Issued by | GDRFA in Dubai, ICP in other emirates, or your free zone |
| Purpose | Lets your company sponsor employee and investor visas |
| Dubai base fee | AED 200 plus VAT, AED 20 in levies, and service fees |
| Processing time | About 48 hours in Dubai |
| Validity | Usually 1 year, often aligned with the trade licence |
| Late renewal fine | AED 100 per month, up to AED 1,000 (ICP) |
What Is an Establishment Card in UAE?
The establishment card is your company’s immigration file. Once your trade licence is issued, the immigration authority opens a file for the company and gives it an establishment number. That number is what you use to:
- Apply for entry permits and residence visas
- Renew or cancel employee visas
- Sponsor the owner or investor visa
- Update signatories and company data with immigration
Without a valid card, you cannot sponsor anyone. In simple terms, the trade licence lets you do business, while the establishment card lets you hire foreign staff. In Arabic it is called “bitaqat al munsha’a” (establishment card), and you will see that name on government portals.
Who Needs a Company Establishment Card?
You need one if your company plans to sponsor at least one visa, including your own investor visa. That covers:
- Mainland companies licensed by DET or other emirate economic departments
- Free zone companies with visa allocation
- Branches of foreign and local companies
A no-visa licence, such as a basic freelance or e-commerce package without visas, usually does not need one.
Immigration Establishment Card vs MOHRE Labour Establishment Card
People mix these up all the time, so here is the difference.
| Card | Authority | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration establishment card | GDRFA, ICP, or free zone | Visa sponsorship and residency |
| MOHRE establishment (labour file) | Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation | Work permits and labour contracts for mainland staff |
Mainland companies need both files. Free zone companies usually deal only with their free zone and immigration, not MOHRE. You can look up your labour file through MOHRE inquiry services and read about work permits in the UAE.
Establishment Card Services in Dubai: GDRFA and Amer
In Dubai, establishment card services are handled by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). You can apply:
- Online through the GDRFA website or smart app, using UAE Pass
- At an Amer service centre, which adds about AED 100
- Through a PRO or typing centre on your behalf
Available services include new issuance, renewal, amendment of signatories or company details, and cancellation. Our PRO services team handles these daily for clients.
Establishment Card Fees in Dubai and UAE
Official GDRFA fees for a new card or renewal:
| Fee item | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Issuance or renewal fee | 200 + 5% VAT |
| Knowledge Dirham | 10 |
| Innovation Dirham | 10 |
| Service fee | 50 |
| Urgent processing (optional) | 100 |
| Amer centre submission (optional) | 100 |
| Typical online total | about 280 to 290 |
Other emirates use ICP fees, which are similar, plus typing centre charges. Free zones set their own prices, which can be higher because they include their service fees. Check the latest figures on the GDRFA renewal service page.
Establishment Card in Free Zones: DMCC, JAFZA, IFZA and More
Free zone companies apply through their free zone portal, not directly with GDRFA. Indicative all-in costs reported by setup firms:
- DMCC: around AED 650 to 1,500
- IFZA: around AED 650 to 1,200
- RAKEZ and SHAMS: around AED 650 to 1,000
- JAFZA: around AED 1,000 to 2,500
A DMCC establishment card is issued through the DMCC member portal after licence approval, and the visa quota depends on your office or flexi desk. Learn more about the DMCC free zone.
Establishment Card in Abu Dhabi and Other Emirates
In Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain, mainland companies apply through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). See our ICP smart services guide for how to log in and apply.
How to Get an Establishment Card in Dubai: Step-by-Step
- Get your trade licence from DET or your free zone.
- Log in to the GDRFA portal or app with UAE Pass, or visit an Amer centre.
- Select “New Establishment Card” for your company category.
- Upload the required documents.
- Pay the fees online.
- Receive the e-card, usually within 48 hours.
Once the card is active, you can apply for mainland UAE visas for yourself and your staff.
Documents Required for an Establishment Card
- Copy of the valid trade licence
- Memorandum of association or partners’ names appendix
- Passport copies of authorised signatories
- Emirates ID of the signatory, if a resident
- Notarised power of attorney if a manager signs instead of the owner
- Establishment contact details and Ejari, where required
Establishment Card Renewal in Dubai
The card must be renewed before it expires, usually every year. Start 30 days early.
- Renew your trade licence first if it has expired.
- Apply for renewal on the GDRFA portal or at Amer.
- Upload the renewed licence and signatory passports.
- Pay the AED 200 renewal fee plus charges.
- Download the renewed card within about 48 hours.
Renew it at the same time as your trade licence check so the two dates stay aligned.
Amending Your Establishment Card
You must update the card whenever key company details change, including:
- A new manager or authorised signatory
- A change of shareholders or partners
- A new trade name or company address
- A licence upgrade, such as adding activities
Submit the amendment through GDRFA, ICP, or your free zone with the updated licence and MOA. Do it promptly, because ICP fines AED 1,000 for unreported data changes.
Establishment Card Fines and What Happens If It Expires
According to Gulf Today, ICP charges:
- AED 100 for each month of late renewal after 30 days from expiry, up to AED 1,000
- AED 1,000 for changing company data without informing ICP
GDRFA has also warned of a AED 100 monthly fine in Dubai. More importantly, an expired card freezes your immigration file. You cannot issue new visas, renew existing ones, or cancel a UAE residence visa until you renew and clear all fines.
Establishment Card for Investor and Golden Visas
Your own investor or partner visa is sponsored through the company’s establishment card, so the card must be active before you apply. Employees applying for a golden visa are often asked for their employer’s establishment number and a salary certificate. See our guide to the golden visa salary requirements and the full residence visa cost in the UAE.
Establishment Card Cancellation
When you close or liquidate a company, the order matters:
- Cancel all employee and investor visas.
- Close the MOHRE labour file for mainland companies.
- Cancel the establishment card with GDRFA, ICP, or your free zone.
- Cancel the trade licence.
Authorities will not cancel a licence while an active establishment card or visa remains on file.
Establishment Card Number: Where to Find It
Your establishment card number, sometimes called the immigration file number, appears:
- On the front of the establishment card
- In the GDRFA or ICP portal under your company profile
- On employees’ entry permits and visa documents
It is different from your trade licence number and your company registration number. Golden visa forms that ask for an “establishment number” usually mean your employer’s immigration establishment number.
How to Check Establishment Card Status
- Dubai: log in to the GDRFA portal or app and open establishment services
- Other emirates: use ICP smart services
- Free zones: check your free zone client portal
- Through a PRO: ask for a printout of the card and file status
Establishment Card vs Trade License
| Point | Trade licence | Establishment card |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | DET or free zone | GDRFA, ICP, or free zone |
| Purpose | Permission to do business | Permission to sponsor visas |
| Needed for | All companies | Companies sponsoring visas |
| Renewal | Annual or multi-year | Usually annual |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Letting the card expire while the trade licence is renewed
- Forgetting to update signatories after a share transfer
- Confusing the MOHRE labour file with the immigration card
- Paying for urgent service when standard 48-hour processing is enough
Expert tip from Adil Ahmad: Put your trade licence, establishment card, and every employee visa expiry date into one calendar. In my experience, most immigration fines come from a single missed renewal date.
FAQs on Establishment Card in UAE
What is an establishment card in UAE?
It is your company’s immigration file and card, which allows it to sponsor visas.
How much does an establishment card cost in Dubai?
The GDRFA fee is AED 200 plus VAT and charges, around AED 280 to 290 online.
How long does it take to get an establishment card?
About 48 hours in Dubai once documents are complete.
What is the validity of an establishment card?
Usually one year, often matching the trade licence term.
What is the fine for an expired establishment card?
AED 100 per month, up to AED 1,000 under ICP rules.
Is the immigration card the same as the establishment card?
Yes. Both names refer to the same document.
Do free zone companies need an establishment card?
Yes, if they sponsor visas. The free zone issues it.
Can I sponsor visas without an establishment card?
No. Every entry permit and residence visa is issued against the company’s establishment card.
Where do I find my establishment card number?
On the card itself, in the GDRFA or ICP portal, and on staff entry permits.
Get Establishment Card Services in Dubai
Our team handles establishment card issuance, renewal, and amendments as part of complete business setup in Dubai. Expanding to the Gulf? We also manage company immigration files through Qiwa in Saudi Arabia as part of business setup in Saudi Arabia. Speak with our business setup consultants today.
