Transferring a Visa Between Two UAE Companies: Steps, Cost and Common Delays

Government fees for transferring a visa between UAE companies range from AED 3,500 to AED 5,500, and that figure covers only the immigration side of the move. The full process touches at least four government authorities, runs three to five weeks under normal conditions, and carries a hard 30-day grace period after cancellation during which overstay fines of AED 100 per day begin accruing if the new entry permit is delayed. Most founders who run into trouble aren't unprepared, they're just unaware of how tightly sequenced the steps need to be.

This transferring visa UAE guide covers the complete picture: what the process actually involves legally, the exact sequence of steps, a full cost breakdown separating one-off from recurring fees, and the specific delays that catch founders off guard. If you're also setting up the new entity as part of this move, the guide includes the license package details you'll need before triggering any cancellation.

What Transferring a Visa Between Two UAE Companies Actually Means

Transferring a visa between UAE companies means cancelling your existing residency visa under one sponsor and reissuing it under a new one. It's not a simple name change, the process requires a formal visa cancellation, a new entry permit, a status change, medical screening, biometrics, and Emirates ID reissuance, in that order. Each stage involves a different authority: GDRFA handles cancellation and entry permits, ICP manages the Emirates ID and status change, and the DHA-approved medical network runs the fitness test independently.

Sponsor Change vs. Visa Transfer: What the Difference Costs You

There's no "transfer" button in UAE immigration law. What happens operationally is that the old visa is cancelled and a completely new visa is issued under the incoming sponsor. The word "transfer" is shorthand for that two-stage sequence, not a distinct legal procedure.

The distinction matters financially because cancellation triggers a 30-day grace period tracked by GDRFA. If your new entry permit isn't issued before that window closes, overstay fines of AED 100 per day start from day 31. Free zone and mainland transfers follow the same cancellation-and-reissuance logic but involve different approving authorities.

Take a practical example: a founder moving from a mainland LLC to a free zone company must cancel the MOHRE-linked visa before the free zone authority can issue the new entry permit. The MOHRE labour card cancellation and the free zone entry permit application need to be coordinated closely, ideally on the same day, to minimise the gap.

Who Needs a Visa Transfer vs. Who Needs a New Visa

The route you follow depends on your current residency status:

• Visa transfer (cancellation + reissuance): You currently hold an active UAE residency visa and are moving to a new sponsoring company. The new entity must have a visa allocation on its license before you cancel the old one.

• New visa application: You've never held a UAE residency visa, or your previous visa expired more than 30 days ago. You follow the standard new-applicant route rather than a transfer sequence.

A founder whose investor visa is tied to Company A and wants to pivot to run Company B needs a transfer, not a new application, provided Company B already holds a visa allocation. Confirming that allocation before doing anything else is the single most important step in the entire process. You can explore UAE residency visa services if you need support identifying the right route for your situation.

Transferring Visa UAE Cost: One-Off Fees, Recurring Fees and What Is Not Included

The transferring visa UAE cost for government fees alone ranges from AED 3,500 to AED 5,500 for a standard investor or partner visa transfer. This covers the entry permit, status change, medical screening, Emirates ID and visa stamping. Professional service fees, typing charges and courier costs sit outside this range and vary by provider.

One-Off Government Fees You Pay Once During the Transfer

Each stage of the transfer carries its own fee, paid to a different authority. The table below shows the approximate breakdown (all figures are indicative, confirm current rates with your PRO or directly via ICP before submitting):

One-Off Government Fee Breakdown (Investor/Partner Visa Transfer)

One practical tip: paying the Emirates ID fee directly through the ICP smart portal rather than through a typing centre avoids the typing centre surcharge, a small saving but worth knowing if you're managing costs tightly.

Recurring Fees and What the Transfer Price Does Not Cover

The one-off fees above get you a stamped visa and a new Emirates ID. But several costs sit entirely outside the transfer fee, and founders regularly underestimate them:

• Emirates ID and visa renewal: Recurs every two to three years at comparable rates to the original issuance.

• Mandatory health insurance: Required for all UAE residents under Dubai Health Authority rules, not bundled into any immigration fee. Cost varies by provider and cover level.

• PRO or typing centre service fees: AED 300–800 per stage, charged by the service provider, not the government.

• New company license fee: Separate from visa processing entirely.

• Outstanding fines on the old file: Any unpaid immigration or MOHRE fines on the old company or old visa must be settled at GDRFA before cancellation proceeds.

That last point catches founders off guard more than any other. One client discovered their previous company had an unpaid immigration fine of AED 500, it only surfaced when the cancellation was submitted, adding several days to the timeline while it was cleared. Check the old company's file proactively. Business support and PRO services can run this check before you initiate anything.

Worth flagging for free zone transfers specifically: the free zone authority may also charge an establishment card update fee on top of GDRFA government fees. Confirm this with your specific free zone before finalising your budget.

Step-by-Step Guide to Transferring a Visa Between Two UAE Companies

Transferring a visa between UAE companies follows six steps: confirm the new company's visa allocation, obtain a no-objection letter from the old sponsor, cancel the existing visa, apply for a new entry permit under the new sponsor, complete medical and biometrics, then collect the stamped visa and updated Emirates ID.

Step 1: Confirm Visa Allocation and Prepare Documents

1. Verify the new company's trade license includes a visa allocation. At Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone, the maximum is two visa allocations per entity.

2. Confirm the establishment card is active. An expired card blocks the entry permit application at the free zone level before it even reaches GDRFA.

3. Ensure the new entity is fully registered before initiating any cancellation. Never cancel the old visa without a confirmed receiving sponsor in place.

Document checklist before you start:

• Current passport (minimum six months validity from application date)

• Existing Emirates ID

• Current visa copy

• New company trade license copy

• Active establishment card

A founder who cancels their old visa before confirming the new free zone license is issued ends up in the 30-day grace window with no active sponsor. It's recoverable, but stressful and avoidable.

Step 2: Cancel the Old Visa and Obtain the New Entry Permit

The old sponsor (or their PRO) submits the visa cancellation to GDRFA. The 30-day grace period begins on the cancellation date, not the submission date, so coordinate the new entry permit application to run simultaneously.

If the old sponsor is uncooperative, GDRFA does have a contested cancellation route, but it typically adds two to four weeks and may require a formal legal notice. Two founders dissolving a joint venture face this scenario often: the departing founder needs the remaining partner to sign the no-objection letter before GDRFA will process the cancellation. Sort this before triggering anything.

Entry permit processing for standard applications takes UNVERIFIED: <three to five working days>. Confirm before publishing. The new sponsor, whether a free zone authority or a mainland entity via MOHRE, submits this application through their respective channel.

Step 3: Status Change, Medical, Biometrics and Stamping

1. Status change: Once inside the UAE on the new entry permit, apply through ICP to convert the entry permit into a residency visa.

2. Medical fitness test: Complete at a DHA-approved centre. Results return within one to two working days for standard cases.

3. Biometrics: Fingerprints and photo are enrolled at an ICP-approved typing centre or smart service centre.

4. Visa stamping and Emirates ID collection: Final step, the passport is stamped and the Emirates ID is issued.

Total elapsed time from cancellation to stamped visa: three to five weeks under normal conditions. One avoidable delay: a founder who travels outside the UAE after receiving the entry permit but before completing the status change resets the status-change clock on re-entry. Stay in the UAE between Steps 4 and 6.

Common Delays When Transferring a Visa Between UAE Companies and How to Avoid Them

The most common delays when transferring a visa between UAE companies are: an uncooperative old sponsor blocking cancellation, an expired establishment card at the new company, a failed or flagged medical result, and a passport with under six months validity. Each issue adds one to four weeks to the overall timeline.

Sponsor and Document Delays That Add Weeks to the Process

Uncooperative old sponsor: GDRFA's contested cancellation route exists but adds two to four weeks. A legal notice may be required. Resolve any partnership disputes before initiating the transfer.

Expired establishment card: The free zone won't process the entry permit until the card is renewed, renewal takes UNVERIFIED: <three to seven working days>. Confirm before publishing. Check the card's expiry date before cancelling anything.

Name spelling mismatch: A discrepancy between the passport and company documents triggers a manual review at GDRFA. Match spellings exactly across all documents before submission.

Outstanding fines: One founder's previous employer had an unpaid MOHRE labour fine that only appeared when the cancellation was submitted, it added 10 days to the timeline while it was settled. Run a file check first through MOHRE or your PRO.

Medical and Travel Delays That Catch Founders Off Guard

• Travelling after entry permit issuance: Don't. A founder who flies to London for a board meeting the day after receiving their entry permit finds ICP treats the status-change as a new application on re-entry, resetting the queue. Tip: Complete the status change before any travel.

• Flagged medical result: A TB screen referral to a DHA centre adds one to three weeks. Tip: Disclose any known conditions to your PRO before booking the test.

• Passport validity under six months: Causes an automatic rejection. Tip: Renew the passport at the relevant embassy before starting the transfer, don't assume it's fine.

• Thursday evening or pre-holiday medical bookings: Results take two to three extra days. Tip: Book Sunday to Wednesday for fastest turnaround.

For ongoing support with UAE residency visa applications and renewals, the Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone team can manage these stages directly.

How Your New Company License Affects the Transfer

The new company's license type, visa allocation count and establishment card status directly control whether a visa transfer can proceed. A free zone license with a visa allocation allows up to the licensed number of investor visas. An entity without an active visa allocation on its license cannot sponsor a transferred residency visa, full stop.

Visa Allocations, License Packages and What They Include

At Dubai South Business Hub Free Zone, three license packages are available. Each includes the license, Articles of Association, share register, flexi-desk space and lease agreement. The visa allocation and establishment card are added from the 1 Visa Package upwards:

• 0 Visa Package, AED 12,500: License and company documents. No visa allocation. Cannot sponsor a transferred residency visa.

• 1 Visa Package, AED 16,350: Adds one visa allocation (investor or partner visa) and the establishment card.

• 2 Visa Package, AED 18,200: Two visa allocations and the establishment card. This is the maximum available.

The license is issued in one day once documents are approved, but the visa transfer process begins only after the establishment card is active. Visa processing (entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID, stamping) is quoted and invoiced separately from the package price.

A co-founder team of two wanting both partners to hold investor visas under the same entity selects the 2 Visa Package. Each partner's visa processing is then quoted separately. Use the business setup cost calculator to model the full outlay before committing.

Visa Transfer Cost Breakdown: One-Off vs. Recurring Fees

References

1. GDRFA

2. ICP

3. MOHRE