Topic Summary
Entry Permit: The First Mandatory Fee
Issued by the Identity and Citizenship Authority (ICP), the entry permit costs AED 270–310 per application. It authorises the applicant to enter or remain in the UAE during the residency processing period.
Status Change Fee for In-Country Applicants
Applicants already inside the UAE on a tourist or visit visa pay an additional AED 570 to switch to a residency track without leaving the country. Those applying from outside the UAE skip this fee entirely.
Medical Fitness Test: Required Every Application
A MOHAP or DHA-approved centre charges AED 320–420 to screen for communicable diseases. This fee applies at both initial application and every renewal, making it one of the most frequently recurring costs.
Emirates ID and Visa Stamping Add Significant Cost
Emirates ID enrolment costs approximately AED 370 for a two-year visa and requires an in-person biometric appointment. Visa stamping, the final government charge that places the residence visa in the passport, adds another AED 500–570.
Health Insurance Is Mandatory and Annual
DHA-approved health insurance runs AED 600–800 or more per year and must be renewed annually. Unlike the other components, it is a recurring cost rather than a one-time application expense.
Package Quotes Often Exclude Key Disbursements
A headline package price of AED 3,000 per visa may exclude AED 700–900 in medical, Emirates ID, and insurance costs billed separately. Always request a full disbursement schedule before signing any agreement.
In-Country vs. Out-of-Country Routes Cost Differently
The route taken, not just the visa type, determines the total fee. Founders applying from abroad skip the status change fee but follow a different entry permit process, so the two routes produce meaningfully different totals.
In 2026, a single residence visa for a Dubai free zone company involves at least six separate government fees paid across three different authorities. The entry permit alone runs AED 270–AED 310 (ICP, 2026). A status change fee adds roughly AED 570 for in-country applicants (GDRFAD, 2026). The medical fitness test costs AED 320–AED 420 at a MOHAP-approved centre (MOHAP, 2026). Emirates ID processing runs approximately AED 370 for a two-year visa, and visa stamping adds AED 500–AED 570 more. Yet most founders only see one line item when they ask for a price.
This article breaks down the full visa cost for a Dubai free zone company, component by component. It covers the difference between an investor visa and an employee visa, what you pay once versus what recurs at renewal, hidden extras including deposits and medical retests, the in-country versus out-of-country cost difference, and how Dubai South Business Hub structures its residency visa services so you know exactly what you are paying before you commit.
What Does the Visa Cost for a Dubai Free Zone Company Actually Include
The visa cost for a Dubai free zone company covers six components: an entry permit fee, a status change fee (for in-country applicants), a medical fitness test, an Emirates ID application, a visa stamping fee, and mandatory health insurance. Each is a separate government or authority charge paid at a different stage of the process.
The Six Fee Components Broken Down
Most people think of a visa as a single transaction. It isn't. Here's what actually happens, in sequence:
Dubai Free Zone Visa: Component Fee Table
Component | Authority | Approx Fee (AED) | One-Off or Recurring |
|---|---|---|---|
Entry permit | ICP | 270–310 | One-off (per application) |
Status change fee | ICP / GDRFAD | ~570 | One-off (in-country only) |
Medical fitness test | MOHAP / DHA centre | 320–420 | Per application and renewal |
Emirates ID application | ICP | ~370 (2-year visa) | Per validity period |
Visa stamping fee | ICP | 500–570 | Per issue and renewal |
Health insurance | DHA-approved insurer | 600–800+ | Annual (recurring) |
The entry permit is issued by the Identity and Citizenship Authority (ICP) and authorises the applicant to enter or remain in the UAE during processing. The status change fee only applies when the applicant is already inside the UAE on a tourist or visit visa and switches to a residency track without leaving the country. The medical fitness test, conducted at a MOHAP or DHA-approved centre, screens for communicable diseases and is mandatory for every applicant. Emirates ID enrolment requires an in-person biometric appointment. Visa stamping is the final government charge that places the residence visa in the passport.
A founder arriving from London on a visit visa who applies in-country pays all six components. A founder applying from outside the UAE skips the status change fee but follows a slightly different entry permit route. The visa fees differ by route, not just by visa type.
Why the Quoted Package Price Rarely Matches the Real Total
Free zone visa packages quote the license-linked visa allocation cost, not the sum of all government disbursements. That's the gap most founders don't see until the invoices arrive.
Common exclusions from headline package quotes:
Medical fitness test fee
Emirates ID application fee
Health insurance premium
Typing centre or service centre charges
Courier fees for document handling
Medical retest fee (if required)
A package advertised at AED 3,000 per visa may exclude AED 700–AED 900 in medical, Emirates ID, and insurance costs billed separately. Always ask for a full disbursement schedule, not just the package fee, before signing. A residency visa services provider that itemises every disbursement upfront will save you from budget surprises mid-process.
What Is the Investor Visa Cost Versus the Employment Visa Cost for a Free Zone Company
An investor or partner visa and an employee visa follow the same six-step fee structure but differ in two ways: the work permit component applies only to employees and is processed through MOHRE, and investor visas are tied directly to the company license rather than an employment contract. This changes both the cost and the renewal trigger.
Investor and Partner Visa: What You Pay and When
An investor visa is issued to a shareholder or partner named on the trade license. No MOHRE work permit is required, which removes one fee from the sequence entirely.
Components that apply to an investor visa:
Entry permit (ICP)
Status change fee (if applying in-country)
Medical fitness test
Emirates ID application
Visa stamping
Annual health insurance
The MOHRE work permit fee does not apply. Investor visa validity is typically two or three years depending on the DSBH package chosen. A sole founder incorporating a consultancy at DSBH takes an investor visa linked to their license and pays four to five of the six components, not all six. DSBH manages the investor visa process end to end through its investor visa UAE service.
Employee Visa: The Additional MOHRE Work Permit Fee
An employee visa requires a MOHRE work permit before the ICP entry permit is issued. This is an additional fee not present in the investor visa route, and it's the employer (the free zone company) who pays it, not the employee.
Investor Visa vs Employee Visa: Components and Who Pays
Component | Investor Visa | Employee Visa |
|---|---|---|
MOHRE work permit | Not required | Required, paid by employer |
Entry permit (ICP) | Required | Required |
Medical fitness test | Required | Required |
Emirates ID | Required | Required |
Visa stamping | Required | Required |
Health insurance | Required (annual) | Required, employer responsible |
Work permit fees at MOHRE vary by skill level category and nationality quota compliance. A free zone trading company hiring its first sales manager must pay the MOHRE work permit fee in addition to all six standard visa components before the employee's residence visa can be stamped. For a full breakdown of the employee-specific route, see the PRO services dubai page for how DSBH coordinates this process.
Does It Cost More to Apply from Outside the UAE
Applying from outside the UAE removes the status change fee, which saves roughly AED 500–AED 600, but adds international courier costs for document handling and may require an entry permit to be issued before travel. The net difference is modest; the more significant variable is processing time, not total cost.
In-Country Application: Status Change Route
If you're already in the UAE on a tourist or visit visa, your status is changed to residency without leaving the country. The status change fee, payable to ICP or GDRFAD, is the differentiating cost here. It does not apply to the out-of-country route.
A US-based founder who enters Dubai on a visit visa to finalise their license can apply in-country, paying the status change fee of approximately AED 570 but completing the full process, including medical and Emirates ID biometrics, before flying home with a stamped visa. Processing is generally faster because the applicant is present throughout, which removes delays caused by courier logistics or time-zone scheduling.
Out-of-Country Application: Entry Permit Then Travel
Out-of-country applicants receive their entry permit first, then travel to the UAE to complete medical and biometric enrolment. No status change fee applies, but courier or travel costs may offset part of that saving.
A founder based in New York who has not yet visited Dubai can have their entry permit processed remotely through DSBH, then travel once to complete medical and Emirates ID enrolment in a single trip. The medical test must still be completed at a UAE-approved centre in person; there's no remote option. DSBH residency application services coordinate this sequence so the entry permit is ready before the founder books their flight.
Which Route Costs Less Overall?
The in-country route saves on travel costs but adds the status change fee. The out-of-country route removes that fee but may require a dedicated trip. For most founders already visiting Dubai to set up their company, the in-country route is the more efficient choice.
What Extra Costs Catch First-Time Applicants Off Guard
The costs most applicants do not budget for are: mandatory health insurance (legally required for all UAE residents), a refundable security deposit some free zones collect, and the cost of a medical retest if the first result is inconclusive or flagged. These three extras can add AED 1,000–AED 3,000 or more depending on insurance tier.
Mandatory Health Insurance: The Recurring Annual Cost
Health insurance is a legal requirement for all UAE residents. The employer or sponsor is responsible for providing it, and DHA-approved plans are required for Dubai-based residency. This is the one cost that never goes away.
Note: Health insurance renews every 12 months regardless of your visa validity period. A founder on a two-year investor visa pays the government visa fees once at issue, but pays their health insurance premium every year. Over a two-year visa cycle, insurance is the largest recurring line item. Basic DHA-compliant plans start from approximately AED 600–AED 800 per year; comprehensive plans for founders or senior employees run from AED 3,000 upwards. Budget for insurance as a separate line, not as part of the government fee total.
Security Deposits and Medical Retests
Worth flagging: some free zones collect a refundable security deposit per visa issued. This is not a government fee. It's a free zone administrative requirement, and deposits are typically returned when the visa is cancelled correctly through the proper process. Founders who cancel without following the correct procedure may forfeit the deposit.
Surprise costs to track separately:
Refundable security deposit: varies by free zone (DSBH deposit policy confirmed at onboarding)
Medical retest fee: same rate as the original test, approximately AED 320–AED 420 at a MOHAP-approved centre
Typing centre charges: typically excluded from package quotes
Courier fees: for document handling on out-of-country applications
An employee whose initial medical test is flagged for a follow-up TB screen must pay for a second appointment before the entry permit process can continue. This isn't rare, and it's never included in a package price. DSBH advises clients on deposit requirements and potential retest scenarios at the point of package selection, so there are no unexpected invoices mid-process.
How to Calculate the Total Per-Visa Cost for a Dubai Free Zone Company: Step-by-Step
To calculate the total per-visa cost for a Dubai free zone company, add the six government fee components, then add health insurance, any applicable deposit, and typing or service centre charges. Use the in-country total if the applicant is already in the UAE; remove the status change fee if applying from abroad.
Step 1: List Every Government Fee Component
Start with the six components: entry permit, status change (if applicable), medical, Emirates ID, visa stamping, and MOHRE work permit (employees only). Build a simple spreadsheet with one row per component, the authority that charges it, and the current fee. This becomes the disbursement schedule you share with the applicant.
Always verify current rates directly at icp.gov.ae or mohre.gov.ae before quoting. Third-party aggregator websites frequently carry outdated figures. The business setup cost in dubai calculator at DSBH provides a guided total that pulls from current disbursement schedules.
References
Component | First Issue |
|---|
Frequently Asked Questions
