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Setting up a free zone company usually comes with a visa route as part of the package. It helps to understand how it works before you apply, so the process feels much clearer from the start.
How much is a free zone visa in Dubai?
There is no single fixed cost for a free zone visa in Dubai. The price depends on the free zone, the visa package linked to your licence, and how many visas you need. In practice, your UAE free zone setup and visa planning go hand in hand.
How to Get a Dubai Free Zone Visa
The visa process follows company formation, not the other way around.
- Set up your free zone company. Your visa quota is usually included in your licence package. Once you choose your free zone licence in Dubai, the visa route becomes available.
- Apply for an entry permit. This lets you enter or stay in the UAE while your residence visa is being processed. Most free zones issue this within a few working days once your company file is complete.
- Complete a medical test and Emirates ID registration. These are standard steps for any UAE residence visa. The medical test checks for communicable diseases and is usually done in a same-day appointment at an approved centre. Results normally come through within a few working days.
- Get your residence visa stamped. Once approved, the visa is stamped in your passport and linked to your Emirates ID, which usually arrives separately by courier after printing.
Each step depends on the one before it. If something is delayed early on, such as a missing document or an incomplete medical file, the later stages will move back by the same amount.
Free Zone Visa Cost and Validity
Free zone visas usually run for two or three years, depending on the zone and visa category. Cost works the same way: it depends on the free zone, the visa type, and how many visas are included in your package.
Renewal follows the same basic steps as the first application, except for the initial company setup stage. It is best to start the process before your current visa expires so you do not end up with a gap in your legal residence status.
Benefits of a Free Zone Visa
A free zone visa gives you legal residence linked to your own company, not an employer. That means the visa is under your control instead of being tied to a third party sponsor.
It also gives you access to the usual UAE residency benefits, such as opening a personal bank account, sponsoring family members, and using services that require an Emirates ID. Family sponsorship rules still depend on your income and visa category, so it is worth confirming the details with the UAE’s federal identity and residency authority or with your setup consultant.
Sponsoring Family on a Free Zone Visa
Free zone visa holders can generally sponsor a spouse and children once their own residence visa and Emirates ID are fully active. The federal identity and residency authority’s standard threshold sets the minimum salary at AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 if your company provides accommodation as part of the package. For this application, the salary certificate comes from your free zone authority, since that is the body that issued your employment or investor visa.
You will also need a registered tenancy contract, such as Ejari or the local equivalent, that is suitable for the number of dependents you are sponsoring. Valid health insurance for each family member is also required. These rules work the same way whether your visa comes from a free zone or the mainland. The free zone only changes where your salary certificate comes from.
Free Zone Ownership and the Golden Visa
Owning a free zone company can also create a path to the UAE’s 10-year Golden Visa, separate from your regular free zone employment or investor visa. Three routes qualify, all set by Dubai’s residency authority:
- Company investment: your share of a company’s assets, including a free zone company, is worth at least AED 2,000,000, supported by a certified financial report from an accredited UAE audit firm and, for free zone companies specifically, a certificate from the free zone confirming the company’s capital and your share
- Real estate: property investment of at least AED 2,000,000
- Bank deposit: a UAE bank deposit of at least AED 2,000,000, held for a minimum of two years
The Golden Visa is not a replacement for your standard free zone visa route. It is a longer-term option for founders whose company or personal investment already meets that AED 2,000,000 level. Once your business reaches that scale, it is worth reviewing, since a 10-year residence permit removes the usual two-to-three-year renewal cycle.
Free Zone Visa vs Employment Visa
A free zone visa comes from your own company licence. An employment visa comes from an employer sponsoring you as staff. If you are the founder, the free zone route ties your residence directly to the business you own. If you are joining a free zone company as an employee, you would usually be sponsored under an employment visa issued through that company’s licence.
Both sit under the UAE residence visa system. For a broader look at the residence visa process outside the free zone structure, see our UAE residence visa guide.
Conclusion
A free zone visa is part of the wider company setup process. Your licence package determines your visa quota, and the process moves through an entry permit, a medical test, and Emirates ID registration before the visa is stamped. Renewal follows the same path every two to three years.
If you want your setup and visa handled together, our team can manage your Dubai free zone setup and visa process in one go.
This guide is for general information only. Visa validity, cost, and eligibility vary by free zone and visa category. Check with the free zone authority or a setup consultant for your own case.
FAQ
How much is a free zone visa in Dubai?
The cost depends on the free zone, the visa package tied to your licence, and how many visas you need. There is no single fixed price.
How long is a free zone visa valid?
Free zone visas usually run for two or three years, depending on the free zone and visa category.
What is the difference between a free zone visa and an employment visa?
A free zone visa is tied to your own company licence if you are the founder. An employment visa is issued through an employer who sponsors you as staff.
What salary do I need to sponsor family on a free zone visa?
The standard minimum is AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 if your employer provides accommodation. Your free zone authority issues the salary certificate needed for the application.
Can owning a free zone company qualify me for the UAE Golden Visa?
Yes. If your share of the company’s assets is worth at least AED 2,000,000, backed by a certified financial report and a free zone certificate confirming your capital and share, you can apply for the 10-year Golden Visa investor route.
