Hiring someone who already works in another Dubai free zone? A DMCC visa transfer moves their residence visa straight to your DMCC company, with no cancellation and no new entry permit. Their family's visas are not affected. It is quicker than a fresh visa, but it has strict conditions and a paper transfer form that has to be stamped by both free zones.
Who can transfer
- Transfers work only between Dubai free zones, for example from DIFC, DAFZA or JAFZA into DMCC.
- The employee's current residence visa must have at least 3 months left.
- Their passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
- Your company needs a valid establishment card and a free quota slot.
- Health insurance must be issued by a local insurer under your DMCC company's sponsorship.
Documents required
| Document | Note |
|---|
| Passport copy with current visa page | Valid 6+ months |
| Coloured passport photo | JPEG |
| Your company's establishment card | Must be valid |
| Previous company's establishment card | From the current sponsor |
| NOC from the current employer | Allowing the transfer to DMCC |
| Highest education certificate | Attested by MOFA in Dubai and legally translated into Arabic |
How the transfer works
- Portal request and paymentWe file the residence visa transfer to DMCC with the stage-one documents.
- E-signaturesYour HR signatory, then the employee, sign the employment documents electronically.
- Transfer form issuedDMCC issues the transfer form, valid for 2 months. We collect the original from DMCC.
- Stamp from the old free zoneThe form is stamped by the employee's current free zone authority.
- Emirates ID, medical and insuranceDMCC types the Emirates ID and medical requests; local health insurance is arranged.
- New visa issuedThe electronic residence visa is uploaded and the card is issued under your DMCC company.
Worth knowing: since 12 September 2023, DMCC is the only channel for its member companies' Emirates ID and medical fitness applications, so outside typing centres can no longer be used. The transfer form must still be valid at the stamping stage, which is why we chase both free zones on the same week.
Transfer or new visa?
If the employee is coming from mainland Dubai, another emirate or abroad, a transfer isn't possible; you need a new DMCC employment visa instead. If their current visa has less than 3 months left, it is usually simpler to cancel and apply fresh. Leaving DMCC for another company? See DMCC visa cancellation.
Transferring a new hire to DMCC?
We'll confirm eligibility, collect the NOC and handle both free zones until the new visa is issued.
Get Free ConsultationWhatsApp UsDMCC visa transfer — FAQs
Can I transfer a visa to DMCC from another free zone?
Yes, if the current visa is from another Dubai free zone, has at least 3 months' validity, and the passport is valid for at least 6 months.
Can I transfer a mainland visa to DMCC?
No. DMCC's transfer route only works between Dubai free zones. A mainland employee needs their visa cancelled and a new DMCC employment visa.
Are dependants affected by a DMCC visa transfer?
No. Under DMCC's guidelines, the employee's dependants are not affected by the transfer.
How long is the DMCC transfer form valid?
DMCC issues the transfer form with 2 months' validity, and it must still be valid at the visa stamping stage.
What documents are needed for a DMCC visa transfer?
Passport and visa page, photo, both companies' establishment cards, an NOC from the current employer, and the highest education certificate attested by MOFA in Dubai and translated into Arabic.
How we keep this page accurate. Fees and process steps are checked against DMCC’s official
Schedule of Charges and the
DMCC Knowledge Bank guidelines, and against the DMCC member-portal filings our JLT team handles every week.
Last verified: October 2026. Government fees change, so we confirm the live figure before you pay.
