The DMCC establishment card — often called the immigration card — registers your company with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs. Without a valid card, DMCC will not process a single residence visa: no new hires, no renewals, no investor visa. It is the most common reason a DMCC company’s visa services are suddenly blocked.
What the establishment card does
- Links your DMCC licence to the immigration system so you can sponsor visas
- Must be in place before your first DMCC residence visa
- Must stay valid for every visa renewal and most employment services
- Is valid for one year and renewed annually, in step with your licence
Requirements
- An active DMCC licence, normally with at least three months’ validity remaining
- Updated company documents in the DMCC portal (licence, officers, address)
- No outstanding sanctions on the company account
How we issue or renew it
- Status checkWe confirm licence validity and that officer and address details on the portal are current.
- Portal applicationFiled under Company Services in the DMCC member portal.
- Fee settlementWe pay the DMCC fee through your account and track approval.
- Card issuedThe card is issued to your company record and visa services are unlocked.
DMCC establishment card fees
| Service | Indicative DMCC fee (AED) |
|---|
| Establishment card – new (annual) | ~ 1,825 |
| Establishment card – annual renewal | ~ 1,805 |
From the DMCC Schedule of Charges at the time of writing (October 2026). Late renewal attracts penalties, so we renew together with your DMCC licence renewal.
Renewing the licence does
not automatically renew the establishment card. Many owners discover the gap only when a visa renewal is rejected. We put both dates on one compliance calendar — see the
DMCC compliance calendar.
When the card needs an update
Changes such as a new company name, new manager or a change of address are filed as a DMCC company amendment first. Once approved, we update the establishment card so the immigration record matches your licence.
DMCC establishment card — FAQs
What is a DMCC establishment card?
It is the immigration registration card for your DMCC company. It allows the company to sponsor residence visas and must be valid for all visa services.
How much is the DMCC establishment card?
Around AED 1,825 for a new card and around AED 1,805 for the annual renewal, according to the DMCC schedule of charges at the time of writing.
How long is the DMCC establishment card valid?
One year. It is renewed annually, ideally at the same time as your DMCC licence.
Is the immigration card the same as the establishment card?
Yes. In DMCC both names refer to the same company card issued for immigration purposes.
Can I apply for visas without an establishment card?
No. The establishment card is a prerequisite for new residence visas, renewals and most employment services in DMCC.
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.
