Guides / Visa costs
What a free zone residence visa costs
A visa is four or five fees, not one. Here is what the zones publish.
A residence visa through a free zone is several separate charges. The names differ by zone, but the sequence is the same:
- Company immigration file. An establishment (immigration) card and, in some zones, an e-channel registration. SPC lists AED 640 and AED 2,280.
- Visa allocation or quota. Meydan AED 1,850 per visa; SPC AED 1,600.
- Entry permit or change of status, and the residence visa. SPC lists the investor visa with Emirates ID at AED 2,530 and change of status inside the UAE at AED 700. Meydan quotes an investor or partner visa at around AED 4,000.
- Medical test and Emirates ID. SPC lists the medical test at AED 365.
- Health insurance. Listed by SPC as mandatory for visa holders, and priced separately.
Some packages fold these in. RAKEZ's all-inclusive package (AED 14,000 a year) includes one residence visa and adds up to three more at AED 4,000 each; DMCC's Jump Start package includes one visa.
Visa terms by zone
| Zone | As published |
|---|---|
| Meydan | Visa allocation AED 1,850 per visa, up to six allocations. Employment visa AED 3,500; investor or partner visa around AED 4,000; dependant visa around AED 6,000. |
| RAKEZ | Up to 3 additional visas at AED 4,000 each on the all-inclusive package; 20% off dependant visas. |
| SPC | Pay as you go: no fixed visa quota on a flexi-desk licence. Published government fees: visa allocation AED 1,600 per visa; investor visa including Emirates ID AED 2,530; medical test AED 365; change of status inside the UAE AED 700. |
| SHAMS | Freelance package with one visa, multiple shareholders: AED 15,520 all-inclusive. |
| DMCC | A standard flexi desk or co-working space is eligible for three UAE residency visas. |
| IFZA | Not published on ifza.com |
Sources: SPC Free Zone fees; Meydan FZ FAQ; RAKEZ package; zone pages for the rest. Checked 18 October 2026.
Questions
How much is a visa in a UAE free zone?
It depends on the zone and what the package includes. Published examples: Meydan AED 1,850 allocation plus about AED 4,000 for an investor visa; SPC AED 1,600 allocation plus AED 2,530 investor visa with Emirates ID; RAKEZ includes one visa in its AED 14,000 package and charges AED 4,000 for each of up to three more.
Is health insurance required?
Zones list health insurance as a required, separately priced item for visa holders; SPC, for example, lists it as mandatory. Check what your package includes.
Checked 18 October 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice.