Free Zone License Without Visa: How 0-Visa Packages Work

A zero-visa licence is a normal free zone company. It has a trade licence, a memorandum of association and a registered address in the zone, and it can sign contracts, issue invoices and hold a bank account. The only thing missing is a residence visa quota being used.

It does not give anyone the right to live in the UAE. The owner keeps whatever residence status they already have, whether that is a family visa, an employment visa, a Golden Visa or no UAE visa at all. It also cannot sponsor staff until visas are added.

That makes it a different product from a freelance permit with a visa. If your main goal is UAE residence for yourself, a licence and visa plan is usually the better starting point, and our freelance permit guide explains those choices.

The establishment card, sometimes called the immigration card, registers a company with the immigration authority so that it can sponsor residence visas. Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs lists it as a service for private sector and free zone institutions, and a valid licence is needed to apply.

For a licence-only company the card is often not needed at the start, because the company is not sponsoring anyone. When you add the first visa, the zone applies for the establishment card as part of that process. Some zones issue it with every licence, so check the current rule with us for the zone you choose.

If you are comparing quotes, see whether the establishment card is listed. Visa plans normally include it; licence-only plans normally do not, which is one reason their price is lower.

You can usually add visas later. In practice the company moves to a plan or facility that carries a visa quota. On the RAKEZ side, the licence-only plans sit on a networking facility, while the licence and visa plans and the Biz Saver Plus range use a coworking facility that supports visas.

For reference, the RAKEZ licence and 2-year visa Basic plan is AED 7,731, and the Biz Saver Plus One Basic plan with one visa and up to 10 activities is AED 9,276. How the upgrade is charged depends on timing within your licence year, so ask us to price it before you apply.

If you already know you will need a visa within a few months, compare the cost of starting with a visa plan against upgrading later. Starting with the right plan can avoid paying for two facility changes in the same year.

Banking is the part that needs most planning. Some UAE banks open accounts for companies whose owners live abroad, while others ask for at least one signatory with a UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, or an in-person visit. The answer depends on the bank, your activity, your nationality and where your money comes from.

Owners who already live in the UAE on another visa usually find it easier, because they hold an Emirates ID and a local address. Non-resident owners should prepare a clear business plan, proof of address, a few months of personal bank statements, sample contracts or invoices and an explanation of their source of funds.

Digital business accounts can be a practical first step for small companies, with a traditional bank added once the company has a trading history. The Standard and Premium RAKEZ plans include bank account opening assistance.

Having no visa does not reduce the company's legal duties. Every free zone company must register for corporate tax with the Federal Tax Authority, keep accounting records and file its returns, even if it pays 0% on qualifying free zone income.

The licence and the facility renew every year. Keep shareholder details, beneficial owner records and activity changes up to date with the zone, because late renewals bring fines and can delay any visa you add later.