JAFZA Visa Types: Options, Costs and Application Process

Setting up a company in Jebel Ali Free Zone usually raises a practical question soon after incorporation: which visa do you need?

The answer depends on your relationship with the business. A shareholder may need a residence route linked to the company. An employee normally goes through company-sponsored employment visa processing. Business visitors have a separate entry permit route. Family members are generally sponsored under Dubai's wider residence rules rather than through a standard JAFZA company visa.

Understanding these differences matters because the documents, fees and application routes are not the same.

This guide explains the main JAFZA visa types, their current published costs and how the application process works in 2026. If you are still at the company formation stage, read Nexture's JAFZA company setup guide first.

What Is a JAFZA Visa?

A JAFZA visa generally refers to a UAE entry permit or residence process connected to a company registered in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.

JAFZA is authorised to process employment-related immigration services for companies operating within the free zone. According to JAFZA, a company normally needs its business licence, valid property or lease arrangement and Computer Immigration Card before it can start sponsoring employees.

JAFZA's current digital service catalogue covers employment entry permits, residence permits, visit visas, visa position amendments, renewals and cancellations.

For a wider comparison with other zones, see Nexture's Dubai free zone visa guide.

Main JAFZA Visa Types

In practice, the visa routes relevant to JAFZA businesses can be divided into five main categories.

Let's look at each one separately.

1. JAFZA Employment Visa

The employment visa is the most common route for staff hired by a JAFZA-registered business.

The company acts as the sponsoring entity and starts the process through the Dubai Trade portal. JAFZA describes the application as having two main parts: the Employment Visa Entry Permit and the Residence Visa process.

The applicant normally needs:

• Passport copy with at least six months' validity

• Recent colour photograph

• Education certificate for applicable managerial or professional positions

• Employment details

• Attested qualification where required

• Medical fitness clearance after arrival

• Health insurance

• Emirates ID processing documents

JAFZA states that the Employment Visa Entry Permit is valid for 60 days from issue.

JAFZA Employment Visa Cost

JAFZA's currently published entry-permit pricing is:

JAFZA also lists several possible additional charges:

• Applicant already inside UAE: AED 780

• Visa position amendment or transfer of sponsorship: AED 920

• Offer letter where required: AED 100

• Applicant above 60: AED 5,000

• Partner or investor job title: AED 250

Insurance charges may also apply depending on the company's arrangement and the employee's salary band.

2. JAFZA Shareholder or Investor Visa

A shareholder in a JAFZA company may also be able to obtain residence connected to the business.

This is different from assuming that buying shares automatically gives you UAE residence. Your company structure, immigration eligibility, company documentation and the residence category all need to support the application.

JAFZA's employment entry-permit fee schedule specifically provides for the job title of Partner or Investor, with an additional AED 250 charge where applicable.

If you are comparing business-owner residence options more broadly, Nexture's Dubai investor visa guide explains the main routes.

3. JAFZA Business Visit Visa

A JAFZA company may need to bring a customer, executive, technician or other overseas visitor into the UAE temporarily for business. JAFZA has a dedicated Visit Visa Entry Permit service for this purpose.

The standard documents include:

• Recent colour photograph

• Passport copy

• Company undertaking letter where required

JAFZA states that the visit entry permit is valid for 60 days from the issue date. For the 30-day visa, the permitted stay is 30 days from arrival. Travel insurance is also required for visit visa applicants.

Published JAFZA Visit Visa Fees

JAFZA currently lists:

• 30-day visit visa: AED 1,103

• 90-day visit visa: AED 2,153

The listed processing time is one working day, although actual approval may depend on immigration checks and the applicant's circumstances.

See JAFZA's official Visit Visa Entry Permit service for the latest conditions.

A visit visa does not replace the residence and employment process for someone who will actually work as an employee of the company.

4. Family and Dependent Residence

Family residence is relevant once a JAFZA shareholder or employee has obtained an eligible UAE residence permit.

Your spouse and children do not normally receive a JAFZA employment visa simply because you work for a JAFZA company. Instead, an eligible UAE resident can sponsor qualifying family members under the applicable Dubai residence rules.

Common requirements can include:

• Sponsor's valid residence permit

• Emirates ID

• Passport copies

• Attested marriage certificate for a spouse

• Attested birth certificates for children

• Accommodation documents

• Salary or income evidence

• Medical fitness test for applicable adult dependants

• Health insurance

Dubai's immigration rules generally require an expatriate resident sponsoring family members to meet the applicable income and accommodation conditions.

For a detailed breakdown, read Nexture's guide to sponsoring family after business setup.

5. Green Residence and Golden Residence

Owning or working for a JAFZA business does not prevent you from qualifying for one of the UAE's longer-term residence categories.

Certain investors, business partners, skilled professionals, entrepreneurs and other eligible applicants may qualify separately for Green or Golden Residence.

The UAE's Green Residence is generally issued for five years and can apply to qualifying skilled workers, freelancers, self-employed applicants and investors or partners who meet the relevant conditions.

Golden Residence can apply to qualifying investors, entrepreneurs, specialised professionals and other approved categories. For certain public-investment routes, the current investment threshold can be AED 2 million, subject to the detailed conditions of the category.

How to Apply for a JAFZA Employment Visa

For most companies, the employment route follows a fairly clear sequence.

1. Complete the JAFZA Company Setup

   Your company needs to be properly registered and licensed before it can sponsor staff.

   JAFZA also requires the necessary company immigration records and a valid lease or property arrangement for employee sponsorship.

2. Confirm Your Visa Quota

   Do not hire several overseas employees and assume every visa will be approved automatically.

   The number of visas available to a company can depend on its facility, lease arrangement and approved immigration quota.

   If your current allocation is insufficient, check whether an additional quota application is required.

3. Submit the Entry Permit Application

   The company administrator logs into the Dubai Trade portal and goes to:

   Employee Services > Employment Visa Entry Permit > Apply for Employment Visa JAFZA

   Passport, photograph and supporting documents are uploaded digitally.

   JAFZA lists a normal processing time of around two working days for this service, although GDRFA checks can extend the process.

4. Enter the UAE or Change Visa Status

   If the employee is outside the country, they enter using the approved entry permit.

   If already inside the UAE, a visa position amendment may be required instead of leaving and re-entering.

   JAFZA currently publishes the visa position amendment fee at AED 920 and lists an expected processing time of one working day.

   The official process is explained in JAFZA's Visa Position Amendment guide.

5. Complete Medical Fitness and Emirates ID Requirements

   After arrival or status amendment, the company submits the employee arrival details.

   JAFZA then provides the documents and appointments required for medical fitness and Emirates ID processing.

   After the applicant is medically fit, documents such as health insurance, the entry permit, Computer Immigration Card and medical fitness result can be used to complete residence processing.

6. Complete Residence Processing

   Once the immigration requirements are satisfied, the employee's UAE residence status is completed.

   Keep copies of the residence record, Emirates ID, employment contract and related company immigration documents.

JAFZA Visa Renewal Costs

Visas also need to be included in your ongoing employment budget. JAFZA's currently published standard employee residence renewal charges are:

Other charges can apply for the Company Employment Card, insurance, amendments or late processing. JAFZA also states that residence renewal is subject to medical clearance.

What Can Increase Your JAFZA Visa Cost?

The headline visa price is rarely the only amount your company pays.

Your final expense may change because of:

• Applicant being inside or outside the UAE

• Normal, urgent or VIP processing

• Visa validity period

• Medical fitness testing

• Emirates ID charges

• Health insurance

• Visa position amendment

• Bank or cash guarantee requirements

• Employee age

• Qualification attestation

• Changes to job title or employment details

• Dependant residence applications

For example, an employee already inside the UAE may incur an additional in-country charge or visa position amendment cost. A person above the specified age threshold may also face a significant additional fee.

Budget each employee separately instead of multiplying one advertised visa price by your headcount.

JAFZA Visa Cancellation

When an employee resigns or is terminated, the company should also close the immigration record properly.

JAFZA currently lists employee residence cancellation at AED 320 under normal processing when the applicant is inside the UAE and AED 720 when outside the country. Urgent inside-country cancellation is listed at AED 460.

Dependants may need to be cancelled or placed on hold before the main sponsor's residence is cancelled.

The exit or new residence documentation should also be uploaded after cancellation so that the company's immigration records and any applicable guarantee can be cleared.

Common JAFZA Visa Mistakes to Avoid

A few checks can prevent unnecessary delays.

First, make sure the employee has at least six months remaining on the passport before applying.

Second, check whether the job title requires an attested educational certificate. Do this early because overseas document attestation can take time.

Third, confirm the company's available visa quota before making hiring commitments.

Finally, check whether the applicant is inside or outside the UAE. That single detail can change both the procedure and the cost.

Conclusion

The main JAFZA visa types cover different needs. Employees normally use a company-sponsored employment residence process, shareholders can explore residence connected to their business position and companies can arrange short-term visit permits for eligible business visitors. Family members generally use the UAE's dependant residence system.

For employment visas, JAFZA's current published normal-package entry-permit pricing starts at AED 2,378 for one year, while a 30-day business visit visa is listed at AED 1,103. Extra charges can apply for applicants already inside the UAE, status amendments, insurance and other immigration requirements.

The safest approach is to confirm the visa category, quota, validity period and complete fee breakdown before starting the application.

Frequently Asked Questions