One-visa EAU company packages

The visa is commonly intended for the shareholder, partner, investor, owner-manager or an employee, depending on the legal structure and the immigration route available through the chosen jurisdiction.

The phrase "one-visa package" is a commercial expression rather than a single standardised government product. Each licensing authority or service provider may define its inclusions differently.

The package price includes the licencia and workspace that support one visa, but no residence-processing costs

Entrepreneurs should obtain a written breakdown rather than relying on a package name.

Who Should Consider a One-Visa Company Package?

A one-visa package may be appropriate for:

It may also suit a founder who expects to sponsor eligible family members after obtaining personal residence. Family sponsorship is a separate immigration process and is not normally counted as part of the company's employee or visado de inversor allocation in the same way, although eligibility, accommodation, insurance and documentary conditions apply.

A package intended for a solo service provider cannot automatically accommodate every trading or operational model.

A company licencia and a residence visa are separate legal and administrative components.

The licencia authorises the company to conduct approved activities. The residence permit allows an individual to reside en los EAU under an eligible category. Obtaining the licencia does not, by itself, complete immigration processing.

A genuine all-in cost may need to cover:

ICP describes the establishment card as the electronic record containing registered establishment information such as the trade name, licencia number, partners and type of activity. It is a distinct immigration-related service and should not be assumed to be included merely because a company licencia has been issued. Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security

The first question to ask is whether the quoted amount includes the cost of processing the visa or merely creates a company eligible to apply for one.

The licencia, legal form and workspace may permit one visa application, but the entrepreneur pays all immigration and residence charges separately.

The company is given capacity for one visa, but the establishment card and personal immigration applications may remain chargeable.

Some or all government applications may be included, but medical fitness, Emirates ID, health insurance or status adjustment can still be excluded.

The provider may intend to cover the full process. Even then, the entrepreneur should request a written list of inclusions and exclusions because insurance, urgent processing, delivery, document translation and in-country status change may vary.

"What exact government, immigration, medical, Emirates ID, insurance and professional charges remain payable after I purchase this package?"

A company must be licensed for the work it actually performs. The selected activities influence its contracts, invoices, banking application, regulatory responsibilities and ability to operate lawfully.

Before choosing a package, confirm:

An inexpensive consultancy licencia should not be used to conduct product trading. Similarly, a general e-commerce description may not replace sector-specific approvals for regulated goods.

Both mainland and Zona franca companies can support an entrepreneur-led structure, but the commercial consequences differ.

Most heavily promoted fixed-price one-visa packages are offered by Free Zones. These packages can be attractive because licensing, workspace and immigration administration may be combined under one authority.

A Zona franca structure may suit:

Entrepreneurs must nevertheless confirm how the company can conduct business outside the Zona franca and whether its intended goods, services and contracts require additional mainland arrangements.

A mainland company may be preferable where the entrepreneur requires broader onshore operations, a customer-facing location or an activity regulated through mainland autoridades.

It may be more suitable for:

A mainland quotation may be less likely to appear as a single fixed package because costs can depend on the activity, legal form, premises, government approvals and immigration requirements.

Possible structures include:

The legal form affects ownership, liability, continuity, governance, banking documentation and future admission of accionistas.

A sole establishment, for example, should not automatically be treated as equivalent to a limited liability company. Entrepreneurs should understand whether the business is a separate juridical entity and how liabilities may attach to the owner.

Confirm whether the package permits:

A quotation may refer only to the annual licencia fee while separately charging registro de empresa or incorporation.

Ask whether the quoted price covers:

A low licencia fee accompanied by separate registration and documentation charges may not be cheaper overall.

Some packages include one activity. Others permit several activities from the same category or activity group.

Entrepreneurs should establish:

Adding activities after incorporation may involve amendment charges and updated documents. It is usually more efficient to identify genuine business lines before the licencia is issued, without adding unnecessary activities that complicate banking or cumplimiento.

Many one-visa Zona franca packages include a flexi-desk, shared workstation or virtual facility arrangement. These expressions can describe different levels of access.

A flexi-desk may be sufficient for a solo consultant, but it may not provide the operating substance required by every bank, customer, regulator or tax position.

The company normally needs an immigration establishment record before it can sponsor residence applications.

Ask whether the package includes:

The establishment card usually has its own validity and renewal obligations. A package that includes the first issuance may exclude its later renewal.

The residence process can vary depending on whether the applicant is outside or inside the EAU.

If the applicant is outside the EAU, the route may involve an entry permit followed by completion of residence formalities after arrival.

If the applicant is already inside the EAU, an in-country status adjustment or change-of-status procedure may be required, subject to the applicable immigration route.

Compare whether the quotation includes:

Applicants should not make non-refundable travel arrangements until the processing route and timing have been confirmed.

Adult residence applicants generally undergo a medical fitness process where applicable to their residence category.

Check whether the package includes:

Premium or expedited examination options usually cost more than standard processing. A package stating "medical included" should specify the service level.

Emisión de residencia is connected with the Emirates ID application. ICP's residence service explains that a new residence permit is linked to an Emirates ID application and that the ID is delivered after residence issuance through authorised courier channels. ICP residence-permit service

Confirm whether the package covers:

First-time applicants may need to attend biometrics in person. The passport name, nationality, date of birth and other personal details must be consistent across the immigration and Emirates ID applications.

The licencia, establishment card, workspace and residence permit may not all have identical validity periods.

Before comparing packages, request confirmation of:

Do not assume that renewing the licencia comercial automatically renews the owner's residence. Each component may require a separate application and payment.

Health-insurance requirements and available plans can vary by emirate, residence category, age, medical history and level of cover.

Ask whether insurance is:

An advertised visa price may exclude insurance because the final premium depends on the applicant's profile.

Entrepreneurs should request at least two calculations:

The renewal estimate should separately identify:

A package that costs less in year one but substantially more in later years may be unsuitable for a long-term business.

KPM Global Services can prepare a like-for-like comparison covering the initial setup, complete visa process and recurring obligations—not merely the advertised licencia price.

Promotional packages may be subject to:

Ask the provider to confirm in writing whether the price is promotional and what the normal renewal price is expected to include.

A multi-year licencia can provide price certainty or a discounted average annual cost, but it also requires a larger upfront commitment.

A three-year company package does not necessarily mean that every visa, ID, insurance and immigration component remains valid for three years.

What is the maximum visa capacity?

Is visa capacity linked to office size?

Can the company upgrade from one visa to three or more?

Does an upgrade require a new lease?

Are employee visas available for the chosen activity?

Can the company appoint staff in different roles?

Is additional immigration approval required?

What are the amendment and upgrade charges?

Can dependants be sponsored separately?

A founder planning to hire within six months should compare the expansion cost at incorporation rather than after reaching the package limit.

This distinction can affect required documents, employment records, cancellation procedures and the relationship between the applicant and company.

Ask the provider to state the proposed residence category clearly. Do not assume that any company-sponsored residence is automatically an "visado de inversor" or a long-term Golden Residence.

Ordinary constitución de empresa also does not automatically qualify a founder for Golden Residence. Long-term residence categories have separate eligibility requirements. Current official information is available through the EAU Government Golden Visa portal.

An eligible resident may be able to sponsor a spouse, children or other qualifying dependants, subject to the current immigration conditions.

The entrepreneur should first complete personal residence and then assess dependant eligibility. A package should never imply that one included company visa also includes family residence unless this is expressly itemised.

A one-visa company package does not guarantee a corporate bank account.

Banks independently examine:

Before selecting a jurisdiction, consider whether the chosen licencia and facility credibly support the intended business.

For banking readiness, the entrepreneur may need:

KPM Global Services can assist with preparing and coordinating a banking application, but the account decision belongs exclusively to the financial institution.

EAU residence may improve access to resident banking products, but it does not guarantee a personal account or any particular service.

The bank may request:

Personal and company money should remain separate. Using a personal account for company revenue can create accounting, tax and cumplimiento complications.

A small one-owner company is not outside the EAU Impuesto de sociedades system merely because it has limited turnover, operates from a Zona franca or holds only one residence visa.

The general EAU Impuesto de sociedades rates include:

The 0% band is not the same as an exemption from registration, return filing or record-keeping. A company may have cumplimiento obligations even where no Impuesto de sociedades is ultimately payable.

Special treatment may be available to a Qualifying Zona franca Person on qualifying income, but a Zona franca licencia alone does not produce automatic tax-free status. The company must satisfy the applicable statutory conditions, which can involve qualifying income, adequate substance, transfer-pricing cumplimiento, audited financial statements and other requirements.

One-visa businesses should assess:

IVA is not automatically included in a company package. Registration depends on the nature and value of supplies and imports.

A EAU-resident business must generally register where taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 during the previous 12 months or are expected to exceed that amount during the next 30 días. Voluntary registration may be available when taxable supplies, imports or qualifying expenses exceed AED 187,500. Different rules apply to non-resident businesses making taxable supplies en los EAU. Federal Tax Authority IVA registration guidance

Entrepreneurs should distinguish:

These are separate services unless a quotation expressly combines them.

Ask whether the company package includes any accounting service. Free initial Impuesto de sociedades registration, where offered, should not be confused with annual bookkeeping and return preparation.

The proper accounting scope depends on transaction volume, IVA status, inventory, currencies, sales channels and reporting requirements.

Some Free Zones, regulated activities, tax positions, banks or licencia-renewal procedures may require audited financial statements. Even where an annual audit is not mandatory for a particular company, reliable accounts remain necessary.

Before incorporation, ask:

Does the authority require an audit?

Is an audit needed for licencia renewal?

Would Qualifying Zona franca Person treatment require audited accounts?

Is an approved auditor required?

What records must be maintained?

Is the audit included in the package?

An inexpensive licencia can create a higher annual cumplimiento cost if an audit obligation is overlooked.

The company may need to maintain and submit accurate information about its accionistas and ultimate beneficial owners.

The entrepreneur should keep updated:

Changes to ownership, management, address, contact information or activities may need to be reported within prescribed periods.

Additional approval or cumplimiento can apply to:

Certain businesses also fall within enhanced anti-money-laundering obligations and may require risk assessments, customer due diligence, sanctions screening, record retention, cumplimiento policies and regulatory registration.

A package designed for ordinary consulting activity should not be treated as appropriate for a regulated sector.

Ask in advance about:

ICP treats residence cancellation as a separate service, and supporting requirements differ by category. ICP residence-cancellation service

Closing a company informally by allowing its licencia to expire can create fines, immigration complications and unresolved tax or regulatory obligations.

An individual shareholder will commonly be asked for:

Requirements vary by licensing authority, nationality, activity, residence status and legal structure.

Identify the services or products, customers, markets, revenue model, operating location and expected transactions.

Evaluate mainland and relevant Free Zones based on market access, activity availability, visa capacity, banking suitability and renewal cost.

Separate licencia, facility, establishment card, immigration, residence, Emirates ID, medical, insurance and professional charges.

Confirm whether the company will be a single-shareholder entity and whether more accionistas can be introduced later.

Sign the formation documents, arrange the required facility and pay the licensing charges.

Review the activity, legal name, shareholder, manager and validity information carefully.

Apply for the establishment card and activate the company's immigration capacity where required.

If the applicant is already inside the EAU and the route requires it, process the in-country status change.

Attend the required appointments and provide compliant identification documents.

Track issuance and verify all personal details when the documents are received.

Proceed with banking, tax registration, accounting, invoicing and operational cumplimiento.

How Long Does the Proceso Take?

Timing depends on:

Company licensing, residence processing and bank-account opening should be treated as separate timelines.

What is the exact licensing authority?

What legal entity will be registered?

Which activities are included?

Is registro de empresa included?

Is the licencia valid for one year or longer?

Is a physical or shared workspace included?

Is the establishment card included?

Does "one visa" mean eligibility or complete processing?

Are the entry permit and status adjustment included?

Are medical fitness and Emirates ID included?

Is health insurance included?

Are professional fees and IVA included?

What is the complete first-year cost?

What is the expected renewal cost?

Can additional visas be added later?

Are there mandatory audit or accounting obligations?

Can the company serve mainland customers?

Will the activity support the intended banking profile?

What costs apply if the application is rejected?

What are the cancellation and company-closure costs?

Allocation, eligibility and complete visa processing are different concepts.

A first-year discount can be followed by substantially different recurring charges.

Impuesto de sociedades treatment depends on the law, income and cumplimiento conditions.

A minimal facility may restrict hiring, banking readiness or regulated operations.

Government applications and professional work may become non-refundable once processing begins.

Licencia expiry is not necessarily the same as formal company cancellation.

KPM Global Services can help entrepreneurs compare and establish suitable one-visa company structures across the EAU.

Depending on the requirements, our assistance may include:

KPM Global Services does not issue licences, residence permits or bank accounts and cannot guarantee government or banking approval. Our role is to recommend a commercially appropriate route, clarify the real cost and professionally coordinate the applicable procedures.

It normally includes registro de empresa or licensing plus eligibility or processing for one residence visa. The exact scope varies. Establishment-card charges, entry permit, status adjustment, medical fitness, Emirates ID, insurance and professional fees may be included or charged separately.

Not necessarily. It may mean only that the company is eligible for one visa. Request a written list confirming every immigration and residence component included in the price.

3. Are one-visa packages available only in Free Zones?

No. Both mainland and Zona franca businesses can support owner residence. However, fixed-price one-visa packages are commonly marketed by Free Zones because they can combine licensing, workspace and immigration eligibility.

It may be suitable where the licencia contains the correct consultancy activity, the entrepreneur needs limited workspace and no immediate employees, and the jurisdiction supports the intended customer market.

No. The company must hold an activity authorising the relevant trading operations. Using an inexpensive service licencia for product trading can cause regulatory, contractual, customs, tax and banking problems.

Only if expressly stated. The establishment card is a separate immigration-related record and may carry separate issuance and renewal costs.

An Emirates ID application is connected to residence issuance, but its government and processing charges may be excluded from the advertised package price. Confirm this before paying.

Medical fitness requirements depend on the applicant and residence category. Where required, confirm whether standard testing or an expedited service is included.

Many licensing stages may be completed remotely, depending on the jurisdiction. The applicant may still need to enter the EAU to complete medical fitness, biometrics and other residence procedures.

Potentially, but an in-country status-adjustment procedure may be required. Confirm whether that cost is included and whether travel restrictions apply during processing.

Validity depends on the applicable residence category and issuing authority. The provider should state the proposed visa type and duration rather than relying on the general phrase "visado de inversor."

Possibly. Additional allocation can depend on the jurisdiction, activity, facility and office size. Ask about the maximum capacity and upgrade cost before incorporating.

An eligible resident may be able to sponsor qualifying family members, but family residence is processed separately and normally carries additional documentary, insurance and government costs.

No. Banks conduct independent due diligence and may review the business model, residence status, source of funds, expected transactions, customers, suppliers and commercial substance.

In many jurisdictions, an individual may own a company without taking EAU residence. However, non-resident status can affect banking, local administration and practical management.

Usually not automatically. Suitability depends on activities, market access, visa scope, workspace, banking profile, renewal cost and future expansion—not merely the first-year price.

Check registration, establishment card, entry permit, status adjustment, medical fitness, Emirates ID, biometrics, insurance, workspace, delivery, professional fees, taxes on services, renewal and cancellation.

The first year may include incorporation charges or promotional discounts. Renewal may have a different licencia price and separate workspace, establishment-card, residence, ID, insurance and professional charges.

Only when the quotation expressly includes it. Company licensing and Impuesto de sociedades registration are separate processes. Ongoing bookkeeping and tax-return preparation are also separate services.

It falls within the EAU Impuesto de sociedades framework unless a statutory exemption applies. Qualifying Zona franca Person treatment is conditional and does not arise merely because the licencia was issued by a Zona franca.

A EAU-resident business generally must register when taxable supplies and imports exceed AED 375,000 under the historical or anticipated turnover tests. Voluntary registration may be possible above AED 187,500.

That depends on the jurisdiction, activity, tax position and other requirements. Ask the licensing authority and tax adviser before choosing a package.

Usually, an approved amendment may be possible, but fees, updated documents or a different package may be required. Some activities cannot be combined or require external approval.

The consequences depend on the reason, processing stage and refund policy. Government charges, medical costs and professional work already completed may be non-refundable. The provider should disclose the applicable terms before submission.

Yes. KPM Global Services can compare suitable mainland and Zona franca structures based on the activity, residence needs, customer market, banking profile, budget and expected expansion.