Getting operational
Visas and establishment card
Establishment card, employment visas, Emirates ID and dependants
In short
Every DIFC entity that wants to sponsor residence visas needs an establishment card first. The visa quota is calculated against leased office space, roughly one visa per nine square metres, and each employee visa runs through entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping.
What you get
- Establishment card application and issue
- Quota confirmation against the leased space
- Employment visa processing from entry permit to residence stamp
- Medical and Emirates ID coordination
- Dependant visas for spouse and children
- Renewals, cancellations and status changes
Timeline: Establishment card 1 to 2 weeks. Each visa 2 to 4 weeks
The quota drives the office decision
This is the point founders most often plan around backwards. The number of visas a DIFC entity can sponsor follows the size of its leased space, at roughly one visa per nine square metres, confirmed by DIFC Government Services against your specific lease.
If the plan is eight people in year one, the co-working desk will not carry it. Work out headcount first, confirm the allocation, then take the space. Doing it the other way round means signing a second lease before the first year is out.
What employees actually go through
Entry permit, then status change or entry on the permit, then medical fitness test, then Emirates ID biometrics, then residence visa stamping. Each step has its own queue and the whole sequence takes two to four weeks once the employee is in the country.
Dependants follow the employee's residence and need evidence of relationship, attested where issued abroad, plus a salary threshold that varies by dependant type. Getting marriage and birth certificates attested before travel saves a fortnight.
Questions
How many visas can a DIFC company sponsor?
The allocation follows leased office space, at approximately one visa per nine square metres. DIFC Government Services confirms the exact quota against your lease, and additional allocations can sometimes be requested with justification.
Can a Prescribed Company sponsor visas?
No. A Prescribed Company has no office and no employees, so it cannot obtain an establishment card. If the structure needs a visa holder, it needs an operating entity alongside.
How long is a DIFC residence visa valid?
Employment residence visas are typically issued for two or three years and are renewable while the employment continues. The visa is cancelled when employment ends, and cancellation has to happen within 30 days of termination.
Not sure which DIFC licence you need?
Answer eight questions and we will tell you the licence route, the likely cost and the realistic timeline. It takes about two minutes and there is no obligation.