PRO Services: Establishment Cards, Permits and Visas
The ICP establishment card
The electronic establishment card records the trade name, licence number, partners and activity. You need a valid licence and an authorised signatory with an Emirates ID or unified number. The initial approval and the card application must go through authorised service providers, and free zone companies apply through their free zone authority.1
| ICP fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | AED 100 |
| Issuance, per year | AED 100 |
| Smart services | AED 100 |
| Subscription to the ICP electronic system for establishments | AED 2,000 |
| Adding or changing an electronic service | AED 200 |
Source: ICP: Issuing an establishment card; ICP: Amend or add to an establishment card1,2
Changing the trade name, ownership or partners means amending the card. Changing establishment details without notifying the ICP carries a fine of AED 1,000.2
The MOHRE establishment file
- MOHRE registers the establishment, its owners and authorised signatories, their signatures, the activity and the location.
- You need a valid licence, the ICP establishment card and an approved lease, and the licensee must be at least 21.
- The card takes 2 working days. It is free on the MOHRE website and app; business service centres may charge up to AED 72, and the Ta'qeem fee is AED 406.
- Work permits cost AED 250 to AED 3,450 to issue or renew, depending on whether MOHRE classifies the company in category A, B or C.
Source: MOHRE: Issuance of an establishment card; UAE Government Portal: Work permits3,4
What a PRO does
| Task | Who it is filed with |
|---|---|
| Initial approval and establishment card | ICP, through an authorised service provider |
| Establishment file and work permits | MOHRE |
| Employee and family residence visas | GDRFA in Dubai or ICP in the other emirates |
| Free zone visas and cards | The free zone authority |
Source: ICP: Issuing an establishment card; MOHRE: Issuance of an establishment card; GDRFA Dubai: Entry visa for family sponsorship1,3,5
A PRO files applications on your behalf but is not a lawyer. Check what the quote includes: government fees are fixed and published on each authority's service page, so the rest is the PRO's own fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an establishment card cost?
ICP charges AED 100 to apply, AED 100 a year to issue and AED 100 for smart services, plus AED 2,000 to subscribe to its electronic system for establishments.
Sources
- ICP: Issuing an establishment card
- ICP: Amend or add to an establishment card
- MOHRE: Issuance of an establishment card
- UAE Government Portal: Work permits
- GDRFA Dubai: Entry visa for family sponsorship
Figures checked 21 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information. It is not investment, tax or legal advice; please confirm details with a qualified adviser before acting.