Immigration Card vs Establishment Card
These are two different cards, issued by two different authorities, doing two different jobs — and they are constantly confused, which is why published costs for "the establishment card" range from AED 200 to AED 1,600. Here is the distinction, and which one you need.
The two cards, side by side
| Immigration establishment card | Labour establishment card | |
|---|---|---|
| Also called | Immigration card, e-channel card, establishment immigration card | Company card, MOHRE card, labour card |
| Issued by | GDRFA or ICP | MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation) |
| What it permits | Sponsoring residence visas for owners, staff and dependants | Employing staff and issuing work permits on the mainland |
| Who needs it | Anyone sponsoring a visa, free zone or mainland | Mainland companies employing staff |
| Free zone companies | Yes — usually arranged through the free zone authority | No — the free zone handles employment, not MOHRE |
| Indicative cost | AED 1,000 - 2,000 new, AED 500 - 1,200 renewal | AED 500 - 1,500 new, AED 300 - 800 renewal |
| Typical validity | 1 - 3 years | 1 - 2 years |
Which one do you actually need?
- Free zone company, sponsoring visas — immigration establishment card only. Your free zone handles employment, so MOHRE does not enter the picture.
- Free zone company, licence only with no visas — neither. You do not need a card until you sponsor someone.
- Mainland company with staff — both. The MOHRE card to employ, the immigration card to put them on a residence visa.
- Mainland company, owner visa only — immigration card, and the MOHRE card once you hire your first employee.
- Offshore company — neither. Offshore structures carry no visa allocation at all.
The order matters
These are sequential, not parallel, and getting the order wrong is the usual cause of a stalled first visa:
- Trade licence issued
- Immigration establishment card opened against that licence
- Entry permit, then status change, medical and Emirates ID
- MOHRE labour card if you are on the mainland and hiring
- Work permit and labour contract for each employee
Nothing at step three can start before step two exists. If a setup consultant tells you visas are "in process" before the immigration file is open, that is not accurate.
Immigration Card vs Establishment Card — FAQs
What is the difference between an immigration card and an establishment card?
The immigration establishment card is issued by GDRFA or ICP and lets your company sponsor residence visas. The labour establishment card is issued by MOHRE and lets you employ staff and issue work permits on the mainland. Both are often loosely called "the establishment card", which is the root of most of the confusion and the wildly different costs quoted online.
Do free zone companies need a MOHRE labour card?
No. Free zone companies handle employment through their own free zone authority rather than MOHRE, so the labour card does not apply. You still need an immigration establishment card if you intend to sponsor anyone on a residence visa.
Which card do I need first?
The immigration establishment card, and it comes straight after the trade licence. Nothing visa-related can begin until it is open, including an entry permit for yourself. The MOHRE labour card comes later and only if you are a mainland company hiring staff.
How much do the two cards cost?
An immigration establishment card is roughly AED 1,000 to 2,000 new and AED 500 to 1,200 to renew. A MOHRE labour card is roughly AED 500 to 1,500 new and AED 300 to 800 to renew. Typing centre and PRO fees sit on top of both. Free zones commonly bundle the immigration card into the setup package.
Do I need either card if I have no employees?
If you are sponsoring your own residence visa you need the immigration establishment card. If you have a licence-only package and no visas at all, you need neither. An offshore company carries no visa allocation and needs neither.
Related
General information, not legal or tax advice. Requirements and fees are set by GDRFA, ICP and MOHRE and differ by emirate. Confirm with the relevant authority before applying.
Last updated: October 2026 · Maintained by the My Business Setup editorial team
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