Establishment Card & Immigration File

What the card is, and who issues it in Dubai

What this desk covers

• A new card for a mainland company once the trade licence is issued, so that staff can be sponsored
• Renewal before expiry, with the trade licence checked first
• Cancellation when a company closes, once nobody remains sponsored on the card
• The supporting papers GDRFA lists: partners' names appendix, signatories' passports, notarised authorisation where a manager signs
• Submission through GDRFA's digital channels or an Amer centre, and follow-up to completion
• Dates on our watch list, so the next renewal is planned rather than discovered

Who this page is for

• A new mainland company whose licence has just been issued and whose first hire is waiting
• A company whose card is coming up for renewal, or has already lapsed
• A company that has changed hands, where partners or signatories are different from the last filing
• A company closing down, where the card is cancelled as part of the closure — see our guide to closing a company in Dubai
• Owners who would rather not file it themselves, though GDRFA's digital route is open to them

What GDRFA asks for

What GDRFA lists for a private sector or free zone card, issued or renewed (issue, renewal, read 13 November 2026):

• "A copy of the appendix of the names of the partners" (issue) / "A copy of the partners' names appendix for the private sector or free zone" (renewal)
• "Passport copies of the authorised signatories" (issue) / "Copies of the authorised signatories' passports" (renewal)
• A notarised authorisation for the authorised persons, in the case of a manager

What GDRFA lists to cancel the card (cancellation, read 13 November 2026):

• "A business card."
• "A letter cancelling the facility card from the sponsor."

What we also ask for, to quote: the trade licence, the current card if there is one, and who signs for the company. Anything else is confirmed with you at quotation.

How an establishment card file runs

1. We read the licence and the current card. A card is issued against a valid licence, so the licence is checked first.
2. A written quote, with GDRFA's published charges listed separately from our fee.
3. The documents GDRFA lists are collected and checked against the service card before anything is filed.
4. Submission. GDRFA's cards describe a digital route — log in "through (UAE Pass or username)" — and an Amer service centre route (gdrfad.gov.ae).
5. Follow-up to completion, and the card is sent to you.
6. The next renewal date goes on our watch list.

Timing and the charges GDRFA publishes

• Issue and renewal: GDRFA gives an expected completion time of "48.0 Hour(s)" on both service cards (issue, renewal, read 13 November 2026).
• Cancellation: GDRFA's cancellation card leaves the completion time blank (gdrfad.gov.ae, read 13 November 2026).
• Our turnaround: we promise none beyond following the file to completion; the authority sets the pace.

Fees: Quote on request. Our service fee is quoted in writing. GDRFA's charges are listed separately in your quote, as GDRFA publishes them below.

Establishment card questions