When you compare UAE business setup packages, the headline figure is usually 'X visas'. That number is an allocation: it tells you how many residence visas your licence is permitted to apply for, subject to facility type and authority rules.
The cost of actually using that allocation is separate. A typical residence visa journey includes an establishment card, an immigration file, the visa application itself, a medical fitness test, Emirates ID and — if the applicant is already inside the UAE — a status change. Each of these has its own government charge, and most providers add a professional fee for processing.
Before paying for any package, ask for a written, itemised quotation that shows the licence charges, the facility charge, each visa-related government fee and the professional fees separately. That is the only way to compare offers fairly.
Published 27/10/2026. General information only — not legal, tax or immigration advice.