Why your final bill beats the advertised 'from' price — the establishment card, e-channel, visa stamping, medical and Emirates ID — and how to get a quote with none of it hidden.
Because the advertised "from AED X" licence is rarely the final bill. The costs most often left out are the establishment (immigration) card, e-channel registration, visa stamping, the medical test and Emirates ID, and per-visa processing — together frequently AED 4,000–9,000 more than the headline. None of these are optional if you want a working company with a visa. On Formenzo, all of them are already inside the price you see, and we lock it in writing for 14 days.
| Hidden item | Why it's charged | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Establishment / immigration card | Required before anyone can be sponsored for a visa | AED 1,500–2,600 |
| E-channel registration | Mandatory immigration portal deposit/registration | AED 2,000–2,600 |
| Visa stamping (per visa) | Entry permit + status change + stamping | AED 3,000–6,000 |
| Medical test + Emirates ID (per person) | Compulsory for each residence visa | AED 700–1,000 |
| Name / activity add-ons | Extra activities or a non-standard trade name | AED 0–2,000 |
| "Express" / urgent fees | Charged to speed up a normal timeline | situational |
| Year-2 renewal | Quoted low for year 1, jumps at renewal | ask up front |
Indicative ranges that vary by free zone — the point isn't the exact figure, it's that an honest quote names them before you pay. We confirm yours in writing.
"From AED 5,750" almost always means a zero-visa licence with nothing added. It's a real number — but if you need even one residence visa, the establishment card, e-channel, medical, Emirates ID and stamping all switch on at once. That's how a AED 5,750 headline becomes a AED 13,000+ reality. The figure isn't wrong; it's just incomplete. See the real all-in cost by visa count instead of the teaser.
A favourite tactic is a low first-year price that quietly resets higher at renewal. Always ask for the year-2 renewal cost in writing before you commit — a one-time discount that doubles next year isn't a saving. Formenzo shows the real recurring picture, not just a launch number.
That's the whole reason Formenzo exists: every price is published all-in, locked in writing for 14 days, and we never cold-call. Compare all 9 zones, hidden-cost-free, on the live comparison or run the cost calculator.
See your exact all-in number in writing, locked for 14 days. No callback, no pressure.
The costs most often left out of an advertised price are the establishment (immigration) card, e-channel registration, visa stamping, the medical test and Emirates ID, plus per-visa processing — together frequently AED 4,000–9,000 more than the headline 'from' figure. None are optional once you add a residence visa.
Because 'from AED X' usually describes a zero-visa licence with nothing added. The moment you need a visa, the establishment card, e-channel, medical, Emirates ID and stamping all apply — so an honest quote includes them up front rather than after you commit.
Ask for a single all-in quote (licence + establishment card + e-channel + your visa block), get it in writing, ask specifically what's excluded, confirm the year-2 renewal cost before paying, and compare zones on the same visa count. Avoid anyone who needs a sales call to discuss pricing.
It can be. A common tactic is a low first-year price that resets higher at renewal. Always ask for the year-2 renewal figure in writing before committing to year 1.
No. Every price on Formenzo is published all-in — licence, registration, service and visa block in one number — confirmed in writing and locked for 14 days, with no cold-calling.
