For a typical company-sponsored residence visa, the Ajman process follows a set sequence: establishment card, ICP Smart Services access, entry permit, medical fitness test and Emirates ID. The steps differ for family-sponsored, Green and Golden visas.
Since January 2025, employers in Ajman must also provide health insurance for private-sector employees. Since April 2022, the UAE no longer stamps residence visas in passports, and your Emirates ID now serves as proof of residency. Bestax can handle the whole process for you, from collecting documents to issuing your Emirates ID.
Ajman, with its beaches, historic architecture and bustling markets, is a charming part of the UAE. Although it is the smallest emirate, it offers a relaxed lifestyle and a lower cost of living, which makes it popular with residents and business owners. This guide explains the Ajman immigration process, residency requirements, fees and how the Bestax team can manage your visa from start to finish.
Ajman: A Small Emirate with Big Opportunities
Ajman is the smallest emirate by area, covering about 260 square kilometres, but it is the fourth most populous emirate after Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.
The emirate sits in the Northern Emirates, overlooking the Arabian Gulf, between Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain. Besides Ajman city, where the government offices are located, the emirate includes the inland areas of Manama and Masfout.
Thinking of setting up a company here? See our business setup in Ajman services.
Types of Ajman Residence Visas
Ajman follows the UAE's federal residence system, so the main routes are:
- Employment visa: sponsored by your employer, on the mainland or in a free zone.
- Investor or partner visa: for owners and partners of an Ajman company.
- Family visa: for spouses, children and, in some cases, parents sponsored by a UAE resident.
- Green Visa: a five-year self-sponsored visa for eligible skilled employees, freelancers and investors.
- Golden Visa: a long-term residence visa for eligible investors, entrepreneurs and professionals.
This guide focuses mainly on company-sponsored visas, such as employment and investor visas. The UAE government portal lists every type of UAE visa, including visit and tourist visas.
Ajman Mainland vs Free Zone Visas: What's the Difference?
Ajman immigration rules differ depending on where your company is licensed. In both cases, the residence visa is issued through ICP, but the steps before it differ.
| Ajman mainland | Ajman free zone | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Ajman Department of Economic Development | The free zone authority, such as Ajman Free Zone or Ajman Media City Free Zone |
| Where visa applications start | ICP Smart Services or an approved typing centre | The free zone's own portal or service desk, which submits to ICP |
| Work authorisation | MOHRE work permit and labour contract | Employment card or permit issued by the free zone |
| Visa quota | Employee quota approved by MOHRE based on business activity, premises, legal status and operational needs | Visa allocation depends on the selected package, facilities and approval by the relevant free zone authority |
| Where you can trade | Can generally serve customers across the UAE, subject to licensed activities and applicable approvals | Can operate within the free zone and internationally; direct mainland business may require additional licences, approvals or authorised distribution arrangements |
If you are still choosing a structure, our Ajman company formation team covers both mainland and free zone options. If you are weighing other emirates, compare Dubai mainland setup and Dubai free zone setup.
Ajman Residency Requirements: Documents Our Team Collects
You don't have to chase paperwork on your own. Bestax gives you a checklist, collects your documents and prepares the applications. The exact list depends on whether your company is on the mainland or in a free zone, such as Ajman Free Zone or Ajman Media City Free Zone, but it usually includes:
Company Documents
- Valid trade licence
- Immigration establishment card
- Company contract or memorandum of association, where required
Applicant Documents
- Passport with at least six months' validity
- Recent passport-sized photos with a white background
- Educational certificates, where required, attested in your home country and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Medical fitness test results
- Valid health insurance
Free zones may also ask for their own application forms or employee cards. Our team checks the requirements for your specific authority before applying.
2025 Health Insurance Requirement
Since 1 January 2025, employers in Ajman and the other Northern Emirates must arrange qualifying health insurance for private-sector employees and domestic workers when issuing or renewing their residence permits.
The government-backed basic health insurance package from MOHRE costs AED 320 per year for eligible workers, although other plans may cost more. Dependants can also be covered under the same package and pricing, subject to the policy terms.
If you hold an earlier valid work permit, the requirement applies when your residence permit is renewed. Free zone arrangements should be confirmed separately, and our team can check this for you.
How Bestax Handles the Ajman Visa Process
Ajman residence visas go through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). The steps below apply to a typical company-sponsored residence visa. Family-sponsored, Green, Golden and other visa categories follow different routes, and we will explain the right one for you. Our team manages each step:
- Establishment card: we apply for your company's immigration establishment card, which links your trade licence to the immigration system. Without it, your company cannot sponsor visas.
- ICP Smart Services access: we arrange the applicable ICP Smart Services access or registration (formerly known as eChannel). Depending on whether your company is on the mainland or in an Ajman free zone, additional immigration account setup, subscription fees or authority-specific procedures may apply. Read more in our guide to e-channel registration in the UAE.
- Entry permit: we submit the entry permit application. If you are already in the UAE, we arrange a change of status instead.
- Medical fitness test and Emirates ID: once the entry permit is issued, we arrange the medical fitness test for applicants aged 18 and over, along with Emirates ID registration and biometrics where applicable.
- Residence visa issuance: after you pass the medical test, we complete the residence visa application. Your residence is issued electronically and linked to your Emirates ID, so no passport stamp is needed.
Key deadlines: once your entry permit is issued, you generally have 60 days to enter the UAE. After entering on the residence entry permit, you generally have another 60 days to complete the residence procedures. These are two separate periods, and exceptions may apply, so we check the dates on your permit and complete each step on time.
We keep you updated at every stage, so you always know where your application stands.
Fees for Ajman Residency Visa
The total cost depends on your company type, your free zone or mainland authority, the visa duration and whether you apply from inside or outside the UAE. A typical application includes:
- Establishment card issuance or renewal
- ICP Smart Services access or subscription, where applicable
- Entry permit, or change of status if you are already in the UAE
- Residence visa issuance
- Medical fitness test
- Emirates ID
- Health insurance, paid by the employer for eligible workers under the mandatory scheme (other applicants and dependants may have different arrangements)
- Typing, service and free zone fees
Published Government Fees
The establishment card is the largest fixed government cost for a new company. These are ICP's published fees, checked in November 2026:
| Fee item | New establishment card | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Card fee, per year | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Smart services fee | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| ICP electronic system subscription for establishments | AED 2,000 | AED 1,000 |
| Total for a one-year card | From AED 2,300 | From AED 1,300 |
Source: ICP's service pages for issuing an establishment card and renewing an establishment card. A card renewed more than 30 days late also attracts a fine of AED 100 per month, up to AED 1,000.
Each employee then adds the entry permit, residence visa, medical test and Emirates ID fees, plus AED 320 a year for the basic health insurance package where it applies. These are individual fee components, not a total cost. Learn more in our guide on what an establishment card is in the UAE.
Government fees and service charges change regularly. For an accurate quote for your visa, contact our team.
Ajman Residency Visa Validity
The validity of a residence visa in Ajman depends on the visa type and the sponsor. Employment and investor residence visas are commonly issued for two years, although some free zones offer different durations.
If you qualify, you can also apply for a longer-term federal residence visa, such as the five-year UAE Green Visa or the UAE Golden Visa. These are issued by ICP and are not specific to Ajman. See our Golden Visa services or read about the freelance visa.
If you sponsor family members, their residence visas normally cannot extend beyond the expiry date of your own visa. Our guide on how to apply for a family visa in the UAE covers the sponsor's requirements.
To renew your visa, our team submits the renewal before it expires, together with a new medical fitness test where required, Emirates ID renewal and valid health insurance.
How to Check Your Ajman Visa Status and Overstay Fines
You can check your Ajman visa application or residence status online through ICP, whether your visa is sponsored by a mainland or a free zone company.
Check Your Visa Application Status
- Visit the official ICP Smart Services portal.
- Open the application tracking or inquiry service.
- Enter your application or request number and any other details requested.
- Review the status of your application.
You can also use the UAEICP mobile app to track applications and access digital residency services. If your visa is processed through a free zone, its portal may also show the status. Our guide to checking your UAE visa status online walks through each option.
Check Your Residence Visa Validity
If you already have an Ajman residence visa, use the ICP file validity service to check your residency details and expiry date. You may need your passport details, nationality and other identification information.
What Happens If Your Visa Expires?
ICP grants a grace period after a residence visa expires or is cancelled, and its length depends on your visa category:
- 180 days: Golden, Green and Blue Residence holders and their family members, and some other categories such as students after completing their studies.
- 90 days: skilled workers in levels 1 to 3, and property owners.
- 60 days: residence permits issued with a guarantor or host.
- 30 days: all other categories.
If you stay in the UAE beyond your grace period, the overstay fine is AED 50 per day.
Check your exact grace period and visa status through ICP before making travel or renewal plans. For a step-by-step guide, read how to check overstay fines in the UAE. If you are unsure whether anything else could stop you at the airport, see our guide on how to check a travel ban in UAE. Bestax can also coordinate your renewal or cancellation before your visa expires.
Ajman Visa Cancellation Process
If you need to cancel an Ajman visa, our team handles the cancellation with the relevant authority. For the wider rules, see our UAE visa cancellation process guide.
Cancelling an Unused Entry Permit
If the entry permit has not been used, we submit the cancellation request through the relevant channel. Requirements can vary by channel and permit category, but usually include a signed request and copies of the company's trade licence and establishment card.
Cancelling a Residence Visa
We submit the residence cancellation through ICP Smart Services, or through your free zone where it handles immigration services. Free zones may ask for their own forms, the original employee card and, in some cases, the applicant's presence.
If you sponsor family members, their residence permits generally must be cancelled before yours, unless an approved hold or status-change arrangement applies. After cancellation, the grace period to leave the UAE or obtain a new visa depends on the residence category, so we confirm the exact period for you.
Start Your Ajman Residency With Bestax
Don't let paperwork slow down your move to Ajman. Our Ajman immigration services cover every step:
- Book a consultation so we can review your company and visa needs.
- Share your details and we'll send you a document checklist.
- Leave the rest to us. We manage the establishment card, entry permit, medical test, Emirates ID and residence visa.
Whether you are setting up a business in Ajman mainland or a UAE free zone, or need help with your visa, book a consultation with Bestax to get started.
FAQs on Ajman Immigration
Can I Visit Ajman Before Applying for Residency?
Yes. ICP issues visit visas for 30, 60 or 90 days, and they can be extended as long as your total stay does not exceed 120 days. Some nationalities can enter without a visa or get one on arrival.
Can I Work in Ajman on a Visit Visa?
No. A visit visa does not allow you to work. You need a work permit from MOHRE, or an employment card from your free zone, and a residence visa sponsored by your employer.
Can I Switch From a Visit Visa to a Residence Visa Without Leaving the UAE?
In most cases, yes. When your sponsor applies for the entry permit while you are in the country, a change of status moves you onto the residence entry permit without an exit. Change of status carries its own fee, which we include in your quote.
How Long Does an Ajman Visa Take?
ICP lists a service completion time of two days for issuing an entry permit once the application is complete. The full timeline also depends on the medical test, Emirates ID biometrics and, for a new company, the establishment card. Contact our team for a timeline for your application.
Can I Live in Ajman and Work in Dubai or Sharjah?
Yes. UAE residence is federal, so you can live in Ajman on a residence visa sponsored by an employer in another emirate. Your visa and work permit must be issued through the employer you actually work for.
Can I Sponsor My Parents in Ajman?
In some cases. Spouses and children are the usual family sponsorships, while parents are subject to extra conditions, such as the sponsor's income and accommodation. We check your eligibility before applying.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only. For professional assistance and advice, please contact experts.
With over six years of experience in tax, accounting, bookkeeping, and business setup processes, Neha Ghauri provides expert insights through meticulously researched content.
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