Federal E-Channel
- Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman
- RAK, UAQ, and Fujairah
- Mainland and free zone companies
- Managed by ICP and the MOI
- The system this page covers
E-Channel Registration in the UAE
Register your company on the UAE E-Channel system to sponsor visas online. See how it works, the exact fees, the Dubai difference, and how Riz & Mona sets it up.
Excellent
Federal immigration system
Sponsor employee visas
Full setup and renewals
Excellent
Sponsor visas online
What is E-Channel registration in the UAE? E-Channel registration
E-Channel is the UAE's federal online immigration system. Registering your company on it lets you sponsor employee visas, issue your establishment card, and process entry permits and cancellations, all online, without a single trip to a typing centre. It runs under the ICP and the Ministry of Interior.
There is one thing to get right before you start. E-Channel serves six emirates. Dubai runs its own system, GDRFA, and Dubai companies use that instead. Knowing which system is yours is the difference between a smooth setup and a stalled one, and it is the first thing we confirm.
Once registered, your company has a digital identity and a visa quota, ready to hire. Riz & Mona sets up your account, keeps it renewed, and processes your visas through it, so your team gets to work without the admin.
Why register
Why your company needs E-Channel E-Channel
E-Channel is your company's gateway to UAE immigration. Without it, you cannot sponsor a single visa or issue your establishment card. With it, the whole process moves online and in hours, not weeks.
- Sponsor employment visas for your team
- Issue and manage your establishment card
- Apply for entry permits and residence visas
- Cancel visas without a typing-centre visit
- Track every application in real time
- Process transactions around the clock
What you can do
What E-Channel lets your company do E-Channel
One account handles every immigration transaction your company needs. This is what it puts at your fingertips.
Entry permits
Issue entry permits for new hires joining from abroad.
Residence visas
Apply for and renew employee residence visas.
Establishment card
Issue and renew the card that anchors your file.
Visa cancellation
Cancel visas cleanly when staff leave.
Family sponsorship
Sponsor dependants of your visa holders.
Live tracking
Follow every application from submission to approval.
Know your system
E-Channel or GDRFA, which do you use? E-Channel or GDRFA
GDRFA
- All Dubai-registered companies
- Includes Dubai free zones
- DMCC, JAFZA, DAFZA, DIFC
- Managed by GDRFA Dubai
- We handle this route too
Cost
How much does E-Channel registration cost? E-Channel registration
The upfront cost has two parts: a registration fee you pay once, and a security deposit you get back. Here is exactly what you pay to start and to keep it running.
Registration fee
AED 2,300
The one-time, non-refundable fee to set up your E-Channel account.
Security deposit
AED 5,025
Refundable on deregistration, if you have no pending fines or visas.
Annual renewal
Around AED 1,200
The yearly fee that keeps your account active and compliant.
What to know on cost
Total to start
Registration plus deposit comes to around AED 7,325 upfront.
The deposit
The AED 5,025 is a deposit, not a fee, and refundable on exit.
Renewal
Miss the annual renewal and your account and card are suspended.
Amendments
Update a license change within 7 days to avoid a heavy fine.
A note on pricing
All figures are indicative and current at the time of writing. E-Channel fees can vary slightly by licensing authority, and government charges change over time. Riz & Mona provides a personalised, itemised quote for your registration before any work begins.
The steps
How to register for E-Channel register for E-Channel
Registration works at two levels, the company first then the people you authorise to run transactions on its behalf.
Step 1
Confirm your system
We check whether your company uses federal E-Channel or Dubai's GDRFA.
Step 2
Prepare your documents
We gather your trade license, establishment card, and signatory details.
Step 3
Register the company
Your company is registered on the portal and given its digital identity.
Step 4
Add your signatories
Authorised users and PROs are added to manage transactions securely.
Step 5
Activate and pay
The account is activated once the fee and deposit are settled.
Step 6
Process and renew
You start sponsoring visas, and we keep the account renewed each year.
Who needs it
Which company needs E-Channel? company needs E-Channel
Almost any company that sponsors staff needs an account, on E-Channel or GDRFA. These are the setups we register most.
Newly formed company
A new business getting its establishment card and first visas.
- Establishment card first
- Sets up your visa quota
- Done right after licensing
- Ready to hire fast
Mainland company
A mainland firm outside Dubai sponsoring employees.
- Federal E-Channel account
- Employee visa processing
- Direct MOI access
- Full immigration control
Free zone company
A free zone firm processing visas through the system.
- E-Channel or zone portal
- Establishment card handling
- Quota-based visas
- Zone-specific setup
Dubai company
A Dubai business that uses the GDRFA system instead.
- GDRFA, not E-Channel
- Includes Dubai free zones
- We set this up too
- Same visa outcome
Growing employer
A business hiring in volume that needs smooth processing.
- Bulk visa handling
- Higher visa quota
- Faster onboarding
- Ongoing management
Family sponsor
An individual sponsoring dependants on their visa.
- Sponsor spouse and children
- Processed through the system
- Document support
- Renewal handling
E-Channel UAE
Ready to register your company for visas?
Tell Riz & Mona about your company and where it is licensed. We confirm your system, register the account, and set you up to sponsor visas, then keep it compliant year on year.
Right system confirmed•Account fully set up•Renewals and visas handled•Itemised quote up front
All costs are indicative and change over time. Riz & Mona provides a personalised quote for your E-Channel registration.