Thinking of starting a business in Dubai? You’ve picked a great spot! The International Free Zone Authority, or IFZA, is a popular choice for many new business owners. To get started, you will need a list of documents required for IFZA company formation. Getting your papers in order is the first big step to making your business dream a reality.
This guide gives you a simple, step-by-step list of all the paperwork you’ll need in 2025. We’ll make sure you have everything ready for a quick and easy company setup.
Quick Takeaway:
About the Guide: This is your go-to guide for all the documents needed to set up your company in IFZA, for both individual and corporate owners. We will also cover the steps, costs, and common mistakes.
Basic Documents: For your IFZA license application, you will need your passport, visa copies, and passport-style photos.
For Companies: If a company is a shareholder, you will need extra papers like a Certificate of Incorporation.
Keep in Mind: The specific IFZA company formation documents you need might change depending on what your business does and where you are from.
A Complete Checklist of Documents Required for IFZA Company Formation
A. Documents for Individual Shareholders:
When you decide to start your company with IFZA, you’ll need to gather some papers. The list of individual shareholder documents IFZA requires is straightforward. Think of it as putting together a puzzle; each piece is a document, and once you have them all, you are ready to go.
Here’s a simple IFZA business setup checklist for you:
Passport Copies: You’ll need a clear, color copy of your passport. Make sure it’s valid for at least six more months. This is a key part of your Dubai free zone document requirements.
Passport-Size Photograph: You also need a recent photo. It should have a white background, and you should not wear glasses. This is for your official records.
Visa Copy: If you already live in the UAE, you must provide a copy of your current residence visa.
Emirates ID Copy: For UAE residents, a copy of your Emirates ID is also on the list of UAE free zone required documents.
Entry Stamp or Visa Page: If you are not a UAE resident, you’ll need to show the page in your passport with your UAE entry stamp.
Proof of Address: You need to show where you live. A recent utility bill or a rental agreement works perfectly as a proof of address.
Completed Application Form: Finally, you will fill out the official IFZA application form. You must include details about the company’s Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) in the IFZA UBO declaration form.
B. Documents for Corporate Shareholders:
If your company has corporate shareholders, you will need a few more papers. The list of corporate documents for IFZA is a bit longer, but it’s all about proving your company is real and ready to do business.
Here’s what you need to prepare in addition to the individual shareholder documents for the company’s manager or director:
Certificate of Incorporation: You’ll need an official copy of your company’s birth certificate, which is the Certificate of Incorporation. This copy must be attested and notarized.
Memorandum and Articles of Association (MOA & AOA): These are the rulebooks for your company. You’ll need copies of the Memorandum of Association IFZA and Articles of Association IFZA, and they must be attested and notarized.
Board Resolution: This is a formal letter from your parent company’s leaders. It should state that they agree to form a new company in IFZA. This also needs to be notarized.
Good Standing Certificate: This is a certificate from your company’s registrar that shows your company is active and in good health.
Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) Declaration: You’ll need to fill out a form that says who the real owners of the company are. This is a key part of the IFZA UBO declaration form.
Trade License: A copy of your parent company’s trade license is also needed.
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Document Attestation and Notarization: What You Need to Know?
When you are setting up a company with corporate shareholders, the paperwork needs some extra steps. These steps are about making your documents official. This is what you need to do for the notarization for IFZA documents.
First, you need to get your corporate documents, like the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association, notarized. This means a special person called a notary public will check and stamp them to say they are real. You do this in the country where your parent company is based.
Next, you need to get these notarized documents attested. This is like getting another stamp of approval. You will need to take them to the UAE Embassy in your home country. They will check the notary’s stamp and add their own.
Finally, once you bring the documents to the UAE, you have one more stop. You need to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in the UAE. They will give the final stamp, making your documents official in the UAE.
This process can be a bit tricky because the rules can be different for each country. To make it easy, you can use a professional service that knows all about these steps. They can handle all the running around for you.
Breakdown of Costs Associated with Documents and Setup
Let’s talk about money. You might wonder about the cost of documents for IFZA and the entire setup. The total price for your business setup documents in Dubai depends on your needs, especially how many visas you want for your team.
Here is a simple table to show you the main IFZA license fees for 2025.
| Visa Package | Estimated Cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| 0 Visa Package | 12,900 |
| 1 Visa Package | 14,900 |
| 2 Visa Package | 16,900 |
| 3 Visa Package | 18,900 |
Besides the main license package, you have a few other fees to think about for your IFZA establishment card application and visa processing. Here are some extra costs to complete your IFZA passport and visa requirements :
- Establishment Card: Around AED 2,000 for the first year.
- Residence Visa: Approximately AED 3,750 for each person.
- Medical Tests: About AED 450 for a standard medical test.
- Emirates ID for IFZA setup: Around AED 390 for each ID card.
One more thing to remember is the cost for getting your corporate papers ready. The process for notarization for IFZA documents has its own separate fees. These costs can change depending on the country your parent company is from.
The information presented here has been sourced from IFZA’s official business setup guides and 2025 pricing lists from trusted Dubai business consultants like RadiantBiz, Shuraa, and Business Link UAE.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid When Submitting Your Documents
Getting your documents right is a big part of the IFZA company registration process. To help you, here are some common slip-ups to watch out for. Knowing these can save you time and make your business setup in Dubai much smoother.
Incorrect Photo Specifications: Many people make mistakes with their IFZA photo requirements. Your photo must have a plain white background, and you can’t wear glasses. If the photo isn’t right, it can cause delays.
Incomplete Application Forms: Sometimes, people forget to fill out all the parts of the application form. Forgetting to include UBO information is a common error. Always double-check your forms before you submit them.
Expired Passports: Your passport needs to be valid for at least six more months. If it’s close to expiring, you’ll need to renew it before you can complete your application.
Improperly Attested Documents: For corporate documents for IFZA, the attestation process is very specific. If you miss a step or get a stamp from the wrong place, your documents won’t be accepted. Following the correct steps for attestation is very important.
Low-Quality Scans: When you send your documents, they need to be clear and easy to read. A blurry or dark scan can cause your application to be rejected. Make sure you use a good scanner.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll have a much better chance of getting your trade license documents IFZA approved quickly.
How Firmz Can Help You with Your IFZA Company Formation?
Starting a company in IFZA can feel tricky, but this is where we at Firmz come in. We specialize in helping entrepreneurs and businesses set up in Dubai and other UAE free zones. Our mission is to make your business setup process smooth and stress-free.
We assist with every part of your IFZA company formation, especially with the documents required for IFZA company formation. From helping you gather your IFZA company formation documents, making sure your Dubai free zone document requirements are met, to handling your IFZA license application documents, our team takes care of it all.
Whether you need help with individual shareholder documents IFZA or corporate documents for IFZA, we provide expert guidance. We also help with the IFZA passport and visa requirements, not to mention the IFZA UBO declaration form and notarization for IFZA documents.
At Firmz, we handle your IFZA business setup checklist from start to finish, making sure you meet all the UAE free zone required documents standards. Plus, we assist with your IFZA establishment card application and see that the IFZA company registration process is complete without hassle.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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You will need passport copies, visa copies for residents, passport-sized photos, and a completed application form with UBO details.
How long does the IFZA company formation process take?
The process typically takes 5 to 7 working days once all the correct documents are submitted.
Can I apply for an IFZA license remotely?
Yes, one of the benefits of IFZA is that the entire company formation process can be completed remotely.
Do I need to attest my personal documents?
Generally, personal documents like passports do not require attestation, but corporate documents must be attested.
Is a business plan mandatory for all IFZA license types?
While not always mandatory, a solid business plan is highly recommended and may be requested for certain business activities.
Final Thought
This guide has laid out all the documents required for IFZA company formation in 2025, including individual shareholder documents IFZA and corporate documents for IFZA, and important points about attestation and notarization.
Having the right papers, like a passport copy, Emirates ID for IFZA setup, trade license documents IFZA, and proper application forms, in the right format helps your company start on the right foot.
If you feel overwhelmed, consider trusting professional help from consultancies like Firmz to assist with your IFZA business setup checklist and the company registration process.