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Amer services in Dubai are the residency and immigration services of GDRFA Dubai, delivered at 85 private Amer centers licensed by GDRFA. They cover entry permits, residence visa issue, renewal and cancellation, status change inside the UAE, visit visas, data amendments and fine payments. GDRFA fees apply to each, for example AED 740 in total for a residence renewal filed inside the UAE, plus the center's own service charge.
Amer centers are opened by investors who meet GDRFA's requirements. GDRFA also runs 9 customer happiness centers of its own for cases an Amer center cannot resolve. Find either type on Amer centers near you.
Amer services and their GDRFA fees
| Service | GDRFA fee | Extra items |
|---|---|---|
| Residence visa renewal, private sector employee | AED 200 | AED 10 Knowledge Dirham, AED 10 Innovation Dirham, AED 500 fee inside the country, AED 20 delivery (AED 740 in total) |
| Residence visa renewal, family member | AED 200 | Same as above |
| Residence visa cancellation | AED 100 | AED 10 plus AED 10 |
| Entry permit cancellation | AED 50 | AED 10 plus AED 10 if the person is inside the UAE |
| Status change inside the UAE (Status Amendment) | AED 500 | AED 10 plus AED 10 |
| Family entry permit | AED 200 plus 5% VAT | AED 500 plus AED 10 plus AED 10 if already in the UAE |
| Family residence permit after entry | AED 200 | AED 10, AED 10, AED 20 delivery |
| Establishment card | AED 200 plus 5% VAT | AED 10, AED 10, AED 50 service fee, AED 100 more via Amer. The same page also says AED 100 per year, which conflicts with the AED 200 line |
Source: GDRFA service pages, checked . Residence permits over 2 years add AED 100 a year to the issue fee. The AED 500 fee inside the country is part of the GDRFA renewal schedule, so budget AED 740 for a renewal done while you are in the UAE.
These are government fees only. The medical fitness test, Emirates ID, health insurance and MOHRE work permit fees are separate.
What the center charges on top
Published price lists of Dubai typing centers, PRO firms and free zones, checked , show Amer service charges of about AED 100 to 300 per GDRFA transaction. Typing a visa or entry permit form is about AED 50 to 150. Ask for the GDRFA fee and the service charge as two separate lines before you pay.
What each Amer service involves
Entry permit. The first step for anyone coming to live in Dubai: a new employee, a spouse, a child. For family sponsorship, GDRFA's page lists a sponsor salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 with housing.
Residence visa issue. After entry and the medical test, the residence permit is issued. GDRFA lists passport copy, white background photo and the medical result for anyone 18 or over. Processing is stated as 48 hours. Private sector residence lasts 2 years.
Renewal. Same documents again, a new medical for adults, and the renewal fee. The Emirates ID is renewed alongside. See visa renewal in Dubai.
Cancellation. The sponsor files it. For a private sector employee, GDRFA asks for the MOHRE work permit cancellation first, so that part happens at a Tasheel center. GDRFA also offers cancellation through its digital channel. If a sponsor's own visa is cancelled, the dependants' visas must be cancelled too. See visa cancellation in Dubai.
Status change. Moves a person from a visit visa or cancelled visa to a new residence without leaving the UAE. GDRFA needs the new visa, the old permit cancelled, and passports of sponsor and sponsored. It states 48 hours.
Visit visas. GDRFA lists visit visas among the services Amer centers handle. Tourist visas run through accredited Dubai tourism establishments. The Amer visa application guide explains the difference.
Data amendments and fines. Changes to the details on a residency file, and payment of GDRFA fines. Overstay fines are AED 50 a day for residence, tourist and visit visas. See overstay fines.
What Amer centers do not do
| Task | Where it goes instead |
|---|---|
| Work permit, labour contract, labour card | Tasheel center (MOHRE) |
| Maid, nanny or driver work permit | Tadbeer, the domestic workers center (MOHRE) |
| Emirates ID renewal or replacement | ICP, online or at a service center |
| Ejari tenancy registration | DLD trustee center or the Dubai REST app |
| Medical fitness test | A Dubai Health medical fitness center |
| Visas issued in other emirates | ICP |
Some companies run several of these licences side by side. A counter under one roof can still be two different licences, so ask which department the counter you are at works for.
When to use a GDRFA center instead
Go to a GDRFA customer happiness center when an Amer center says it cannot complete the case. The head office is in Al Jafiliya, behind Jafiliya Police Station. GDRFA's centers open Monday to Thursday 07:30 to 19:00, and Friday 07:30 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 19:00. The Terminal 3 center is open 24/7.
For the full picture of which counter does what, read Amer vs Tasheel vs typing center. If you would rather hand over a residence file, see the residence visa page.
