How to Start an Immigration Business with Meydan Free Zone

An immigration business refers to a company or organisation that provides immigration-related services to individuals, families, and businesses seeking to relocate or work in a foreign country. These services can include assistance with visa applications, immigration paperwork, legal advice, job placement, language classes, and other related services.

Immigration businesses may operate locally or globally, and they can range from small consulting firms to large corporations with multiple locations worldwide. Some immigration businesses may specialise in specific types of immigration, such as family-based immigration, business or employment-based immigration, or refugee and asylum services.

7020.14 – Immigration Consultancy

The Immigration Consultancy business provides advice and assistance to other businesses and organisations on various management issues. This can include helping with things like planning for the future, making important financial decisions, creating effective marketing strategies, managing employees and resources, and organising production schedules. Essentially, this type of business acts as a consultant to help other businesses operate more efficiently and effectively.

Immigration consultancies also provide assistance with other activities. This can include helping with public relations and communication, working with businesses to design effective accounting methods and cost control procedures, and providing guidance on how to improve organisation and efficiency. 

Management consultants might also be involved in activities like lobbying, helping to design budgetary control procedures, and providing management information to help businesses make informed decisions. Overall, these services are aimed at helping businesses and organisations achieve their goals and operate more successfully.

Exclusions

The immigration consultancy business excludes the following:

• Design of computer software for accounting systems. This activity involves creating software that can help businesses manage their accounting and financial data. An immigration consultancy might help businesses with financial decision-making, but they don’t specialise in software design.
• Legal advice and representation. Immigration consultants are not qualified to provide legal advice or representation, as this requires specific legal training and qualifications.
• Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities, and tax consulting. While an immigration consultancy may provide financial advice to businesses, it doesn’t specialise in these specific areas.
• Architectural, engineering and other technical advisory activities. These activities involve providing technical advice and assistance on a range of subjects, including construction, engineering, and scientific research. Immigration consultancies don’t specialise in these specific technical areas.
• Advertising activities. Immigration consultancies don’t specialise in advertising, which involves creating and promoting marketing campaigns to promote a product or service. 
• Market research and public opinion polling. These activities involve collecting and analysing data to help businesses make informed decisions about marketing and other business operations and immigration consultancies do not specialise in this area.
• Executive placement or search consulting services. These services involve helping businesses find and recruit top-level executives for their organisations. Immigration consultancies do not specialise in executive placement specifically.
• Educational consulting activities. An immigration consultancy may provide guidance on how to navigate the educational system in a new country, they typically don’t specialise in educational consulting specifically.

Third-party Approvals

No third-party approvals are required for this business activity.

7490.92 – Immigration Services

An Immigration Services business provides assistance and support to individuals or groups looking to immigrate to a new country or obtain visas, work permits, or citizenship. Some of the services included in this business activity are translation and interpretation, business brokerage, patent brokerage, and appraisal activities. 

These businesses may provide a range of services, including helping clients complete and submit immigration paperwork, advising clients on visa and citizenship requirements, and representing clients in immigration proceedings. Additionally, they may provide services related to relocation, such as finding housing or employment opportunities in the new country. Some Immigration Services businesses also specialise in providing language and cultural training to help clients integrate into their new environment.

Exclusions

The immigration service business excludes the following:

• Wholesale of used motor vehicles by auctioning, online auction activities (retail), and activities of auctioning houses (retail). These activities involve the sale of goods, including used motor vehicles, through auctions, which is not a part of immigration services.
• Real estate brokers. Real estate brokers are involved in the buying and selling of properties. This activity is not related to immigration services, which focus on helping individuals and businesses navigate the complex process of immigration-related matters.
• Bookkeeping activities. Bookkeeping involves recording financial transactions. It is not part of immigration services, which are focused on providing consulting services related to immigration.
• Management consultants, architecture and engineering consultants, and engineering design activities. These activities involve providing consulting services related to management, architecture, engineering, and design which is distinct from immigration services.
• Display of advertisement and other advertising design, creation of stands and other display structures and sites, and industrial design activities. These activities involve the creation and design of advertising materials, display structures, and products and therefore cannot be a part of immigration services.
• Convention and trade show organisers. Convention and trade show organisers are involved in the planning and organisation of events. This activity is not related to immigration services, which are focused on providing legal and immigration consulting services.
• Independent auctioneers. Independent auctioneers are involved in the sale of goods through auctions and therefore not related to immigration services.
• Administration of loyalty programmes and consumer credit and debt counselling. These activities involve the management of loyalty programmes and the provision of counselling services related to consumer credit and debt which is not a part of immigration services.
• Authors of scientific and technical books and independent journalists. These activities involve the creation and writing of scientific, technical, or journalistic content which is very distinct from immigration services.

Third-party Approvals

No third-party approvals are required for this business activity.

ESR

The UAE is a low-tax jurisdiction which companies may use to minimise their tax payments, leading to the introduction of laws to prevent tax evasion. To demonstrate sufficient presence in the UAE, certain companies must prove that they have substance by submitting an Economic Substance Notification and Return. Meydan Free Zone is committed to maintaining a fair, efficient, and transparent environment. To prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism, Meydan Free Zone supports both international and local efforts and initiatives.

Companies whose financial years started on or after January 1st, 2019, for example, and ended on or before December 31st, 2019, are required to file a notification. Moreover, newly established companies must also submit their Economic Substance Return the following year. This process must be completed annually and must be submitted within 12 months of the financial year-end.

Business activities 7020.14 and 7490.92 are not subject to ESR.

AML

Meydan Free Zone is committed to creating an equitable, effective, and open atmosphere. In order to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism, Meydan Free Zone collaborates with both national and international initiatives and measures. Therefore, in order to avoid penalties, Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions must adhere to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations by fulfilling the Ministry of Economy’s demands. Newly licensed entities must adhere to these regulations immediately after acquiring their license.

Business activities 7020.14 and 7490.92 are not subject to AML.

Why Apply for Your Business License With Meydan Free Zone?

1. Get a guaranteed bank account
2. Obtain a business license recognized by MoFA and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce
3. Open an online shop and select from over 30 marketplaces
4. Apply for unlimited visas
5. Utilise clearing, forwarding, shipping, storage, and warehouse services
6. Apply for an import/export code directly through Meydan Free Zone