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A Sharjah or Ajman residence visa is filed with ICP, the federal authority, under the same rules that apply across the UAE. We looked for separate Sharjah or Ajman residence rules and found none. ICP charges AED 100 to apply, AED 100 per year of residence and AED 100 smart service, and states 2 days to issue. After the grace period, overstay costs AED 50 a day.
So the questions that matter for you are which category you fall under and whether your file is really an ICP file. A visa issued in Dubai stays with GDRFA, wherever you sleep at night.
What we checked, and what we did not find
We read the ICP issuing residency, renewal, cancellation and Emirates ID pages, and searched for Sharjah and Ajman residence rules of their own. What we found:
- No Sharjah or Ajman residence fee page separate from ICP.
- No local rule on salary, property value or housing for residence.
- No local property owner visa like Dubai's DLD route.
If a local authority publishes its own conditions, they would sit on top of the ICP ones. Until then, plan on the federal rules below.
ICP fees by action
| Action | ICP fee lines |
|---|---|
| New residence | AED 100 application, AED 100 per year, AED 100 smart service |
| Changing status inside the UAE | AED 500 extra |
| Renewal | AED 100 application, AED 100 per year, AED 100 smart service |
| Cancellation | AED 50 application, AED 100 smart service |
| Emirates ID, new or renewal | AED 100 per year plus AED 100 smart fee |
| Emirates ID late renewal | AED 20 per day, up to AED 1,000 |
| Overstay | AED 50 per day |
Source: ICP service pages for issue, renewal, cancellation and Emirates ID, checked . These lines are federal and the same in both emirates. Medical, insurance and MOHRE work permit fees are separate.
What agencies charge
We found no published price range from Sharjah or Ajman agencies. For comparison only, Dubai firms publish AED 1,100 to AED 7,000 for a residence visa renewal (published prices of 4 Dubai firms, checked ).
Sharjah residence visa status check
Your Sharjah or Ajman visa is an ICP record. Check it on ICP smart services or the ICP app, signed in with UAE Pass. If the result shows an issuing emirate of Dubai, your file belongs to GDRFA instead. More on the different tools: visa status check.
Overstay fine and grace periods
The fine starts only when the grace period ends. ICP's renewal page sets it by permit type:
| Permit type | Grace period |
|---|---|
| Golden, green, blue holders and their families | 180 days |
| Skilled workers levels 1 to 3, property owners | 90 days |
| Permits issued with a guarantor or host | 60 days |
| All other categories | 30 days |
Then it is AED 50 per day. See UAE overstay fine for paying and clearing it.
Documents checklist
- Passport with at least 6 months left at renewal
- Photo, white background
- Category proof: employment contract and work permit, attested marriage or birth certificate, title deed or income proof
- Valid health insurance
- Lease and a water or electricity bill, for family files
- Medical fitness result for anyone aged 18 or over
Processing time
ICP states 2 days for issue and renewal and 2 days for cancellation. Entry permits must be turned into residence within 60 days of entry. Work permits, attestation and the medical test usually take longer than ICP itself.
Sharjah, Ajman and Dubai: the cross-border mix-ups
- You work for a Dubai company and live in Sharjah: check the issuing emirate. If it says Dubai, GDRFA handles renewal and cancellation.
- You own a flat in Ajman: the DLD 2-year property visa does not cover it.
- A golden visa on property: ICP's federal rule is AED 2,000,000 in UAE property, and ICP accepts off-plan units from an approved developer. See golden visa in Sharjah, Ajman and RAK.
Common refusal reasons
- Sending a Dubai-issued file to ICP.
- A family file without attested certificates or a lease.
- Health insurance missing for one person.
- Passport too close to expiry.
- Applying after the 60-day entry window.
How it works with us
Send your passport and current visa or entry permit on WhatsApp, or fill in the form on this page. A visa adviser confirms that your file is a Sharjah or Ajman ICP file, picks the category and lists the proof you still need. You get one total price before paying, with ICP's fees on a separate line. The team submits the ICP application, follows up and tells you when to take the medical and when the Emirates ID is on its way. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service, and ICP decides your residence.
If ICP refuses the file, its fees are not refunded. Before you pay, your adviser puts in writing which part of our total, if any, you get back.
Official sources
- ICP issuing residency: fees, categories, 60-day rule, 2 days.
- ICP residency renewal: renewal fees, grace periods.
- ICP residency cancellation: cancellation fees and order.
- ICP Emirates ID renewal: ID fees and late fine.
- ICP golden residency guide: property and off-plan rule.
Checked . Check the ICP page before you pay. For an Abu Dhabi file, see residence visa in Abu Dhabi.
