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Can you claim VAT on visa and Emirates ID costsin the UAE?

Last reviewed

Can you recover the VAT?
Depends
VAT charged
None on government fees; 5% on service fees
Corporate tax
Deductible

No VAT on the government fee. Service fees for employee visas carry 5% you can claim.

Still being confirmed. Recovering VAT on family visa service fees depends on the employment contract, and the FTA hasn't confirmed the position. Treat it as blocked unless the contract requires you to provide family visas. Medical fitness centers vary in whether they charge VAT, so check the receipt.

When you can claim the VATand when it's blocked

You can claim

  • Government visa, Emirates ID, and permit fees are outside scope.
  • Service charges from Amer centers, typing centers, and PRO agencies usually carry 5%, and are recoverable for employee visas because the employer is legally required to sponsor them.

You can't claim

  • Visas for employees' family members are a personal benefit unless the contract requires them.

Worked examplesand why they land that way

  1. Recoverable

    New hire visa through an Amer center

    Government fee no VAT; service fee 5%, recoverable.

    The government visa fee is outside the scope of VAT. The Amer center's service fee carries 5%, recoverable because sponsoring an employee's visa is a legal requirement.

What to keepand what to watch

Documents you need

Government receipt; tax invoice for the service fee.

Corporate tax

Deductible. Overstay and other fines are not deductible.

GL account: Visa and immigration

Common mistakes

Missing the 5% on service fees.

Questions peopleask about this

Why is the service fee on an employee visa recoverable?

Because the employer is legally required to sponsor the visa, so it isn't a personal benefit.

Can I claim VAT on family visas?

Only if the employment contract requires you to provide them. Otherwise they're a personal benefit, so the VAT is blocked.

Is there VAT on Emirates ID fees?

No. Government visa, Emirates ID, and permit fees are outside the scope of VAT.

Relatedexpenses

Rules thisanswer relies on