Can a Company Apply for a UAE Tax Residency Certificate?
29/09/2026
YOUNG AND RIGHT ACCOUNTING & TAX CONSULTANCY
YOUNG AND RIGHT From corporate tax registration to audits and bookkeeping, Young & Right offers personalized solutions that keep your business compliant and stress-free. Let’s take the complexity off your plate—starting with a free consultation.
Book Your Free Consultation
A Tax Residency Certificate (TRC) is an official certificate issued by the UAE Federal Tax Authority (FTA) to confirm a person's or company's tax residency status in the UAE for eligible purposes.
One of the most common questions applicants ask is: “How much does a Tax Residency Certificate cost in the UAE?”
The cost depends on whether the applicant is a registered or non-registered natural person or legal person. The FTA also charges a separate application submission fee.
According to the FTA's published fee information, the government fees are:
|
Applicant |
Submission Fee |
TRC Fee |
Total Electronic Certificate Fee |
|
Registered natural person |
AED 50 |
AED 500 |
AED 550 |
|
Non-registered natural person |
AED 50 |
AED 1,000 |
AED 1,050 |
|
Registered legal person |
AED 50 |
AED 500 |
AED 550 |
|
Non-registered legal person |
AED 50 |
AED 1,750 |
AED 1,800 |
The FTA separately lists a AED 250 fee for a printed certificate when the applicant requests a hard copy.
These are FTA government fees. If you use a tax consultant or professional service provider to prepare and submit the application, their professional service fee would be additional.
A Tax Residency Certificate is issued by the FTA to eligible applicants who are UAE tax residents.
The certificate can be used for purposes including seeking benefits under applicable Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) between the UAE and other jurisdictions. The FTA's current service guide also states that TRCs can be issued for purposes other than applying a DTA.
It is important to understand that obtaining a TRC is not simply a matter of paying the fee. The applicant must satisfy the applicable tax-residency requirements and provide the required supporting information.
The FTA's current service information covers eligible:
The appropriate eligibility requirements depend on the applicant's circumstances.
Individuals who qualify as UAE tax residents may apply for a TRC through the FTA's relevant service.
Depending on the circumstances, supporting evidence may be required to demonstrate UAE tax residency.
A UAE company may also apply for a Tax Residency Certificate if it meets the applicable requirements.
Businesses may need the certificate when dealing with foreign tax authorities, overseas transactions or treaty-related matters.
The FTA's fee structure distinguishes between applicants who are registered with the Authority and those who are not.
For example:
Therefore, knowing your registration status before applying can help you understand the applicable government fee.
No. The FTA charges fees for submitting and issuing a Tax Residency Certificate.
For a registered applicant, the electronic certificate generally involves a AED 50 submission fee plus AED 500 certificate fee, resulting in AED 550 in FTA fees.
Non-registered applicants have higher certificate fees.
Professional consultancy fees, if applicable, are separate from these government charges.
Yes. If an applicant requests a physical printed certificate, the FTA's published FAQ states an additional AED 250 fee for the printed certificate.
Therefore, applicants should distinguish between:
Government electronic certificate fees and Optional printed certificate fees.
The FTA's updated 2026 service guide states that the expected completion time for a Tax Residency Certificate is 5 business days from receipt of the completed application. If a hard copy is requested, the stated timeframe is 5 business days from completion of payment of the certificate fee.
The application itself is estimated to take approximately 10 minutes to submit, according to the FTA service guide.
Applicants should nevertheless make sure their information and supporting documents are complete before submission.
The application process generally involves the following steps:
Determine whether you meet the applicable UAE tax-residency requirements.
Prepare the documents and information relevant to your circumstances.
The FTA provides a dedicated Tax Residency Certificate platform for applications. The current FTA service guide identifies the TRC platform as being available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Enter the required personal or company information and upload the requested supporting documentation.
Pay the submission and certificate fees applicable to your registration status.
Once the application is processed and approved, the electronic Tax Residency Certificate can be issued.
The required documentation can depend on whether the applicant is an individual or legal person and on the purpose of the application.
Applicants should check the current FTA service requirements before submitting an application.
Common supporting evidence may relate to:
The exact documentation should be determined based on the applicant's circumstances and the current FTA requirements.
A UAE company may need a TRC when it has international activities or transactions involving another country.
For example, a business may require evidence of UAE tax residency when dealing with:
The TRC can provide official evidence of UAE tax residency for applicable purposes.
Individuals with international financial or employment connections may need a TRC to establish their UAE tax residency status.
This can be particularly relevant where an individual:
The certificate does not automatically determine every aspect of an individual's tax position in another country. Foreign tax rules and treaty provisions may also need to be considered.
A residence visa and a Tax Residency Certificate are not the same thing.
A residence visa demonstrates immigration/residence status, while a Tax Residency Certificate is issued by the FTA for tax-residency purposes.
Therefore, simply holding a UAE residence visa does not necessarily mean that every foreign tax authority will automatically treat the individual as a UAE tax resident.
The relevant UAE rules, foreign legislation and applicable tax treaty should be considered.
Businesses and individuals dealing with international tax matters may require professional assistance when determining eligibility, preparing documentation and understanding the purpose of a Tax Residency Certificate.
Young and Right provides tax consultancy and international taxation services in the UAE. Its international tax services include areas such as cross-border transaction analysis, international tax planning, withholding-tax advisory, tax reporting and transfer pricing compliance.
Professional support can help applicants understand the application requirements and avoid common documentation or submission issues.
The FTA government fee is separate from professional consultancy charges.
If you hire a consultant to assist with:
the consultant may charge an additional professional fee.
There is therefore no single total “consultant cost” for a TRC. The final amount depends on the scope of professional assistance and the applicant's circumstances.
Simplify your Tax Residency Certificate application with professional guidance. Get help understanding FTA fees, eligibility, required documents, and the application process while avoiding common delays and errors.
Get TRC Assistance