IFZA's formation process, covered at a high level elsewhere in this series, follows a fairly standard free zone sequence worth walking through step by step for founders who have already decided IFZA is their chosen zone and want to know exactly what happens next.
Step by step
The typical sequence: submit an application specifying your chosen activity and package, receive initial approval, pay the licence fee, receive your trade licence, then apply for your establishment card and any residence visas your package includes. IFZA has built a reputation for handling much of this digitally, which can meaningfully speed up the early steps compared to some other zones.
What happens after the licence
Once licensed, you can apply for a corporate bank account (a separate process subject to the bank's own KYC requirements), and begin the visa process for yourself and any employees, which involves medical testing, Emirates ID application and visa stamping — this site's Emirates ID Renewal Calculator covers the ongoing renewal side of that once your ID is issued.
Costs and timeline
IFZA's costs and typical timeline are covered at a category level in this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator and Formation Timeline Estimator — this walkthrough is about the sequence of steps rather than the fees themselves.