Expatriates make up the majority of the UAE’s population, particularly its workforce. The most recent visa laws make it easier to sponsor a family member in the UAE if the sponsor falls within a certain salary range. This quick information on sponsoring family members in the UAE might help you understand the regulations and procedures for gaining residence for your dependents. So let’s have a look.
Please be aware that immigration restrictions in the UAE are subject to change. We will update our post if and when new legislation or announcements are published. Also, keep in mind that we have merely provided a summary of the process; for more information on the UAE sponsor visa, please consult Amer or GDRFA’s official website(s).
UAE FAMILY VISA OVERVIEW
In 2022, the UAE government announced significant revisions to its visa policies. Among the announcements were changes to the UAE’s family sponsorship policy for expatriates. Following modifications in the regulations for a family visa in the UAE, the government stated that citizens may sponsor their sons up to the age of 25.
UAE FAMILY VISA REQUIREMENTS
The Family Visa According to UAE regulations, educational background or occupation will not be used to determine eligibility for family visas.
Instead, the income of residents wishing to sponsor their family visas will be evaluated. So, regardless of your employment title, you can sponsor family members if you have enough cash and a valid visa. However, before taking the leap, verify your UAE visa status to see whether you may sponsor your loved ones.
Prior to the UAE family sponsorship policy revision of 2019, only persons from specific professions may sponsor family members. Since 2019, any male resident working in the UAE can sponsor their close family members, such as wives and children, for a minimum income of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus lodging.
Female citizens of Abu Dhabi who want to sponsor their family have slightly different requirements. A lady should have a valid work visa and a monthly income of at least AED 5,000.
In Dubai, a woman’s wage must be at least AED 4,000 to support her family. She also has to get her request authorized by the GDFRA.
RESIDENCE VISA RULES FOR CHILDREN SPONSORED BY PARENTS
After changes to Dubai’s family visa regulations in 2022, expats can sponsor male children up to the age of 25. The UAE’s family visa regulations for daughters remain unaltered. There is no age limit for how long parents may sponsor their daughters; they can be sponsored until they marry.
One advantage of this form of visa is that parents are not required to make bank deposits of AED 5,000. The new family visa price in the UAE will be AED 100 for the first issue and renewal.
Children with impairments will be awarded permanent residency permits, regardless of age. Furthermore, green visa holders may sponsor any first-degree relatives. Family members will have the same residency length as the sponsor.
Since they were updated and publicized in 2022, the restrictions for family visas in the UAE have garnered positive feedback. The new restrictions help to maintain the UAE’s economic stability while also creating a coherent atmosphere for individuals to establish families in the UAE.
FAMILY VISA REQUIREMENTS IN UAE
Let’s take a quick look at the family visa UAE conditions you need to meet before beginning the procedure.
SPOUSE VISA
If you wish to apply for a spouse visa in Dubai, here are the prerequisites:
- Sponsoring wife: In order to sponsor their wife, a resident must complete the eligibility requirements outlined above and provide proof of the connection in the form of an Arabic marriage certificate.
- Sponsoring two wives: Male sponsors may be permitted to sponsor two wives as long as they follow the GDRFA’s rules and regulations.
SPONSORING CHILDREN
The conditions for acquiring a UAE residency visa for children change somewhat between sons, daughters, and stepchildren.
- Residents can only sponsor unmarried daughters.
- Sponsoring sons: A resident can sponsor his or her son until the age of 25.
- There is no age limitation for sponsoring boys with special needs.
- Sponsoring newborns: If your baby is born in the UAE, you must apply for a residence visa within 120 days after their birth. Failure to do so might result in sanctions.
Sponsoring stepchildren is feasible, provided the sponsors pay a deposit for each kid and get a no-objection certificate from the biological parent. The government offers stepchildren a one-year residency visa, which may be renewed annually.
Single or married women can sponsor their children as long as they satisfy the GDRFA’s guidelines for single or married moms sponsoring children.
SPONSORING PARENTS IN THE UAE
- The sponsor must get a medical insurance coverage for the parents, which must be renewed annually.
- If you wish to sponsor your parents for a year, you must pay a deposit for each of them.
- According to the GDRFA, you must sponsor both parents jointly, with proof that you are their sole supporter and they have no one to look after at home.
- If one of your parents has died or is divorced, you must provide legal documentation as proof or rationale for sponsoring only one parent.
- The minimal wage for sponsoring a family of five is AED 10,000, and AED 15,000 for a family of six.
CRITERIA OF Eligibility FOR FAMILY VISA
The UAE’s new family visa regulations allow any expatriate with a valid residence status to sponsor their family.
SALARY CRITERIA FOR SPONSORING A FAMILY VISA IN THE UAE
The minimal pay for sponsoring a spouse or children in Dubai/UAE is AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 with lodging for male sponsors. There are no restrictions on the applicant’s occupation as long as the wage threshold is reached.
- Wives can sponsor their husbands in the UAE.
- There are no vocational restrictions for sponsoring a family in Dubai.
- Husbands sponsored by their wives can also apply for work permits in Dubai/UAE.
- A mother can sponsor her children in rare instances that have been accepted and certified by the UAE ICP.
- According to a decision issued by the UAE Cabinet in January 2021, overseas students studying at UAE institutions can sponsor their families. Those who sponsor family members as students in the UAE, on the other hand, must have an appropriate housing alternative.
MEDICAL FITNESS FAMILY VISA. UAE REQUIREMENTS:
- The UAE government issues and renews residence permits to persons aged 18 and up only after they have completed a medical fitness exam at a government-approved health facility. This includes a blood test and an X-ray. Dependents may also be evaluated for various medical issues.
- If someone is found medically unfit, they will not be granted a visa.
- Those who have inactive or latent pulmonary TB are “considered medically fit” and will be issued a one-year ‘Health Fitness Certificate for Residence’. This certificate is reliant on the applicant’s treatment and follow-up examination by the Department of Preventive Medicine (or any comparable government health body).
SPONSORSHIP DURATION AND TIME LIMIT
- When sponsoring your spouse, children, or parents, you have 90 days to apply for their residence visa in the UAE after they arrive.
- Upon arrival, they are given an entry permit. The sponsor has sixty days to convert this permit into a valid resident visa.
- In emirates other than Dubai, the entrance permission is known as “Tasheera”. You may get this online or at a typing center.
- You may even sponsor your parents. The resident visa will be issued to parents on an annual basis, regardless of the length of their stay.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
To sponsor a family member in Dubai, you must provide specific documentation. We’ve organized the necessary paperwork to assist you with the procedure.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR THE SPONSOR
- Passport
- Residence visa copies
- NOC letter from the father in case the mother is the sponsor for boys below 18 years and girls below 21 years (attested by the notary public)
- In the event that the father is the sponsor, proof of the mother’s status (copy of her residence or Emirates ID)
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR THE PARENTS OR DEPENDENT KIDS
- Scan a copy of the applicant’s passport (which should be valid for more than six months).
- Scan a copy of the prior residence visa (if applicable).
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy in the country of origin must legalize the birth certificate, which is then translated into Arabic legally.
- If a birth certificate is not accessible, you can obtain a letter from your consulate to confirm the link, verified by MOFA and translated into Arabic.
- The confirmation must come from the consulate.
- A digital photo according to ICP’s standards
- Applicants from Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya must provide their national ID cards.
- The father’s unmarried undertaking letter must be signed as you submit the application via the online portal.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR SPOUSE
- The marriage certificate must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UAE Embassy in the country of origin.
- Applicants from Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya should present their national identification cards.
VISA FOR FAMILY IN UAE VALIDITY AND RENEWAL
- The visa is valid for up to two to three years.
- If the sponsor’s visa is valid for three years, the sponsored relatives will most likely be granted the same period. This excludes parents and adult sons who receive a one-year residency visa in the UAE. Likewise, if the sponsor’s visa is terminated, so will the dependents’ visas.
- When a dependent’s residence visa expires or is canceled, they have 30 days to acquire a new permission. If the sponsor fails to renew his dependents’ visas, they will be termed “illegal residents”. They may also face an overstay fine.
FAMILY VISA COST
Here’s a look at family visa costs in Dubai.
| Visa Type | Cost |
| New dependent visa above 18 years old (sponsor with 2-year investor visa) | AED 7,032.25 |
| New dependent visa under 18 years (sponsor with 2 years investor visa) | AED 6,332.25 |
| Renew dependent visa above 18 years (sponsor with 2 years investor visa) | AED 5,353.25 |
| Renew dependent visa under 18 years (sponsor with 2 years investor visa) | AED 4,652.25 |
| New dependent visa above 18 years (sponsor with 5 year investor visa) | AED 5,154.25 |
| New dependent visa under 18 years (sponsor with 5 years investor visa) | AED 4,018.50 |
| New dependent visa above 18 years (sponsor with 10 years investor visa) | AED 6.054.25 |
| New dependent visa under 18 years (sponsor with 10 years investor visa) | AED 5,018.50 |
| Dependent visa cancellation | AED 120 |
Please note that the family visa fee in Dubai is subject to change. To find out the pricing of a given service, go to Amer’s official website.
FAQS ABOUT FAMILY VISA
WHAT IS THE FAMILY VISA PRICE IN DUBAI? IS IT DIFFERENT FOR EACH EMIRATE?
The family visa fee in Dubai is the same as in the rest of the country. Please see the chart above for the family visa cost in Dubai.
CAN I PAY FAMILY VISA CHARGES ONLINE IN DUBAI?
Yes, you may pay for visas using a debit or credit card. So, once you’ve finished the application, you may pay for your family visa in Dubai online. You may also check your visa status online on the official website.
CAN HUSBANDS SPONSORED BY WOMEN WORK IN THE UAE?
According to the UAE Family Visa Rules 2021, males sponsored by wives are now eligible for UAE work permits.
WHO IN THE UAE CAN SPONSOR A FAMILY?
Those who fulfill the minimum wage requirements and hold a valid UAE residency visa may sponsor their relatives.
CAN A DUBAI FREELANCER SPONSOR A FAMILY IN THE UAE?
Yes, a freelance work visa in Dubai permits its holders to sponsor their family.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS TIME FOR SPONSORING FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE UAE?
In general, processing time ranges from two to three weeks. However, it varies from instance to instance.
HOW MUCH DOES A DEPENDENT VISA COST IN DUBAI?
The cost of a dependent visa in Dubai, or a family visa, is determined by the period of the visa. A new dependent visa over the age of 18 costs AED 7,032.25 when the sponsor has a 2-year investor visa. Please refer to the table above for further information.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR SPONSORING A MAID IN THE UAE?
To sponsor a maid in Dubai, you must fulfill Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) standards.
IS THERE A VISA CANCELLATION FEE?
Yes, dependent visa cancellation in the UAE will cost you around AED 120.
If you want to visit the UAE soon, you should be aware of the UAE tourist and residency visa rules.
