UAE Family Sponsorship: A Complete Guide

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) boasts a predominantly expatriate workforce, making family sponsorship a vital aspect of its visa regulations. Recent visa revisions have simplified the process, especially for sponsors meeting specific income criteria. This guide aims to provide clarity on sponsoring family members in the UAE, outlining the rules and procedures for securing residency for your dependents. 

Eligibility Criteria for Sponsoring Family Members in the UAE

Expatriates with valid residency permits in the UAE can sponsor their families under the updated family visa rules.

Salary Criteria and Specific Requirements to Sponsor Family Members in the UAE

• To sponsor a spouse or children in Dubai/UAE, the sponsor’s minimum salary with accommodation should be AED 4,000 or AED 3,000. Meeting the salary threshold no longer restricts the applicant’s profession.
• In Abu Dhabi, sponsors must earn a minimum of AED 10,000 or AED 8,000 with housing and be teachers, engineers, or medical professionals. Additional paperwork may be required.
• In Dubai, there are no occupational restrictions for sponsoring a family as long as the sponsoring wife earns over AED 10,000. However, special permission from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA) is necessary. Applicants for work permits may also be husbands whom their wives support.
• Sponsoring five family members, including parents or a spouse’s parents, requires a minimum salary of AED 10,000. For six or more family members, a waiver is needed. Sponsors must also demonstrate family ties, reside in a 2-bedroom house or flat, and pay AED 1,750 and a refundable AED 5,000 deposit.
• A mother can sponsor her children in exceptional cases approved by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, and Ports Security (ICP).
• According to a resolution by the UAE Cabinet in January 2021, international students studying at UAE universities can sponsor their families, provided they have suitable housing arrangements.

Exploring our comprehensive guide to the UAE Golden Visa will provide you with all the information you need to secure your long-term residency in the Emirates.

Medical Fitness

• Residence visas for individuals aged 18 and above are subject to a medical fitness test at a government-approved health centre in the UAE, including blood tests and X-rays. Dependents may undergo additional health assessments.
• Immigration authorities will not grant visas to medically unfit individuals.
• The Department of Preventive Medicine or equivalent health authorities consider individuals with inactive or dormant pulmonary tuberculosis as “medically fit” and grant them a one-year ‘Health Fitness Certificate for Residence,’ contingent on treatment and follow-up checks.

Duration of Sponsorship and Time Limit

• You have 90 days from their arrival to apply for their UAE residence visa if you are sponsoring a spouse, child, or parent.
• Upon arrival, they receive an entry permit, which sponsors must convert into a valid residence visa within approximately three months.
• Individuals can acquire the entry permit, known as “Tasheera” in emirates other than Dubai, either online or through a typing centre.
• Irrespective of the sponsor’s visa duration, authorities issue parents’ residence visas annually, provided they prove family ties and reside in a 2-bedroom house or flat. This visa costs AED 1,750 and requires a refundable AED 5,000 payment.

Validity and Renewal

• Visa duration typically ranges from two to three years, depending on the sponsor’s job nature and labour contract.
• If the sponsor’s visa is valid for three years, dependents will likely receive the same duration, with exceptions for parents and adult sons, who receive one-year visas. Dependent visas are also cancelled if the sponsor’s visa is cancelled.
• If a dependent’s residence visa expires or is cancelled, they must obtain a new permit within 30 days. Failure to renew may lead to “illegal resident” status and potential overstay fines

Sponsoring Family Members in the UAE

Sponsor Spouse

• Sponsors must provide a marriage certificate (in Arabic) to demonstrate the relationship and meet eligibility criteria.
• GDRFA laws and regulations may permit male sponsors to sponsor two wives.

Sponsoring Children

• Requirements for sponsoring children vary based on gender and age.
• Daughters can only be sponsored if unmarried.
• Boys up to the age of 18 can be sponsored. If they are studying in the UAE or abroad after 18, sponsorship can continue until they turn 21, provided educational proof is submitted. Sons must visit the UAE every six months (if studying abroad) to maintain a valid residence visa.
• A residency visa must be requested for a newborn in the UAE within 120 days of birth in order to avoid penalties.
• Graduates and children up to 18 years old are eligible for a one-year residence visa, which can be renewed annually upon graduation or reaching the age limit. Parents must provide attested graduation certificates. Costs start at AED 100.
• Expatriates can also sponsor step-children by submitting a deposit for each child and a letter from the biological parent stating that they have no objections. Step-children receive one-year residence visas, renewable annually.
• Single or married women can sponsor their children, provided they meet GDRFA stipulations for mothers sponsoring children in the UAE.

UAE Family Visa for Spouses and Children: Required Documents

When sponsoring a spouse or children in Dubai or other emirates, you must submit various documents, including:

• Salary slip or employer certificate 
• Registered tenancy contract 
• Latest utility bill
• Attested marriage certificate
• Attested birth certificates of children
• Passport copies of spouse and children (valid for at least six months)
• Passport-sized photos of spouse and children (white background)
• Medical clearance certificates for spouses and children
• Copy of employment contract or company contract

Sponsoring Parents in the UAE

• Sponsors must provide medical insurance for parents, renewed annually.
• When sponsoring parents for one year’s stay, you must provide a deposit for each parent.
• Sponsors must prove they are the sole support for their parents, who have no one to care for them in their home country.
• In parental death or divorce cases, official documents must be provided to justify sponsoring only one parent.

Before you embark on your journey to the UAE, go through our UAE Newcomer’s Guide for invaluable insights and tips to make your transition smoother and more enjoyable.

Considerations Regarding Family Visa Costs in Dubai and the UAE

• The specified fee is for “resident sponsor” visa issuance in the private sector or free zone. Additional charges may apply, and costs are subject to change.
• The family visa cost is consistent across all emirates in the UAE.
• You can typically make payments for family visa charges in Dubai online using debit or credit cards.
• Dependent visa costs in Dubai vary based on visa duration, as indicated in the table above.

This concludes our guide on sponsoring family members in the UAE. By now, you should have a comprehensive understanding of the family visa process in the UAE, Check whether you are contemplating how to sponsor a wife in Dubai or your children. It is crucial to stay informed about potential updates to UAE visa regulations, as laws may change periodically.

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