United Arab EmiratesFamily
UAE family residence visa: sponsoring your spouse and children
Residence visa for family members (family sponsorship)
In short
UAE residents can sponsor their family for residence if they earn at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. Eligible are the spouse, sons under 25, unmarried daughters and children with special needs; Golden visa holders can also sponsor parents and children of any age, and family permits are tied to the sponsor's own residence.
Apply on ICP Smart Services checked 25 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Tied to the sponsor's residence; issuance fee rises with each year over two
- Validity
- Entry permit valid 60 days from entry to complete residence
- Fee
- AED 200GDRFA Dubai family-sponsorship entry visa fee, plus 5% VAT; AED 520 more if the family member is already in the UAE. Residence, medical and Emirates ID fees follow.
- Funds required
- AED 4,000 per monthMinimum monthly salary of the sponsor, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.
- Processing time
- About 48 hours for the entry permit (GDRFA Dubai)
- Work
- Sponsored family members need their own work permit to work
- Family
- Spouse, sons under 25, unmarried daughters, children with special needs; parents and older children for Golden holders
- Path to permanent residence
- No; dependants follow the sponsor's status
- Where to apply
- Sponsor applies in the UAE through ICP, GDRFA Dubai or an Amer or typing centre
Who can sponsor whom
Employers and employees with valid UAE residence can sponsor their family regardless of job title, provided the salary rule is met. Eligible family members are the spouse, sons up to 25, unmarried daughters and children with special needs of any age. A wife can sponsor her husband and children; GDRFA asks for a no-objection letter from the father when the mother sponsors the children.
Green visa holders can sponsor first-degree relatives, and Golden visa holders can sponsor their spouse, children regardless of age and parents. Spouses, parents and children of UAE citizens receive a 5-year residence sponsored by the citizen.
Documents and attestation
GDRFA Dubai lists a photo and passport copy for each family member, the sponsor's employment contract or salary certificate, the partnership contract for business partners, attested birth certificates for children and a certified marriage contract for the spouse.
Marriage and birth certificates issued abroad must be certified by the foreign ministry of the issuing country, then the UAE embassy or consulate in that country, and finally the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Required documents
Travel
- Passport copy (valid at least 6 months) and photo of each family member
Money
- Sponsor's employment contract or salary certificate showing AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 plus accommodation)
Family
- Attested marriage certificate
- Attested birth certificates of the children
Insurance
- Health insurance and medical fitness test (aged 18 and over)
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Family
- No-objection letter from the father if the mother sponsors the children
Salary requirement
The sponsor must earn at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation provided by the employer. GDRFA Dubai also accepts a partner whose share in the company is at least AED 48,000 according to the partnership contract.
Proof is the employment contract or, for government, semi-government and free-zone staff, a salary certificate.
Fees and time frames
GDRFA Dubai charges AED 200 plus 5% VAT for the family entry visa, with AED 10 Knowledge Dirham, AED 10 Innovation Dirham and AED 500 added if the family member is already in the country. Expected completion is 48 hours.
After entry, the family member has 60 days to complete residence. Those aged 18 and over must pass a medical fitness test at an approved centre, and everyone gives biometrics for the Emirates ID.
Renewal and cancellation
Family permits run with the sponsor's residence and are renewed together with it. If the sponsor's visa is cancelled, the dependants' visas must be cancelled too.
Dependants have a six-month grace period after expiry or cancellation to obtain a new residence permit. If the sponsor fails to renew or cancel their visas, a fine may apply.
How to apply, step by step
- Make sure your own residence is valid and your salary meets AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus housing.
- Have marriage and birth certificates attested in the issuing country and by the UAE missions and foreign ministry.
- Apply for the family entry permit through ICP, GDRFA Dubai or an Amer centre.
- Pay the fees; the family member travels within the validity of the permit.
- Complete medical tests (from age 18), biometrics and Emirates ID within 60 days of entry.
- Renew the family permits together with your own residence.
Frequently asked questions
What salary do I need to sponsor my wife in the UAE?
At least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 if your employer provides accommodation.
Until what age can I sponsor my son in the UAE?
Sons can be sponsored until 25. Unmarried daughters and children with special needs can be sponsored regardless of age; Golden visa holders can sponsor children of any age.
Can a woman sponsor her husband in the UAE?
Yes, if she meets the salary rule; GDRFA also asks for the father's no-objection letter when a mother sponsors the children.
What happens to my family's visas if I lose my job?
They must be cancelled with yours, but dependants get a six-month grace period to obtain a new residence permit.
Can I sponsor my parents on a normal work visa?
The UAE portal lists parents only for Green and Golden visa holders (and for UAE citizens); for standard employees it names spouse and children.
Official sources
- u.ae: Residence visa for family members
- GDRFA Dubai: Entry visa for residence without work (family sponsorship)
- GDRFA Dubai: Issuance of a residence permit for foreigner family members
- UAE Embassy in Ankara: FAQs (attestation)
- UAE MOFA: Attestation of official documents and certificates
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs – UAE Embassy in Islamabad: Attestation information
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for the United Arab Emirates
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: 30 or 60 days per permit; the 5-year visa allows up to 90 days per visit, extendable once by 90 days
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: 30, 60 or 90 days; extensions up to 120 days in total
- Transit visa Maximum stay: 48 or 96 hours, single entry
- Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Depends on the permit issued; healthcare-related permits can be extended to a total of 180 days
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Maximum stay: 60, 90 or 120 days
- Self-employed and freelancer visa Maximum stay: 5 years, renewable
- Investor visa Maximum stay: Golden 10 years; Green 5 years; both renewable
- Entrepreneur and start-up visa Maximum stay: 10 years, renewable while conditions are met (ICP)
Study and training
- Student visa Maximum stay: For the duration certified by the institution; renewed while enrolled
Work
- Job seeker visa Maximum stay: 60, 90 or 120 days
- Work visa Maximum stay: Length of the residence permit, usually two years, renewable
- Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Green visa 5 years; Golden visa 10 years; both renewable
- Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: One year from issue, renewable
Residence
- Golden visa and residence by investment Maximum stay: 10 years, renewable while the conditions are met
- Retirement visa Maximum stay: 5 years, renewable under the same conditions