If you are a foreign national residing in the UAE with a Residence Visa, you can bring your dependents with a UAE Family Visa. However, specific requirements must be met for dependents to accompany you.
UAE Family Visa
Criteria for Sponsoring a UAE Family Visa
To sponsor family members in the UAE, you must meet these criteria:
For male expatriates: Minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 with provided accommodation. For female expatriates: Minimum monthly salary of AED 10,000 or AED 8,000 with provided accommodation. Additionally, family members aged 18 and above must undergo a medical fitness test at a UAE government-approved health center, testing for HIV and Tuberculosis.
Please note that the UAE does not recognize same-sex marriage, and therefore, you cannot sponsor your spouse in a same-sex relationship.
Which Occupations Qualify for a UAE Family Visa?
As of 2019, there are no designated professions eligible for sponsoring family members with a UAE Family Visa. Any foreign worker meeting the salary requirements can bring their family members to the UAE.
Whom Can You Sponsor for a UAE Family Visa?
Sponsoring family members to the UAE is relatively easier for male expatriates compared to females. If you are a male resident in the UAE with a Residence Visa, you can bring the following family members on a Family Visa:
- Your wife. If you are a Muslim resident, you may also sponsor two wives but must meet specific GDRFA terms.
- Your sons, but only if they are 18 years old or younger. For sons above 18, sponsorship is possible if they are students, up to the age of 21. Additionally, if they are above 18 and studying abroad, they must enter the UAE at least once every six months to maintain their UAE visa.
- Your daughters, as long as they are unmarried.
- Your parents, under the following conditions:
- You sponsor both parents unless one has passed away.
- You provide a deposit of AED 2,500 per parent (verify with the immigration department for potential fee changes).
- You secure medical insurance for your parents.
- You have a monthly salary of AED 20,000 or AED 19,000 with a two-bedroom accommodation.
- Your stepchildren, with a written No Objection Certificate from the biological parent. The stepchildren’s visa is valid for one year and renewable.
Is it Possible for a Woman to Sponsor Family Members for a UAE Family Visa?
Yes, a woman can sponsor her family members in the UAE, but the eligibility criteria for women to sponsor their families are more stringent compared to men:
- She can sponsor her husband and children as family members.
- She must have a monthly salary of at least AED 10,000 or AED 8,000 with provided accommodation.
- Her profession should fall within categories like engineering, teaching, or the medical sector (e.g., doctor, nurse, etc.).
- In specific cases, subject to approval from the DRND (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs), a woman with a sufficient monthly salary may qualify for sponsorship even if her occupation does not belong to the aforementioned categories.
- If her husband is capable of sponsoring the children, she is not permitted to sponsor them herself; it must be done by the husband.
Essential Documents for a UAE Family Visa
The essential documents required for a UAE Family Visa application encompass:
- UAE Visa Application Form (available online or through a registered typing office).
- Passport copies of the family member(s) being sponsored.
- Passport-sized photos of the family member(s) being sponsored.
- Medical clearance certificate for family members aged 18 and above.
- A copy of the sponsor’s employment contract or company agreement.
- Evidence of the sponsor’s monthly salary.
- A legalized marriage certificate.
- Verification of accommodation in the UAE, including the registered tenancy contract.
- The most recent utility bill.
How to Apply for a Family Visa in the UAE? ?
Family visas for the UAE can be sponsored either by the expatriate or their employer. If you are a foreign resident, you must initiate a UAE Family Visa application within 60 days of obtaining your own UAE Residence Visa.
Applying for the Entry Permit: Before your family members can join you in the UAE, you (or your employer) need to apply for an entry permit to authorize their entry into the country. You can apply for your family members’ entry permit through various channels, including:
- The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), either online or in-person at licensed typing centers in each Emirate or Amer centers in Dubai.
- The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.
- The ICA’s eChanel portal.
- Mobile apps available for Apple and Android devices.
Applying for the UAE Family Visa: The UAE Family Visa is a type of residence visa. Consequently, you must submit the application for your family members after they have arrived in the country on an entry permit. You can submit the family visa application at the relevant emirate’s offices of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
What Is the Cost of a UAE Family Visa?
The cost of a UAE family visa varies based on the type of visa you are applying for and any additional service fees associated with the visa as follows:
| Fee type | Cost per person in AED |
| Sponsor registration file | 268.9 |
| Tasheera (Wife/Children Outside the UAE) | 488.9 |
| Tasheera (Wife/Children Inside the UAE) | 1,138.90 |
| Tasheera (Parents Inside the UAE) | 488.9 |
| Normal Medical Test | 322.5 |
| Emirates ID (1 Year) | 250 |
| Emirates ID (2 Year) | 350 |
| Emirates ID (3 Year) | 450 |
| Transfer Of New Residence to a Passport | 259.9 |
What Is the Duration of a UAE Family Visa?
A UAE Family Visa can be issued for durations of 1, 2, or 3 years and is eligible for renewal at least thirty days before its expiration. It’s important to note that Family Visas are tied to the sponsor’s visa status. If the sponsor’s visa expires or is canceled, the Family Visas become invalid.
Nevertheless, dependent family members are granted a 30-day grace period during which they can explore options to have their own Residence Visas renewed.
