Family Visa Sponsorship in Dubai
How a Dubai resident sponsors a spouse, children, or parents for a residence visa: who qualifies, the salary rule, the documents, and every step in order.
Typical timeline 1-3 weeks per family member once the entry permit is issued
Who runs this process
Before you start
- Sponsor holds a valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID
- Sponsor earns at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided accommodation
- Passport valid for at least 6 months for each family member being sponsored
- Proof of relationship: an attested marriage certificate for a spouse, attested birth certificates for children
- Adequate housing evidenced by a registered tenancy contract (Ejari) or title deed
Once the family member enters the UAE on the family entry permit, the resident sponsor has 60 days to apply for their residence visa. Every in-country step, that is the medical for anyone aged 18 or over, the Emirates ID biometrics, and the visa issuance, must be completed inside that window. If the 60 days lapse before the residence visa is issued, overstay fines of AED 50 a day apply to the family member and the entry permit stage may have to be restarted.
The journey
Each step is marked by who acts: YouEmployerYou + employer Steps on the highlighted spine sit inside the 60-day window.
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1
Confirm you qualify as a sponsor and prepare documents
The sponsor is the UAE resident; a PRO or typing centre can lodge the application
Confirm your salary meets the threshold and gather proof of relationship and housing. The salary condition is a minimum of AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided accommodation. The type of profession is no longer a condition for sponsoring family. You will need an attested marriage certificate to sponsor a spouse and attested birth certificates to sponsor children.
- You get
- A complete sponsor file ready to apply
- Typical time
- depends on document readiness (indicative, confirm on the portal)
- Fee
- Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by you (No fee for preparation itself; attestation and translation of certificates carry their own separate costs)
Watch out for
- Sponsorship is assessed on the salary in your attested employment contract, so check what figure is registered
- An unattested or untranslated marriage or birth certificate stalls the application before it starts
Daughter: A daughter can be sponsored only while she is unmarried, with no restriction on her age.
Son: A son can be sponsored until he turns 25. A son of determination (special needs) can be sponsored with no age restriction.
Parents: Parents are sponsored on a residence visa granted yearly, regardless of the sponsor's own visa duration, and carry additional income and guarantee conditions. Confirm the current parent-sponsorship requirements with GDRFA or ICP.
Full guide: Confirm you qualify as a sponsor and prepare documents
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2
Apply for the family entry permit
Filed with GDRFA Dubai (Dubai sponsors) or ICP (other emirates) by the sponsor or a PRO
The sponsor applies for an entry permit for residence for each family member. If the family member is abroad, the permit authorises their entry into the UAE. If they are already inside the UAE on another status, an in-country status change is processed instead. Either way, the entry permit opens the path to the residence visa.
- You get
- Family entry permit, or status change confirmation
- Typical time
- 2-5 working days (indicative, confirm on the portal)
- Fee
- Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by you (ICP lists an application fee of AED 100 and a smart service fee of AED 100; the entry permit and any status change are priced separately)
Watch out for
- Name spelling that does not match the passport causes rejection
- Sponsoring a daughter who has married, or a son aged 25 or over, will be refused
Inside UAE: No exit required: the family member's status is changed inside the UAE. A status adjustment fee applies (ICP lists AED 500).
Other Emirate: Outside Dubai, the entry permit and residence steps are handled through ICP rather than GDRFA.
Full guide: Apply for the family entry permit
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3
Family member enters the UAE (or activates the status change)
The family member enters the UAE on the entry permit. This is the moment that matters: the sponsor now has 60 days from the date of entry to complete the residence visa. Family members already inside the UAE activate the status change instead.
- You get
- Legal presence in the UAE under a family entry status · Start of the 60-day residence completion window
- Typical time
- same day (indicative, confirm on the portal)
- Fee
- Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by you (Entry itself carries no fee; an in-country status change is priced separately)
- Deadline
- The residence visa must be applied for and completed within 60 days of the family member's date of entry.
Watch out for
- Delaying arrival or the medical burns the 60-day window
Inside UAE: Status change replaces physical entry. See the dedicated guide on changing status without leaving.
Full guide: Family member enters the UAE (or activates the status change)
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4
Medical fitness test for family members aged 18 and over
Only members who have completed the age of 18 need the test; younger children are exempt
Every sponsored family member who has completed the age of 18 must undergo and pass a medical fitness test at an approved health centre. It screens for communicable diseases. Children under 18 do not take the test.
- You get
- Medical fitness certificate for each member aged 18 or over
- Typical time
- results in about 48 hours (standard tier) (indicative, confirm on the portal)
- Fee
- Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by you (Fee depends on the service tier (standard, express, VIP))
Watch out for
- Booking at a centre not approved for visa medicals invalidates the result
Son: A son aged 18 to 25 being sponsored as a student still takes the medical test.
Full guide: Medical fitness test for family members aged 18 and over
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5
Emirates ID application and biometrics
Each family member's Emirates ID application is filed and biometrics are captured. Since 2022 the residence visa is digital and linked to the Emirates ID rather than stamped in the passport, which makes this step central. Fingerprints are usually captured for members aged 15 and over.
- You get
- Emirates ID application receipt; card delivered by post after visa issuance
- Typical time
- appointment about 30-60 minutes; card in 5-10 working days after issuance (indicative, confirm on the portal)
- Fee
- Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by you (ICP lists an application fee of AED 100 and residency permit issuance of AED 100 per year, plus service fees; priced by visa duration)
Watch out for
- Biometrics slots can slip in peak season; book immediately after the medical
Full guide: Emirates ID application and biometrics
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6
Arrange health insurance for each dependent
Health insurance is mandatory for all UAE residents. In Dubai the sponsor must provide at least an essential-benefits plan for each dependent before the residence visa can be issued. The policy feeds into the visa application.
- You get
- Active health insurance policy for each dependent
- Typical time
- same day to 2 working days (indicative, confirm on the portal)
- Fee
- Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by you (Depends on the plan tier and the dependent's age)
Watch out for
- The visa application stalls silently if the insurance policy is not active in the system
Full guide: Arrange health insurance for each dependent
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7
Family residence visa issued digitally
Issued by GDRFA Dubai or ICP once all inputs clear; nothing for the family member to attend
With the medical, biometrics, and insurance in place, the residence visa is issued electronically and linked to the Emirates ID. There is no passport stamping. A family residence visa is typically issued for the same term as the sponsor's visa, except a parent's visa, which is granted yearly.
- You get
- Digital family residence visa linked to the Emirates ID; Emirates ID card delivered by post
- Typical time
- about 2 working days once inputs clear (indicative, confirm on the portal)
- Fee
- Fee varies, confirm at the official portal · paid by you (Residency permit issuance is AED 100 per year of validity plus service fees)
Watch out for
- A family visa is linked to the sponsor: if the sponsor's own visa is cancelled, the dependents' visas must be cancelled too
Parents: A parent's residence visa is granted on a yearly basis and renewed annually, regardless of how long the sponsor's own visa runs.
Full guide: Family residence visa issued digitally
Documents checklist
| Document | Requirement | Prepared by | Attestation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sponsor's residence visa and Emirates ID | Valid at the time of application | You | No |
| Family member's passport | Valid at least 6 months | You | No |
| Passport-style photo | White background, recent, per specification | You | No |
| Attested marriage certificate | In Arabic, or translated into Arabic by a certified translator, and attested | You | Yes |
| Attested birth certificate (per child) | Attested; proves the child's age and parentage | You | Yes |
| Salary certificate or attested employment contract | Stating the sponsor's monthly salary; AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 with accommodation | You | No |
| Registered tenancy contract (Ejari) or title deed | Evidence of adequate housing | You | No |
| Health insurance policy (per dependent) | DHA-compliant in Dubai | You | No |
Where this goes wrong
Missing the 60-day window
The sponsor has 60 days from the family member's date of entry to complete the residence visa. Miss it and overstay fines of AED 50 a day apply, and the entry permit stage may have to be restarted. Read the full guide.
Certificates not attested
A marriage certificate must be in Arabic or translated by a certified translator and attested; birth certificates must be attested. Unattested documents are the most common reason a family application stalls at the start. Read the full guide.
Age and marital status limits
A son can be sponsored only until he turns 25; a daughter only while she is unmarried, though with no age limit. Children of determination have no age restriction. Applications outside these rules are refused.
Forgetting the family visa is linked to yours
Family residence permits are tied to the sponsor's permit. If the sponsor's visa is cancelled or lapses, the dependents' visas must be cancelled too, so plan renewals together. Read the full guide.
What comes next
- Check a visa's status online
- Understand family visa age limits
- What happens if the sponsor loses their job
Official sources
- UAE Government Portal: Residence visa for family members (salary AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation; medical for age 18+; 60 days from entry; sons to 25; unmarried daughters; parents yearly; visa linked to sponsor)
- UAE Government Portal: Sponsorship requirements (salary threshold, medical for over-18s, documents to sponsor wife and children)
- ICP: Issuing Residency Permit (family sponsorship income AED 3,000 plus housing or AED 4,000; fees; passport valid 6 months)
- GDRFA Dubai: residency services (portal; used for verify_at links only)
- DHA: medical fitness services (portal; used for verify_at links only)
This guide is informational. Requirements, fees, and timelines can change and vary by emirate and family relationship; confirm current rules with GDRFA Dubai, ICP, and DHA before acting. Process definition last verified 2026-07-19, next review within 90 days.