To sponsor a spouse and children on a UAE family visa, you generally need a minimum salary of AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. This applies to both male and female sponsors under the official rules. Sons can generally be sponsored while under 25, daughters while unmarried, and a newborn's birth must be registered within 30 days, with residence documents arranged within 120 days of birth. Bestax can manage the whole process for you, from collecting documents to the final residence visa.
Thinking about bringing your loved ones to the UAE? Understanding how to apply for a family visa in UAE is the first step. Whether you are relocating for work, moving on a freelance visa in Dubai or starting a new business, getting your family's visas right from the start saves time and stress.
The UAE is home to more than 200 nationalities and is known for its stability, safety and high quality of life, which makes it a popular choice for families. In this guide, we explain the UAE family visa process, including the requirements, documents and costs, and how the Bestax team handles your application from start to finish.
If you are also planning to set up your business in the UAE, see our business setup in Dubai Mainland and free zone company formation services. For long-term residency, our Golden Visa services in the UAE offer extended stability for you and your family.
In a Hurry? How Bestax Gets Your UAE Family Visa Done in 5 Steps
- We check your eligibility. Our team reviews your salary, residence visa and family details against the current rules for your emirate.
- We collect and prepare your documents. We give you a clear checklist, collect your documents and arrange attestation and translation where needed.
- We submit your application. We file the entry permit or status change through GDRFA Dubai or ICP, depending on your emirate.
- We coordinate medical tests and Emirates ID. We book medical fitness tests for family members aged 18 and over and arrange Emirates ID biometrics.
- We finalise the residence visa. We make sure health insurance is in place and complete the residence visa issuance for each family member.
Read on for the requirements, documents, costs and more.
Family Visa Requirements in UAE
Before applying, the sponsor must hold a valid UAE residence visa and meet the minimum salary requirement.
Minimum salary to sponsor a spouse and children: AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 per month plus accommodation. Under the official rules, this threshold applies to both male and female sponsors, regardless of job title. The AED 3,000 option applies where your employer provides accommodation. You also need to show suitable housing for your family, such as a registered tenancy contract or ownership documents.
Women sponsoring a husband: if you are a female resident, you can sponsor your husband and eligible children, subject to the applicable income, accommodation, relationship and residence requirements. GDRFA Dubai or ICP may ask for additional supporting documents depending on your application.
Sponsoring parents: this has stricter income, accommodation and dependency requirements. See the parents section below.
Understanding UAE Family Visa Eligibility
- Medical fitness: all family members aged 18 and over must pass a medical fitness test at a government-approved health centre in the UAE.
- Health insurance: in Dubai, sponsors must provide health insurance for their dependents. In Abu Dhabi, employers are responsible for arranging the required health insurance for eligible employees and their spouse and up to three children under 18. Premium contributions may depend on the insurance plan and your employment terms. If a dependent isn't covered through your employer, you need to arrange their cover yourself. Valid insurance is usually needed to issue or renew the residence visa.
- Marital status: a valid, attested marriage certificate is required to sponsor a spouse. The UAE does not recognise same-sex marriages for visa sponsorship.
- No profession requirement: any resident who meets the salary requirement can sponsor their family, whatever their job title.
UAE Family Visa Documents You Need
You don't have to chase paperwork on your own. Bestax gives you a checklist, collects the documents and handles attestation and translation where needed.
Sponsor Documents
- Valid passport (with at least six months' validity), UAE residence visa and Emirates ID
- Salary certificate or employment contract (or memorandum of association if you are an investor or partner)
- Registered tenancy contract (Ejari in Dubai) or property ownership documents, and a recent utility bill
- IBAN details and establishment or sponsor file details, where required
Documents for Sponsoring Your Wife
- Your wife's passport, valid for at least six months
- Recent passport-sized photos with a white background
- MOFA-attested marriage certificate, with legal translation where needed
- Medical fitness certificate
- Valid UAE health insurance
Documents for Sponsoring Your Children
- Each child's passport, valid for at least six months
- Recent passport-sized photos with a white background
- Attested birth certificates
- Medical fitness certificate for children aged 18 and over
- Valid UAE health insurance for each child
- For stepchildren, a no-objection certificate from the biological parent, where required
Our team prepares and submits the application form for you once everything is in place.
How Bestax Handles Your UAE Family Visa Application
Family visa applications go through the GDRFA Dubai portal for Dubai residents, or through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) for the other emirates. Our team manages each stage of the UAE family visa procedure for you:
- Eligibility review: we confirm your salary, residence status and accommodation meet the current rules, and flag anything that could cause a rejection.
- Document collection and attestation: we collect your documents, check them against the official requirements and arrange MOFA attestation and legal translation where needed.
- Entry permit or status change: we submit the application through GDRFA Dubai or ICP. If your family is outside the UAE, we apply for an entry permit. If they are already in the UAE, we arrange a change of status.
- Medical tests and Emirates ID: once your family arrives, we book medical fitness tests for members aged 18 and over and schedule Emirates ID biometrics.
- Health insurance and residence visa: we confirm valid health insurance is in place and complete the residence visa issuance with the relevant emirate's immigration authority.
Once your family enters the UAE on the residence entry permit, you generally have 60 days to complete the residence procedures, including the medical fitness test and Emirates ID. Missing this deadline can lead to fines, so our team tracks it for you and completes the process before the permitted stay expires.
We keep you updated at every stage, so you know exactly where your application stands.
Residence Visa for a UAE Citizen's Spouse, Parent or Child
A UAE citizen's foreign spouse, parent or child can get a UAE residence visa for up to 5 years without needing to work in the UAE. In this case, the UAE citizen is the sponsor. A foreign widow or divorced woman who is the mother of a UAE citizen can also get a residence visa, with the oldest child as sponsor.
Family Visa Cost in UAE
The total cost depends on your emirate, the visa duration, the number of family members and whether they apply from inside or outside the UAE. A typical application includes:
- Entry permit, or change of status if the family member is already in the UAE
- Residence visa issuance
- Medical fitness test (for members aged 18 and over)
- Emirates ID
- Health insurance for each dependent
- Typing, service and smart-channel fees
As an example, GDRFA Dubai publishes a base fee of AED 200 plus VAT for its family residence entry permit service, with an additional fee if your family member is already inside the UAE. This is not the total cost. Government fees and service charges change regularly and differ by emirate. For an accurate quote for your family, contact our team.
Sponsoring Family in UAE
If you are an expatriate resident with a valid residence visa, you can apply for a UAE visa for family members, provided you meet the salary requirement and family members aged 18 and over pass a medical fitness test.
Sponsoring Your Wife and Children
- Wife and children: you can sponsor your wife and children with a valid, attested marriage certificate.
- Two wives: in strict cases, a Muslim resident may be allowed to sponsor two wives, subject to conditions set by ICP. Approval is decided case by case.
- Daughters: unmarried daughters can be sponsored with no age limit.
- Sons: you can generally sponsor a son while he is under 25. A son over 25 who is a student may still qualify with proof of enrolment in higher education. Children of determination can be sponsored regardless of age.
- Newborns: if your child is born in the UAE, you must register the birth within 30 days. You then have 120 days from the date of birth to arrange the required documents, including the birth certificate, passport, Emirates ID and residence visa. Missing these deadlines can lead to penalties, so complete the procedures as early as possible.
- Stepchildren: if you are sponsoring stepchildren, extra documents are usually needed, such as a no-objection certificate from the biological parent, and a deposit may apply. Requirements and visa validity vary, so our team confirms them before applying.
Sponsoring Your Parents in the UAE
Sponsoring parents has stricter conditions than sponsoring a spouse or children:
- Income and housing: you need to meet higher income and accommodation requirements than for a spouse or children. In Dubai, GDRFA assesses your income, housing, proof of support, insurance and other documents. Confirm the minimum income and accommodation conditions with GDRFA before applying, or ask our team to check them for you.
- Proof of support: you may need to show that you support your parents and that no one can care for them in your home country. The exact evidence depends on the issuing authority.
- Health insurance: a valid medical insurance policy is needed for each parent.
- Deposit and validity: a refundable deposit may be required, and visa validity can differ from spouse and children visas. Confirm the current terms with GDRFA or ICP.
Our team checks which route you qualify for before applying. Golden Visa holders can sponsor family members on more flexible terms; read about the benefits of the UAE Golden Visa.
What Happens If the Sponsor's Visa Is Cancelled?
Your family's residence permits are linked to yours, and a dependent's permit normally cannot extend beyond your own. If you plan to cancel your UAE residence visa, your dependents' linked residence permits generally must be cancelled first, unless an approved hold or status-change arrangement applies. ICP offers a temporary hold option in eligible cases, subject to conditions and fees.
Confirm the correct cancellation sequence and grace period with ICP or GDRFA before you proceed. The UAE Government's family visa guidance mentions a six-month grace period, but ICP's current service conditions list different grace periods depending on the residence category. Check the exact permitted stay shown by ICP or GDRFA for each dependent before the visa expires or is cancelled.
If you fail to renew or cancel your dependents' visas, you could face fines. Once the grace period ends, overstay fines also apply. See how to check overstay fines in the UAE.
Bring Your Family to the UAE With Bestax
Don't let paperwork delay your family's move. Let our team handle it:
- Book a consultation so we can check your eligibility.
- Share your details and we'll send you a document checklist.
- Leave the rest to us. We collect, attest and submit your documents, then track your application through to the residence visa.
Contact Bestax today to apply for a UAE family visa with expert support.
FAQs on How to Apply for a Family Visa in UAE
What Are the Requirements to Apply for a Family Visa in UAE?
The sponsor needs a valid UAE residence visa and a minimum salary of AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided accommodation. Family members aged 18 and over must pass a medical fitness test, and dependents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi need valid health insurance.
How Do I Apply for a Family Visa in UAE?
Applications go through GDRFA Dubai for Dubai residents or ICP for the other emirates. With Bestax, you don't have to manage this alone. Our team checks your eligibility, collects and attests your documents, submits the application, coordinates medical tests and Emirates ID, and completes the residence visa for each family member.
What Documents Are Needed for a UAE Family Visa?
The main documents are the sponsor's passport, residence visa, Emirates ID, salary certificate and registered tenancy contract. For family members, you need passports, photos, attested marriage and birth certificates, medical fitness results and health insurance. Our team collects and prepares these for you.
How Long Does It Take to Process a Family Visa in UAE?
GDRFA Dubai gives an estimated 48 hours for its family entry permit service, but that covers only the entry permit. The full process also depends on the emirate, how complete your documents are and how quickly medical tests and Emirates ID biometrics are done. Contact our team for a current timeline for your application.
Can I Apply for a Family Visa in UAE Online?
Yes. Applications are submitted online through GDRFA Dubai or ICP. Bestax can submit and track the application on your behalf.
What Is the Cost of a Family Visa in UAE?
The cost depends on the visa duration, the number of family members and whether they apply from inside or outside the UAE. As an example, GDRFA Dubai publishes a base fee of AED 200 plus VAT for its family residence entry permit service, but this is not the total cost. The full amount also covers residence issuance, medical tests, Emirates ID and health insurance. Contact our team for an accurate quote.
How Do I Renew a Family Visa in UAE?
Your family's visas should be renewed before they expire, usually alongside your own residence visa, since a dependent's permit normally cannot extend beyond yours. Renewal may require updated medical tests, Emirates ID renewal and valid health insurance. Our team can handle renewals so you don't miss a deadline.
What Is the Validity Period of a Family Visa in UAE?
A family member's residence permit is linked to the sponsor's and normally cannot extend beyond it. The exact validity can vary depending on the sponsor's visa type and emirate, so our team confirms it when applying.
Can I Sponsor My Extended Family for a Visa in UAE?
Under the standard family residence route, you can sponsor your spouse, children and, under stricter conditions, your parents. Green Visa holders can also sponsor first-degree relatives. For other relatives, a visit visa may be an option. Contact our team to check your eligibility.
What Are the Benefits of a Family Visa in UAE?
A family visa lets your spouse, children or parents live with you in the UAE as legal residents. They can get an Emirates ID, enrol in schools and universities, use healthcare through their insurance and open a bank account. Family members can also work in the UAE once they obtain the required work permit.
Visa rules and fees can change, so confirm the current requirements with GDRFA, ICP or our team before applying.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only. For professional assistance and advice, please contact experts.
With over six years of experience in tax, accounting, bookkeeping, and business setup processes, Neha Ghauri provides expert insights through meticulously researched content.
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