09Dec

admin
No Comments

By Business & Beyond Consulting LLC FZ – UAE Immigration & PRO Experts

The UAE remains one of the most attractive places for expatriates to build a successful career and a secure family life. With updated residency regulations, more flexible sponsorship rules, and an increasing emphasis on family stability, getting a family visa in the UAE has become easier than ever—provided you know the correct requirements, documentation, and process.

This complete guide explains everything you need to sponsor your wife, husband, children, parents, and stepchildren. Whether you are based in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or the Northern Emirates, this article gives you the most accurate and updated information to ensure a smooth visa application.

Getting a family visa in the UAE has become easier when you choose the right immigration partner who also understands business setup in Dubai.

What Is a UAE Family Visa?

A UAE Family Visa (also called a dependent visa) allows a resident expatriate to sponsor their immediate family members so they can live, study, work (with a permit), and stay long-term in the UAE. The permit is typically issued for 2 or 3 years, depending on your visa category and Emirate.

Dependents You Can Sponsor

You can sponsor the following family members:

Wife or husband
Children (sons & daughters)
Parents (subject to additional conditions)
Stepchildren (subject to NOC & court documents)
Newborn babies born inside UAE

Family visas are issued and regulated by:

GDRFA Dubai (Dubai residents)
ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security) for other Emirates

UAE Family Visa Requirements – Latest Rules

The UAE government has introduced several updates to make the process easier but stricter in compliance. Here are the rules you must meet.

1. Salary Requirement for Sponsoring Family

To sponsor family members, the sponsor must earn:

AED 4,000 per month, or
AED 3,000 + employer-provided accommodation

For women sponsoring their family:

Typically AED 10,000 salary, or
AED 8,000 + accommodation

Some Emirates allow exceptions if the woman is in specific professions (engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse, medical field).

2. Profession Requirement Removed

Since 2019, the UAE no longer restricts family sponsorship based on profession.
Meaning: Any resident, regardless of job title, can sponsor their family if they meet financial and document requirements.

3. Age Limits for Children (Updated Rule)

Daughters: No age limit (must be unmarried)
Sons: Can be sponsored up to age 25
Sons with disabilities: No age limit

This update is one of the biggest improvements in recent years.

4. Mandatory Health Insurance

All dependents MUST have valid health insurance before the visa is stamped.
Dubai requires insurance for both employer and family sponsor cases.

5. Sponsoring Parents – Special Rules

To sponsor your parents:

Minimum salary often required: AED 20,000 (varies by Emirate)
Sponsor must prove they are their parents’ only financial support
Mandatory to sponsor both parents, unless widowed or divorced

Eligibility Requirements by Category

Below is a breakdown of who you can sponsor and the conditions that apply.

1. Sponsoring Your Wife

Requirements:

Attested marriage certificate (Home country → UAE Embassy → MOFA UAE)
Must be officially translated into Arabic
Salary threshold must be met

If sponsoring more than one wife, special approvals from GDRFA apply (Muslims only, strict conditions).

2. Sponsoring Your Husband

A wife can sponsor her husband only under certain conditions:

She must meet the higher salary requirement
She must belong to a certain professional category OR apply for an exception
Attested marriage certificate required

Dubai tends to be more flexible than other Emirates.

3. Sponsoring Children (Sons, Daughters & Stepchildren)

Sons

Can be sponsored up to age 25
Must provide proof of education if 18–25
Cannot be employed

Daughters

Can be sponsored regardless of age if unmarried

Stepchildren

NOC from biological parent
Court custody papers
Additional GDRFA approvals

4. Sponsoring Parents

Requirements:

Sponsor must earn a high enough salary
Must provide medical insurance for both parents
Security deposit required (varies)
Must sponsor both parents unless only one is alive

5. Sponsoring Newborns Born in UAE

A newborn must receive a visa within 120 days of birth.
Documents required:

Birth certificate
Hospital notification
Passport
Emirates ID application

Documents Required for UAE Family Visa

Here is the complete checklist of documents for each family member. Keep them ready to avoid delays.

Documents Required to Sponsor Your Husband

Same as above, plus:

Wife’s salary certificate meeting minimum requirements

Documents Required for Children

Attested birth certificate
Passport copies
Sponsor’s Emirates ID
Photos
Custody documents (if applicable)
School/college enrollment letter (for sons above 18)

Documents Required to Sponsor Parents

Passport copies of both parents
Sponsor’s passport, visa, Emirates ID
Attested dependency affidavit
Parent’s medical insurance
Ejari or tenancy in sponsor’s name
High salary proof
Bank statement (6 months)

Free zone investors must provide financial proof, tenancy, and corporate documents.

Step-by-Step UAE Family Visa Process

This is the exact workflow followed in all Emirates, including Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Abu Dhabi.

Step 1 — Entry Permit Application

You can apply:

Through GDRFA Dubai (website or app)
Through ICP Smart Services (other Emirates)
Through a typing center (Amer / Tasheel)

Entry permits are issued for:

Inside UAE change of status
Outside UAE applicants

Step 2 — Medical Fitness Test

Applicants above age 18 must undergo:

Blood test
X-ray

Types of medical tests:

Normal — 24 to 48 hours
VIP — Same day

Step 3 — Emirates ID Biometrics

After medical approval, book a biometrics appointment.
Required:

Passport
Visa copy
Original Emirates ID (for renewals only)

Step 4 — Health Insurance Activation

Visa stamping requires an active insurance policy.

Insurance varies by:

Emirate
Age
Coverage type

Step 5 — Visa Stamping (Residency Permit)

The visa is stamped either:

Electronically (Dubai e-visa)
As a sticker (some Emirates still issue physical stamping)

Validity options:

2 years
3 years

Step 6 — Emirates ID Printing

Once the visa is active, the Emirates ID card is printed and delivered.

Total processing time: 5–12 working days depending on Emirate, season, and service type.

Family Visa UAE Cost 2026 – Updated Price Guide

Family visa costs vary based on:

Your Emirate
Insurance category
Whether the applicant is inside or outside UAE
Visa duration

Below is an approximate price estimate for 2025.

Cost Breakdown (Dubai – Approximate)

2-Year Family Visa

Category	Without Insurance	With Insurance
Applicant Inside UAE	AED 3,500	AED 5,272
Applicant Outside UAE	AED 2,200	AED 3,972

3-Year Family Visa

Category	Without Insurance	With Insurance
Applicant Inside UAE	AED 3,700	AED 5,472
Applicant Outside UAE	AED 2,400	AED 4,172

Additional costs you may incur:

Medical test: AED 350 – 1,000
Emirates ID: AED 370 – 1,070
Insurance: AED 700 – 3,000+

Processing Time for UAE Family Visa (2026)

Typical timeline:

Entry permit: 24–48 hours
Medical test: 1–2 days
Emirates ID biometrics: 1 day
Visa stamping: 3–5 days

Total average completion:

7–10 working days for a smooth file

5 days with express services

Common Reasons for Family Visa Rejection (and How to Avoid Them)

Many family visa rejections happen due to preventable errors. Here are the most common causes:

1. Salary Mismatch

Salary does not meet the required threshold or documents don’t match payroll records.

2. Unattested Marriage or Birth Certificates

All certificates must be attested and Arabic-translated.

3. Ejari Not in Sponsor’s Name

The tenancy contract must match the sponsor’s visa.

4. Incomplete Bank Statements

Free zone investors must show income proof or company financials.

5. Insurance Not Activated

Visa stamping will NOT proceed without active insurance.

6. Missing Parent Sponsorship Requirements

Especially:

Insufficient salary
Not sponsoring both parents
No dependency certificate

How to Apply Online for a UAE Family Visa

1. GDRFA Dubai (for Dubai Residents)

You can apply through:

2. ICP Smart Services (All Other Emirates)

Apply through:

smartservices.icp.gov.ae
Government service centers

Both systems allow:

Entry permits
Status change
Visa stamping
Emirates ID applications

Family Visa Renewal (2026 Guidelines)

Family visas must be renewed before expiry, following the same steps:

Medical fitness (mandatory every renewal)
Insurance renewal
Emirates ID renewal
Visa stamping renewal

Grace period: 30 days after expiry
Overstay fines apply after the grace period.

Case Study Examples

1: Sponsoring a Wife + 2 Children

A Dubai resident earning AED 5,000 can successfully sponsor:

Wife
7-year-old daughter
19-year-old son (student)

2: Woman Sponsoring Husband

A Dubai-based nurse earning AED 10,500 successfully sponsors her husband.
Documents required include ministry attestation and salary proof.

3: Sponsoring Parents

An Abu Dhabi resident earning AED 22,000 sponsors both parents using a dependency affidavit and enhanced insurance package.

Why Choose Business & Beyond Consulting for Your Family Visa Processing?

At Business & Beyond Consulting LLC FZ, we specialize in:

Family visa applications
Visa renewals
Entry permits
Parent sponsorship
Stepchild and special case approvals
Medical test coordination
Emirates ID biometric scheduling
Insurance arrangements

Why Clients Trust Us

100% compliant with UAE immigration regulations
Fast processing (5–7 working days)
Expert PRO team with 10+ years of experience
End-to-end document handling
No delays, no rejections, no hidden fees

Contact our visa experts