Dubai residence visa: What is the minimum salary, eligibility to sponsor family in the UAE?

The UAE has become one of the world’s most sought-after destinations for individuals and families looking to start a new chapter in life. Every year, thousands of expats come to the UAE for their career growth, and once settled, they often bring their families over, hoping to provide them with a better life.

However, if expats or residents in Dubai want to bring family members (spouse, children, and other dependents) to live with them, they must sponsor their family members for a residence visa. If you plan to sponsor your family members, here are some essential steps and requirements one must follow:

First and foremost, you must be employed, and your employer must secure a work permit and a valid residency visa — this is your pathway to working and living in the UAE.

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You can bring your family to Dubai on visit visas before starting their residency visa process. Sponsoring family members is a straightforward process but requires following specific legal steps. Read here how women can sponsor husband, children.

Eligibility/criteria to sponsor Dubai visa:

Minimum salary: Expats can sponsor their families if they earn a minimum salary of Dh4,000 or Dh3,000 plus accommodation. Clearing medical fitness examination applies to all those who have completed the age of 18.

Time limit: A resident sponsor has 60 days to apply for his dependents’ residence visa after they enter the UAE under an entry permit.

Sponsoring parents: Expats must have a salary of Dh10,000 to sponsor parents. (More details below)

Profession: The type of profession is no longer a condition for an expat worker to be able to sponsor his family visas.

Housing: The sponsor must have adequate housing, whether it is a rented apartment or a villa in Dubai. Proof of accommodation may be required while processing the papers.

Employment: Expats in the UAE must be employed or own a business to sponsor family members.

Sponsoring wife and children:

An expat resident can sponsor the residence visa for his wife and children, provided he meets the sponsorship requirements outlined above. Duration of residency for the son or daughter should be the same duration as their parents' residency permit, which can be for two or three years.

To sponsor his wife, the expat must provide proof of their marital relationship by submitting an attested marriage certificate in Arabic, or one that has been officially translated into Arabic by a certified translator.

Sponsoring two wives: In specific cases, a Muslim resident may be allowed to sponsor two wives, provided he meets the terms and conditions set by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP).

Sponsoring daughters: An expat can sponsor his daughter(s) only if she is unmarried, with no age restrictions.

Sponsoring sons: A resident can sponsor his son(s) until they reach the age of 25. Sons with special needs can be sponsored without any age restrictions.

Sponsoring newborns: For babies born in the UAE, a residence visa must be applied for within 120 days of birth to avoid fines.

Sponsoring stepchildren: An expatriate resident can sponsor his stepchildren, subject to GDRFA’s conditions which include a deposit for each child and a written no-objection certificate from the biological parent. Their residence visas are valid for one year; renewable annually.

Documents required to sponsor wife, children:

When applying for sponsorship for a family member, make sure to gather all the required documents before visiting the GDRFA office or any typing centre. This will help ensure a smooth and efficient application process.

Sponsoring your parents

To sponsor their parents, the expat must meet the minimum salary requirements set by the authorities. They must also arrange medical insurance for both parents, with coverage that meets the required standards. This insurance must be renewed annually.

An expat can sponsor their parents to stay in the UAE for up to a year by paying a deposit as a guarantee for each parent, as required by the immigration authorities. This yearly visa for parents is regardless of the duration of the sponsor’s visa.

Both parents must be sponsored together; it’s not possible to sponsor only one unless specific circumstances apply. He also needs to provide proof that he is their sole support and that no one will take care of them back home.

If one parent has passed away or the parents are divorced, official documents will be required to justify sponsoring just one parent.

How to apply for visa:

To sponsor a family member for residency in the UAE, the expat can apply online through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) for Dubai, or through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICA) for all other emirates.

Applicants can also visit the nearest Amer Centre or typing centres to apply for a residence permit.

How much is the visa fee?

Once the application is submitted, you will be required to pay the visa processing fees.

The family visa fees in the UAE can vary depending on the emirate and the type of visa. For Dubai, according to the GDRFA website, the fees for a family visa are typically as follows:

Extra charge :

Note: The issuance fee increases by Dh100 annually whenever the residency is over two years.

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