United Arab Emirates
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Bringing Your Family to the UAE: A Guide to Family Sponsorship Visas
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) offers a family sponsorship visa program that allows residents to bring their families to live with them in the country. This can be a great option for expats who want to be joined by their spouses, children, and even parents. At Trivup, we provide a detailed guide to help you navigate the process of obtaining a Family Sponsored Visa, making it easy to reunite with your loved ones.
Who Can Sponsor a Family Member?
The good news is that most expats with a valid residence visa can now sponsor their families. There are no longer profession restrictions, but there is a minimum salary requirement.
- Men can sponsor their wives and children (under 25 years old) with a minimum salary of AED 4,000 per month.
- Alternatively, a salary of AED 3,000 per month is acceptable if sponsor provides accommodation.
- Women can sponsor their children under special circumstances with approval from the authorities. In Dubai, their minimum salary requirement is AED 4,000, while Abu Dhabi requires AED 5,000
Required Documents
When applying for a Family Sponsored Visa, you will need to submit the following documents:
Sponsor’s Documents
- Passport copy
- UAE residency visa copy
- Salary certificate (for private employees)
- Labor contract (for government employees)
- Tenancy contract (attested)
- Latest utility bill
Family Member’s Documents
- Passport copy
- Passport-sized photographs
- Birth certificates (for children)
- Marriage certificate (for spouse)
- Medical fitness test (for adults)
- Medical fitness test (for adults)
Key Points to Remember
- Family visas are typically issued for 1, 2, or 3 years and are renewable.
- The family member's visa is tied to the sponsor's visa. If the sponsor's visa is cancelled, the family member's visa is also cancelled. However, there is a 30-day grace period to seek an alternative visa solution.
- Women sponsoring children may require additional approval.
Can a Woman Sponsor Her Family Members for a UAE Family Visa?
Yes, she can but the criteria for a woman to sponsor her family to the UAE are higher than for a man:
- The family members she can sponsor are her husband and her children.
- She has to earn a monthly salary not lower than AED 10,000 or alternatively AED 8,000 plus accommodation.
- She must work as an engineer, teacher, or a profession related to the medical sector (doctor, nurse etc)
- In certain cases (and only with approval from the DRND), if the woman has a sufficient monthly salary, she could qualify for sponsorship even if she isn’t employed in one of the aforementioned categories
- If she has a husband who can sponsor the children instead, she is not allowed to do it herself. It must be the husband.
How to Apply for UAE Family Visa?
Family visas for the UAE can be sponsored by either the expatriate or his/her employer. As a foreign resident, you must submit a UAE Family Visa application within 60 days of receiving your own UAE Residence Visa.
Applying for the UAE Family Visa
The UAE Family Visa is a type of residence visa, and as such, you have to submit it on behalf of your family members after they are already in the country on an entry permit. You can submit the family visa application at the offices of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) of the relevant emirate.
Fee type
Cost per person in AED
Sponsor registration file
268.9
(Wife/Children Outside the UAE)
488.9
(Wife/Children Inside the UAE)
1,138.90
(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
How long is a UAE Family Visa valid?
Family visas for the UAE can be sponsored by either the expatriate or his/her employer. As a foreign resident, you must submit a UAE Family Visa application within 60 days of receiving your own UAE Residence Visa.
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