FAMILY RESIDENCE & SPONSORSHIP
Family visa services in Dubai
Understand eligibility, prepare your documents and request help with a family sponsorship application. Start with the sponsor’s status and the family member you want to bring to Dubai.
QUICK ANSWER
Who can sponsor a family visa in Dubai?
A resident with valid UAE residence may sponsor eligible family members, subject to the relevant conditions. UAE Government guidance states a minimum salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, for the standard employee route. Meeting the income threshold alone does not establish eligibility for every case.
Check the relationship and residence category
Spouse and children
The general guidance covers a spouse, unmarried daughters, sons under 25 and children with special needs. Confirm the applicable category for your family.
Other sponsorship cases
Parents, stepchildren and special residence categories need a separate review. Do not assume the standard employee checklist covers them.
Applicants aged 18 and over
Medical fitness testing applies to dependants aged 18 and over. Confirm the approved centre and timing before booking.
Family visa documents: starting checklist
This is a starting checklist, not an authority acceptance decision. Confirm validity, attestation and translation requirements for your category before paying for documents.
| Document group | Prepare for the case review |
|---|---|
| Applicant identity | Passport copy and a recent colour photograph with a white background. |
| Sponsor records | Sponsor’s passport, valid residence and employment or salary records as applicable. |
| Relationship evidence | Marriage certificate for a spouse or birth certificate for a child; confirm required attestation. |
| Housing | Certified tenancy or proof of owning the residence, where required. |
| Application-stage records | Entry permit, Emirates ID application receipt, insurance and medical fitness result where applicable. |
How much does a Dubai family visa cost?
There is no single total for every family. Ask for an itemised quote showing the applicant’s location, residence duration, included transactions and assistance fee.
| Cost component | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Residence permit | The GDRFA service page lists AED 200 for permit issuance, with additional charges. This is not the complete cost of a family visa. |
| Other application costs | Ask which entry or status transactions, Emirates ID, medical testing, insurance and document preparation costs apply. |
| Assistance fee | Request theuae.pro’s written scope and fee separately. Confirm what is excluded and when payments become due. |
Dubai family visa application steps
The sequence depends on the applicant’s status. GDRFA lists digital channels and Amer centres for family residence applications. Confirm the route before starting.
Check the sponsor and category
Review the relationship, sponsor records and required supporting documents.
Confirm entry or current status
Identify the transaction needed for an applicant outside or already inside the UAE.
Complete required application stages
Prepare the applicable medical fitness, Emirates ID and insurance records.
Submit and follow the decision
Submit through the relevant channel, pay applicable fees and respond to any document requests.
Family visa questions
How long does the whole process take?
Ask for an estimate after the documents and route are reviewed. An authority’s processing target for one transaction does not include all preparation, appointments or requests for more information.
Can a person on family sponsorship work?
A family residence permit should not be treated as permission to take any job. UAE guidance provides a work permit route for employers hiring residents under family sponsorship.
Explore serviceDoes the dependant’s visa last longer than the sponsor’s?
UAE Government guidance says the dependant’s residence expiry will not exceed the sponsor’s. Check the dates before making travel or renewal plans.
Explore serviceDo I have to use an assistance company?
GDRFA lists direct digital and Amer service channels. You can compare those routes with paid assistance and decide which support you need.
Explore serviceWhat should I include in my enquiry?
State the relationship, dependant’s age, current location, sponsor’s status and any deadline. Do not attach passport copies to the general enquiry form.
Request family sponsorship support
Tell us who you want to sponsor and where the applicant is now. Ask for the document checklist and a quote for the agreed scope. Authority requirements and approval remain case-dependent.
hello@theuae.pro+971506972512Deira Dubai