Everything You Need to Know About “Dubai Family Visa”

June 25, 2025
Real Estate
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09 mins

Everything You Need to Know About “Dubai Family Visa”

Dubai, also known as the “shining star of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)”, is more than the world-tourism destination. It is one of the best and most sought after cities to make a career switch, start a business, or simply improve your lifestyle. The city represents a vital concentration of diversity, as over 85% of the population are foreign citizens. Who can deny that it is a vibrant multicultural city that is appealing for working professionals and families?

For the thousands of expatriates that have made Dubai their home, one of the overriding motivations was to move their families to be with them. While a family visa may seem like nothing more than a convenience that comes with relocating to a different country, family is inherently one of the greatest contributors to emotional and social wellbeing, and the UAE government has introduced family visa programs to acknowledge this.

The Dubai Family Visa allows foreign residents to have family members (immediate family, spouse, children, parents) live with them in the UAE, by providing sponsorship for their family members.

This article is aimed to delve deeper into the ins and outs of “Dubai family visa”, delving deeper into the aspects, such as:

What does the process look like?
Who can sponsor their family members, and under which circumstances?
What is the cost, and what is the impact of recent legal changes?

Intrigued? Let’s get started.

What is a Family Visa in Dubai?

A family visa for Dubai is a residency visa. It enables expatriates who are employed or living in Dubai to sponsor their immediate family so they can live in the UAE.

The visa enables the family unit to be together with the understanding that the dependents (maintaining their residency permit) can live, study and sometimes work in the UAE.

Supporting family unity mental wellness and social stability for expatriates contributing to the economy is the core purpose of the family visa. It forms an integral part of the UAE’s commitment to flourishing as a multicultural society and a skilled workforce. Moreover, it offers the leverage to the individuals to enjoy the benefits of moving to Dubai, along with their families.

Validity & Renewability

The family visa may be valid for 1, 2, or 3 years based on the sponsor’s visa type and category of work permit.
The family visa is renewable upon expiration if the sponsor continues to meet eligibility criteria.
If dependents are over 18 years of age, they will need to take a medical fitness examination and have valid health insurance in place during the renewal process.

Who is permitted to sponsor family members?

Residents of the UAE with a residency visa can support their families.
The sponsor can be an employee, a business, or an investor.
Minimum salary amount, type of employment, and accommodation are the factors that matter.
Both men and women can sponsor their family, subject to the UAE immigration conditions.

Minimum Salary Requirements

To sponsor family members, the sponsor must meet the following amounts:

AED 4,000 per month; or,
AED 3,000 + accommodation provided by the employer.

Note: amounts are always subject to change. Check for the current amount on the GDRFA (Dubai) or ICP portals before proceeding with the sponsor application.

Professions Allowed to Sponsor

Previously, only certain professions were eligible to sponsor family members (e.g., engineers, doctors, teachers). However, recent legal reforms have eased this restriction.

Now, most professionals across various industries can sponsor family members as long as they meet the salary requirement.

This includes roles in sales, customer service, construction (in supervisory roles), and even freelancers and business owners with a valid license.

Criteria	Male Sponsors	Female Sponsors
Who They Can Sponsor	Wife, children (sons <25, unmarried daughters), parents	Family (with conditions)
Salary Requirement	Not fixed	AED 10k–12k/month
Profession	Not specified	Must be in healthcare, education, or engineering
Documents	Attested marriage & birth certificates	Same as male
Extra Approval	Rarely needed	May require GDRFA approval
Recent Changes	Stable rules	More flexible post-2023 (gender equality reforms)

Who Can Be Sponsored?

There are specific caps, limitations, and restrictions on who can be sponsored. Let’s discuss them in detail.

Immediate Family Members

These family members can be sponsored easily, provided documentation and salary requirements are met:

Wife:
The sponsor must provide an attested marriage certificate. If sponsoring more than one wife (in rare cases), special approval is needed based on Sharia law.
Children:
- Sons: Can be sponsored up to the age of 25, provided they are unmarried and financially dependent.
- Daughters: They can be sponsored regardless of age, as long as they are unmarried.
- Newborns born in the UAE must be sponsored within 120 days of birth.

Extended Family Members (Special Approvals Required)

Parents: A resident can sponsor parents under the following conditions:
- Must sponsor both parents together (unless one is deceased, with proof).
- Must show proof of no one else to care for them in the home country.
- Must earn a higher salary (typically AED 20,000 or more) and provide medical insurance.
Stepchildren: Can be sponsored with:
- NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the biological parent.
- Attested guardianship/legal documents.
Siblings: Rarely approved; only granted in exceptional humanitarian cases with strong supporting documentation and special approvals.

Types of Family Visas in Dubai

There are mainly 4 types of family visas in Dubai, there types and details are enumerated below

1-Year Family Visa (for Parents or Special Cases)

Issued mostly for sponsoring elderly parents or dependents with special circumstances.
Must be renewed annually.
Requires higher income and full health insurance coverage.
May involve a security deposit and additional approvals.

2-Year Family Visa

Most common visa for private-sector employees.
Valid for 2 years, aligned with the sponsor’s employment contract.
Renewable if the sponsor continues to meet the requirements.

3-Year Family Visa

Offered to:

Government sector employees
Free zone company workers (in some zones)
Investors or business owners
Valid for 3 years, offering longer stability and fewer renewal hassles.
Subject to periodic policy updates based on the sponsor’s visa.

Golden Visa Family Sponsorship

Residents with a UAE Golden Visa (10-year residency) can sponsor:

Spouse
Children (no age limit for unmarried daughters and sons under 25)
Offers the most flexible and long-term sponsorship option.
No minimum salary threshold is required for Golden Visa holders.
Family members can live and work/study freely in the UAE.

Documentation Required for a Dubai Family Visa

Below is the standard list of required documentation:

For the Sponsor

Passport copy with a valid UAE residence visa page.
Emirates ID (original and copy).
Tenancy contract or Ejari certificate (registered under the sponsor’s name).
Salary certificate (for government or free zone employees) or labor contract (for private sector employees).

For the Sponsored Family Members

Attested marriage certificate (for spouse sponsorship).
Attested birth certificates (for children’s sponsorship).
Passport copies of all family members to be sponsored.
Passport-size photos (white background, as per ICA/GDRFA requirements).
Valid health insurance policies (mandatory for all dependents).

Step-by-Step Application Process for Dubai Family Visa

Sponsoring family members in Dubai involves a series of steps managed through immigration portals (GDRFA or ICP) and Amer centers. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Entry Permit

Apply for an entry permit. This e-visa can be obtained from within the UAE (for those already on visit visas) or from outside the UAE. This permit allows to complete residency formalities.

Medical Fitness Test

Mandatory for dependents aged 18 and above.
Tests include blood screening and chest X-rays for communicable diseases.
Must be done at a government-approved medical center in Dubai.

Emirates ID Application

Apply for a UAE Emirates ID through the ICP or Amer Center.
Biometric scanning is required for those above 15 years of age.
ID card validity aligns with the duration of the residence visa.

Visa Stamping on Passport

The final step involves stamping the residence visa on the family member’s passport.
Done after completing all formalities (medical, Emirates ID, insurance).
Visa validity ranges from 1 to 3 years, depending on the sponsor’s employment category and selected option.

Visa Costs and Fees (Approximate)

Here is a general breakdown of the costs involved:

Item	Price (AED)
Entry Permit	500 – 1,200
Change of Status	675
Medical Test	320 – 750
Emirates ID (2 years)	370 – 750
Visa Stamping (2 years)	500 – 800
Typing & Processing Charges	200 – 500
Total Estimated Cost	~3,000 – 5,000 AED

Note: These are approximate values and may vary depending on service centers, urgency (normal vs. urgent), and company sponsorship terms.

Rules and Legal Framework

Here’s a detailed breakdown on the rules and legal framework related to the Family visa:

Recent Legal Updates

The UAE has made several progressive changes to family visa policies in recent years, including:

No Specific Profession Required: The restriction on the sponsor’s profession has been lifted—any resident earning the minimum salary can sponsor.
Visa Reforms in 2022–2023: Part of the UAE’s new residency strategy, allowing more flexible and family-friendly residency rules.

Renewal and Cancellation Process

Let’s delve into the ins and outs of visa renewal and cancellation process.

Renewal

Family visas must be renewed within 30 days before their expiry.
Renewal requires updated:
- Sponsor’s documents (Emirates ID, salary certificate).
- Medical test (if applicable).
- Health insurance renewal.

Grace Period

After visa expiry, a 30-day grace period is allowed to renew or exit the country.
Overstaying beyond this period can result in fines.

Cancellation

If the sponsor leaves their job, changes visa status, or leaves the country permanently, family visas must be canceled.
Visa cancellation is done via Amer centers or the GDRFA portal.
Dependent visas must be canceled before the sponsor’s visa is canceled, otherwise, penalties may apply.

The Bottom Line

Earning a visa for your family to come to Dubai is more than just a government requirement; it is creating the opportunity for you, as an expatriate, to establish a stable life for yourself and your family, in the world’s most diverse city.

Whether it be your spouse, children, or even parents, it is best to be as informed as possible about the different types of visas, the eligibility criteria, the required documentation, and the arrangements that are legally required for your family to come to live with you and contribute to your living experience in the UAE.

In recent years, thanks to the UAE’s progressive ideologies and family-friendly policies and reforms, residents can now sponsor family members to come and live in the UAE more easily than ever before. With family visa applications ranging from short-term dependent visas to long-term family sponsorship for the Golden Visa, the UAE wants to develop the family structures of a diverse expatriate populace.

Like every official process you may encounter, you must be aware of the most up-to-date legal developments, have your documentation ordered, and meet the timelines of your visa when it is valid, to not only avoid penalties and being penalized but to also ensure you are providing a legally acceptable and compliant environment for your family in the UAE.

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