Comprehensive Guide to UAE Family Sponsorship Visa 2025

Prerequisites for UAE Sponsorship Visa

Benefiting from the UAE sponsorship visa and bringing your family to this country requires meeting certain prerequisites that must be fulfilled beforehand. Among these conditions, the following should be noted:

• Employment and Work Visa: First and foremost, you must be employed, and your employer must issue a valid work permit and residence visa for you. These requirements facilitate your entry into the job market and life in the UAE.
• Obtaining a Visitor Visa: Before starting the process of obtaining a residence visa for your family, you can bring your family members to Dubai with a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa.
• Awareness of the Legal Process: Sponsoring family members is a relatively straightforward process but requires following specific legal steps; undoubtedly, completing this legal procedure is essential. In the following sections, we will fully explain these steps.

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Requirements for Eligible Visa Applicants

Now that we are aware of the prerequisites for obtaining a family visa in the UAE, it is better to move on to the main conditions. According to UAE immigration laws, applicants for family sponsorship residence in 2025 must meet the following conditions:

• Minimum Income: Immigrants can sponsor their family members for residence if their minimum monthly income is between 3,500 and 4,000 AED. They must also have housing. (For female immigrants, the minimum monthly income is between 8,000 and 10,000 AED along with housing.)
• Health Test: Individuals over 18 years old must successfully pass medical health tests.
• Timeframe: The sponsor must submit the residence visa application for dependent family members within 60 days of their entry into the UAE (under an entry permit).
• Parental Sponsorship: To sponsor parents, the immigrant must have a minimum income of 10,000 AED.
• Employment status: Previously, the type of job was also important, but under the 2019 regulations, the type of job is no longer a necessary condition for obtaining family member visas by expatriates. Anyone, regardless of their job, can obtain a residence visa for their family.
• Housing status: The sponsor must have suitable accommodation, whether it is a rented apartment or a villa in Dubai; proof of residence may be required during the document application process.
• Employment or business ownership: Expatriates in the UAE must either be employed or own a business themselves in order to sponsor their family members. This means that by registering a company in Dubai, one can obtain family residency.

Important points regarding sponsorship for spouse and children

Obtaining family sponsorship residency for spouse and children can involve very important considerations. Obviously, before taking any action, it is necessary to have sufficient information about it. Among these points, the following should be noted:

Sponsoring the spouse

A resident of Dubai or any other part of the UAE can apply for a residence visa for their spouse, provided they meet the specified conditions. To prove the marital relationship, submitting an official marriage certificate (in Arabic or translated into Arabic by an official translator) is mandatory.

Sponsoring the children

Regarding children, there are various rules and considerations which we will explain individually below:

• Daughters: They are eligible for sponsorship only if unmarried (no age limit).
• Sons: They are eligible for sponsorship up to the age of 25 (some sources say up to 21); for sons with special needs, there is no age limit. (Only if they are students and financially dependent on you.)
• Sponsorship of infants: For infants born in the UAE, a residence visa application must be submitted within 120 days of birth to avoid potential fines.
• Sponsorship of adopted children: A resident expatriate can sponsor their adopted children. However, according to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) regulations, sponsoring each child requires providing a 'No Objection' certificate from the biological parent. Obtaining this certificate also involves paying a deposit. The adopted child's visa is issued for 1 year and can be renewed annually.

Notes on obtaining a sponsorship visa for parents

As mentioned in the previous section, applicants for UAE family visas can also obtain this visa for their parents. Sponsoring parents has special conditions and important points to be aware of; some of these include:

• Minimum Income: The applicant must have a minimum income of 10,000 AED. (Some sources mention 20,000 AED.)
• Payment of deposit: According to regulations, a deposit of 2,500 AED must be paid for each parent.
• Health insurance: Health insurance that meets the required standards must be obtained for both parents and renewed annually.
• Duration: Parents can be sponsored for a period of 1 year; this duration is independent of the sponsor’s visa validity.
• Simultaneous sponsorship condition: Both parents must be sponsored simultaneously. Only in special cases (such as the death of one parent or divorce) can sponsorship be requested for only one parent; in such cases, official documents are required.
• Proof of sponsorship: You must demonstrate that you are the sole provider for your parents and that there is no one in the home country to care for them.

Required documents for obtaining a family sponsorship visa

Undoubtedly, obtaining a family sponsorship visa requires submitting specific documents that must all be prepared in advance. This step is particularly important because any deficiency or error can complicate the visa acquisition process. Among the necessary documents for obtaining a UAE family visa are the following:

• Visa application form (online or through one of the registered typing centers)
• Copy of the spouse's and children's passports
• Recent passport-sized photos of the spouse and children
• Medical fitness certificate for individuals over 18 years old (spouse and children)
• Copy of employment contract or company contract (for the husband)
• Monthly income certificate issued by the employer
• Official marriage certificate (certified)
• Copies of children's birth certificates (certified)
• Registered rental contract

Also, remember that for each family member, an Emirates ID application form must be submitted along with the residence visa application.

How to apply for a family visa and its procedures

To sponsor family members for a residence visa in the UAE, you can proceed through one of the following three methods; however, it is best to entrust this process to specialists. Our team can assist you in this matter. The three methods are as follows:

• Online via the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA)
• Through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICA) for other emirates and cities in the UAE
• You can also visit the nearest Amer center or typing offices to submit your residence visa application.

Recommended Reading:  UAE Golden Visa Guide

Family sponsorship visa fees in 2025

After submitting your application, you must pay the visa processing fees. Family visa fees in the UAE vary depending on the emirate and the type of visa you are applying for. According to information on the GDRFA website, the fees for obtaining a sponsorship visa are generally as follows:

• Residency visa fee: which is about 200 AED.
• Additional fees: which include the following:
• Knowledge fee: 10 AED
• Innovation fee: 10 AED
• In-country fee: 500 AED
• Delivery fee: 20 AED

It is worth noting that the issuance fee increases by 100 AED each year after two years of residency.

Also, according to information published on the ICP website, the fees required for obtaining a UAE family residency visa are as follows:

• Application fee: 100 AED
• Issuance fee: 100 AED per year
• Channel service fee: 100 AED

In the table below, you can find detailed information about the costs of obtaining a family sponsorship visa in the UAE for the year 2025:

Medical Testing Centers and Costs for UAE Family Visa

As mentioned in previous sections, to obtain a family visa in the UAE, certain medical tests must be conducted. After the family visa application is approved, family members over 18 years old are required to undergo a medical health examination to check for infectious diseases such as HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, leprosy, hepatitis B, and C. The test results must be submitted to the relevant authorities to continue the residency visa process.

Some of the health testing centers in Dubai where these tests can be performed include:

• Al Nahda Center
• Salah El Deen Center
• Ibn Battuta Center
• Al Khubaisi Center
• Dragon Mart 2 Center
• Al Baraha Smart Center

Regarding the costs of these tests, it should be noted that they can vary significantly. Depending on the visa type and individual circumstances, each person falls into a separate category. The medical test fees according to the categories are as follows:

• Category A (Employees, companies, and workers): 260 AED
• Category B (Men – employees of beauty salons, gyms, and health centers): 310 AED
• Category C (Women – such as nurses, domestic helpers, kindergarten supervisors, and employees of beauty salons and sports centers): 360 AED

Obtaining the Emirati ID Card After Securing Family Residency

After completing the medical test, you can apply for the Emirati ID card and have your residency visa stamped in your passport. To obtain the new Emirati ID card, you can apply through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) website or via authorized typing centers across the UAE.

Regarding this matter, it is helpful to keep the following points in mind:

• For the first time, physical presence at the ICP or government service center is mandatory to provide biometric data.
• The application form must also be completed, which is available online on the ICP website and through the mobile app.
• The fee for obtaining the Emirati ID card is 370 AED, with an additional 150 AED charge for expedited services at customer centers.

For more information about The steps to obtain a UAE passport, read the UAE Passport Guide article!

Validity period and renewal of family residence visa in the UAE

The family residence visa usually depends on the sponsor's visa status. This visa is typically issued for a period of 1 to 3 years and is renewable. When renewing the visa, you must apply before the expiration date to avoid fines or additional fees. The renewal process is similar to the initial visa application.

Also, it is necessary to stay informed about any changes in visa and residency laws and regulations. In the UAE, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) are responsible for visa and residency matters. For up-to-date information, you can visit the websites of these organizations.

Sources

Source 1 and Source 2