Family visa sponsorship in the UAE
Family visas follow a set procedure once the sponsor’s own file is in order: income evidence, housing and insurance. The costs people tend to miss are the deposits and the separate rules for parents, so this page covers those first.
To sponsor your spouse and children you need a salary of at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, a tenancy contract in your name and health insurance for each dependant. Budget about AED 4,200 per person plus a refundable deposit of about AED 2,500–3,000 (estimates). Family visas follow the sponsor’s visa: two years for a company-sponsored visa, longer for golden or green visa holders. Sponsoring parents is a separate application with a much higher income requirement (AED 20,000 a month in Dubai).
- Spouse and children: a sponsor salary from AED 4,000 a month (or AED 3,000 plus accommodation), a registered tenancy and insurance for each dependant; about AED 4,200 and 1–3 weeks per file.
- Parents are a separate application: a much higher income requirement (AED 20,000 a month in Dubai), mandatory insurance and a refundable deposit for each parent, usually with both parents sponsored together.
- A refundable deposit of about AED 2,500–3,000 is held for each dependant and returned only when the visa is cancelled correctly.
- A baby born in the UAE must get a residence visa within 120 days of birth.
- Family visas follow the sponsor’s visa: two years for a company-sponsored visa, longer for golden or green visa holders.
Who you can sponsor and the income required
Family sponsorship in the UAE has different income requirements for different relatives. A resident earning at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, can sponsor a spouse and children. Parents need a much higher income (in Dubai, AED 20,000 a month) and meet extra conditions, covered below. Your own visa type also matters, because family visas follow the sponsor’s visa: golden and green visa holders can sponsor family for their own longer term.
Sponsorship depends on income and housing evidence rather than job title. A freelancer, an investor and a salaried employee sponsor family in the same way once the file shows their earnings and a registered tenancy in the sponsor’s name. Get the sponsor’s own file right first, and each dependant after that follows the same short procedure.
Documents for each dependant
Each dependant goes through the same steps: an entry permit, a change of status if they are already in the UAE on a visit visa, a medical fitness test for anyone aged 18 or over, Emirates ID biometrics, and issue of the residence visa. With standard processing this costs about AED 4,200 per person and takes one to three weeks. Children under 18 do not need the medical test.
The documents are standard: passports, the sponsor’s residence visa and Emirates ID, an attested marriage certificate for a spouse, attested birth certificates for children, the registered tenancy contract and salary evidence. Attestation is what most often delays the process: certificates issued abroad must be legalised before they are accepted here, and that happens outside the UAE. We raise it on day one so it does not hold up the file later.
Sponsoring parents
Parents are where families are most often surprised. The income requirement is much higher (in Dubai, AED 20,000 a month), insurance is mandatory and costs more at older ages, and a refundable deposit is held for each parent. The authorities generally expect both parents to be sponsored together, with evidence that you support them financially and that no sibling already sponsors them.
Parent sponsorship works best as a separate application, planned on its own timetable. If the income requirement is a stretch, discuss the options with us before a parent travels to the UAE.
Family visa costs, deposits and insurance
The headline price of a family visa is not the whole cost. Three items are often missed: the refundable deposit held for each dependant, health insurance renewed for each person every year, and renewals that follow the sponsor’s own visa dates. Here is the typical cost for one dependant on standard processing (estimates):
| Line item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Government and typing fees | About AED 4,200 per dependant, standard processing |
| Refundable deposit | About AED 2,500–3,000, returned when the visa is cancelled correctly |
| Health insurance | Per person per year; depends on age and cover; mandatory |
| Foreign certificate attestation | One-off, done abroad before filing here |
The deposit is returned when the visa is cancelled correctly, so the cancellation needs to be filed properly. Our PRO service handles cancellations so that the deposit is refunded when a family leaves the UAE or changes visa.
Renewal dates and school enrolment
Family visas renew every two to three years, linked to the sponsor’s own residence visa. If the sponsor’s visa lapses, the dependants' visas are affected too, because they cannot outlast the visa they depend on. We keep every family member’s dates in one tracker, so renewals are planned ahead and overstay fines are avoided.
School-age children add a deadline of their own: schools need a valid visa and Emirates ID to enrol a child, and the school year will not wait for a processing delay. If a school start date is at stake, we file the children’s visas first and note that in the plan.
How the sponsor’s visa type affects family sponsorship
The rules change with the sponsor’s own status. Family visas generally run for the same term as the sponsor’s visa, so a green visa holder can sponsor family for up to five years and a golden visa holder for up to ten (in Dubai). Golden visa routes include AED 2M in property and nominations for talent. Green visa holders can also sponsor first-degree relatives (u.ae). The longer term and wider scope are reasons to compare these routes before you settle on a standard residence visa.
Sons can be sponsored up to the age of 25, and unmarried daughters with no age limit; children with special needs can also be sponsored (u.ae). The rules do change, so we check the current requirements against your family before filing.
How we handle a family visa file
You send us the household details: who is moving, their ages, current visa status and any due dates. We send back a plan in filing order, with the cost per person, the refundable deposits marked, and the renewal dates already in the tracker.
If a relocation is happening at the same time (bank account, schooling, housing), the family files are scheduled into that timeline. You see the costs first, and there is no pressure to decide quickly.
Family visa key figures
Frequently asked questions
Can I sponsor my family on a freelance or green visa?
Do the same rules apply to sons and daughters?
What about newborns born in the UAE?
How long does it take for the whole family?
Is health insurance mandatory for dependants?
What happens to the deposit and my family’s visas if I cancel?
This is general information on UAE rules. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice for your situation. Rules and government fees change; we confirm the position for your facts in writing before you act.