UAE Golden Visa Family Sponsorship

Key points:

• Golden Visa family sponsorship grants spouse, children, and parents a renewable 10-year residency tied to the primary holder, not to a job or business.
• Government visa fees run from AED 2,750 per family member, plus AED 1,186 Emirates ID, AED 750 adult medical, and a one-time AED 240 file-opening fee.
• Golden Visa children qualify at any age unlike standard residence visas.
• Sponsored family members can stay outside the UAE for more than six months without losing residency.
• Golden Visa holders sponsor parents without the standard AED 20,000 monthly salary threshold that ordinary sponsorship requires.
• Dubai dropped the mandatory Ejari tenancy contract for family sponsorship in 2024. Abu Dhabi (Tawtheeq), Sharjah (municipal attestation), and Ajman (Tasdeeq) keep their own systems.

Who can a UAE Golden Visa holder sponsor?

A UAE Golden Visa holder can sponsor a spouse, unmarried children of any age, children of determination, and parents. The key requirements are the sponsor's valid Golden Visa, proof of relationship, and health insurance. Family sponsorship runs for 10 years, renewable alongside the Golden Visa.

Spouse

A legally married spouse qualifies for sponsorship regardless of the couple's nationality, provided the marriage is legally documented and attested.

Children

Unmarried sons and daughters can be sponsored at any age — a clear departure from standard residence visas, which cap son eligibility at 25. Children of determination are exempt from age restrictions entirely.

Parents

Parents qualify for a 10-year residency. Unlike ordinary parent sponsorship, the sponsor does not need to meet the AED 20,000 monthly income threshold or pay a refundable security deposit. Both parents are sponsored together, except in cases of death or divorce. A sponsor's own parents qualify for the full 10-year term, while a spouse's parents may be sponsored for a shorter period.

What documents are required to sponsor a family member?

Family sponsorship preparation starts before arrival in the UAE. Civil-status documents must be legalized in the country where they were issued before they can be accepted by UAE authorities. The legalization chain is: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or equivalent) in the country of origin → UAE Embassy or Consulate there → UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), followed by a certified Arabic translation where required.

For all family members:

• Passport copies, valid for at least 6 months
• Recent passport-style photos

For spouse sponsorship:

• Legalized marriage certificate

For children:

• Legalized birth certificates for each child

For parents:

• Attested birth certificate of the sponsor, proving the parent-child relationship
• Affidavit of dependency — a consulate-issued certificate (attested by MOFA) confirming the sponsor is the parent's sole supporter

How much does it cost to sponsor a family member under a Golden Visa?

Government fees start at AED 2,750 per sponsored family member in 2026. Costs below cover the core government fee, medical, and Emirates ID. Additional costs include a one-time AED 240 file-opening fee per sponsor file, and approximately AED 2,500 per document for MOFA attestation and translation where required.

Government fees only, Emirabiz service fee quoted separately.

How do you apply for Golden Visa family sponsorship?

The procedure is identical for spouses, children, and parents. In 2026, every application moves through the same five stages — sponsor file opening, entry permit or status change, medical screening, biometrics, and visa issuance — with most applications completed within 3–7 working days.

1. File opening: Register a sponsor file with GDRFA in Dubai or ICP in other emirates.
2. Entry permit or status change: The corresponding authority issues an entry permit for family members currently outside the UAE, or process a status change for those already inside.
3. Medical screening: Mandatory for all family members aged 18+, including a blood test and chest X-ray.
4. Biometrics: Family members visit an ICP center for fingerprints (and, for parents, iris scans).
5. Insurance and visa issuance: Once health insurance is uploaded, the 10-year e-visa is issued and linked to the Emirates ID.

How is Golden Visa family residency renewed and maintained?

Family residency remains valid only while the primary Golden Visa stays active. Sponsored relatives renew together with the main holder, keep the Golden Visa exemption from the 180-day absence rule, and receive a grace period if the sponsorship is cancelled.

The 180-day rule: Standard residence visas cancel automatically after 180 consecutive days outside the UAE. Golden Visa holders and their sponsored family members are exempt from this rule and can remain abroad for extended periods without losing residency.

Cancellation order: When a Golden Visa is cancelled, the primary holder must cancel all family members' visas first, before their own.

Grace period: After cancellation, sponsored relatives have 60 days to leave the UAE or secure a new visa. Overstay fines are AED 50 per day.

Can a Golden Visa holder sponsor a maid or domestic helper?

A Golden Visa holder hires domestic workers rather than sponsoring them as dependants. Maids, drivers, and nannies follow the domestic-worker employment route under MOHRE, not the 10-year family residence. The sponsor can be the visa holder directly or a licensed Tadbeer centre, and the term runs 1–2 years, not 10.

For eligibility, cost, and the two hiring routes, see our full guide Sponsoring domestic staff under a UAE Golden Visa.