UAE Family Visa Guide: Requirements, Costs, and Process 2026

Key points

• Any UAE resident with a monthly salary of AED 4,000 or more (AED 3,000 if accommodation is employer-provided) qualifies to sponsor family members.
• Valid residency durations: 1, 2, 5, or 10 years — always tied to the sponsor's own visa.
• A standard 2-year family visa costs from AED 3,910 per adult; sponsorship of children under 18 comes with a lower price (no medical test, no file opening).
• Newborns must be registered within 4 months of birth under Article 12 of Federal Law by Decree No. 29 of 2021.
• Golden Visa holders follow a separate track with different costs and no Ejari or salary certificate requirement for Dubai residents.
• Family visa cancellation follows the reverse route: first the dependent’s visas are cancelled, then the one of the sponsor.

A UAE family residency visa is a residence permit that allows a UAE resident to sponsor their spouse, children, and parents. In 2026, a standard 2-year family visa costs from AED 3,910 per adult dependent and takes 3–7 working days — processed by GDRFA in Dubai and ICA in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates. The dependent's visa matches the sponsor's residency duration and starts from the date of issuance, regardless of when the sponsor's own visa was opened.

How much does a family visa cost in the UAE?

The total cost of sponsoring a dependent depends on the visa type and processing authority. Below is a breakdown of the main expense categories.

Government fees only. Emirabiz service fee, authority filing, and processing acceleration are not included and are quoted separately.

For a Golden Visa-sponsored dependent, the total comes to AED 4,926: file opening AED 240, 10-year visa AED 2,750, medical AED 750, Emirates ID AED 1,186.

For a standard 2-year visa, the total starts from AED 3,910.

Parent sponsorship includes an additional refundable security deposit of AED 5,000.

Who can sponsor family members in the UAE?

Any UAE resident holding a valid residence permit can sponsor their immediate family, provided they meet the minimum salary threshold and can demonstrate adequate housing. The sponsoring right applies equally to male and female residents. Under Article 54 of Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022, the sponsor acts as the legal guarantor for all dependents they bring in.

Who can you sponsor — and what are the rules per relative?

UAE residency law recognises two sponsorship tracks depending on the sponsor's visa type. Standard residence permit holders can sponsor a spouse, sons up to age 25, unmarried daughters of any age, and parents. Golden Visa holders can sponsor the same categories plus children of any age — and uniquely, their spouse's parents for a 1-year residence permit.

Full Guide on UAE Golden Visa Family Sponsorship — Eligibility, costs, and exclusive sponsorship benefits for Golden Visa holders and their dependents.

Spouse

A UAE resident can sponsor their husband or wife. The sponsored spouse must hold a valid passport and pass a medical fitness test if aged 18 or over.

Children

Sons can be sponsored up to age 25; unmarried daughters can be sponsored indefinitely regardless of age. Children under 18 do not require a medical fitness test or file opening. Stepchildren require a notarised NOC from the biological parent and a refundable security deposit. Golden Visa holders face no age restriction on children of either gender.

Newborn

A child born in the UAE must be registered and issued a residence permit within four months of birth under Article 12 of Federal Law by Decree No. 29 of 2021. Missing this deadline triggers a daily administrative fine. Identity documents from the parent's home country must be obtained first, then UAE residency applied for — both within the four-month window.

Parents

Both parents must be sponsored together. Single-parent sponsorship requires attested proof — a death certificate or divorce papers confirming only one parent needs care.

Women sponsors

A female UAE resident can sponsor her husband and children on the same legal basis as a male sponsor. In Dubai, a notarised NOC may also be required for sponsoring children.

For documents, attestation requirements, and step-by-step process, see the UAE spouse and children visa guide and UAE parent visa guide.

What does a sponsor need to qualify?

To sponsor family members in the UAE, a resident must meet three conditions: minimum monthly salary, proof of adequate housing, and valid attested relationship documents.

Minimum salary

The minimum monthly salary is AED 4,000 — or AED 3,000 if the employer provides accommodation. For female sponsors, the threshold is higher: AED 8,000–10,000 depending on the emirate. For parent sponsorship in Dubai, the practical threshold is AED 20,000, with a humanitarian route available at AED 10,000 through Amer centres. Golden Visa holders face no salary requirement.

Housing

Sponsors must provide adequate housing, evidenced by a registered tenancy contract. For a standard 2-year visa in Dubai, this means a valid Ejari; other emirates have equivalent tenancy registration systems. For parent sponsorship, a minimum two-bedroom apartment is required — parents must have a dedicated room separate from the sponsor's household. Golden Visa holders in Dubai are exempt from the Ejari requirement.

Document checklist

All relationship documents must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of origin, then by UAE MOFA. Apostilles are not accepted — full legalisation is required.

• Passport copies (sponsor and all dependents)
• High-resolution photographs (white background)
• Salary certificate or labour contract
• Attested marriage certificate (for spouse)
• Attested birth certificates (for children and newborn)
• Six months of bank statements (for parent sponsorship)

How do you apply for a UAE family visa online?

The 2026 process runs through two portals depending on the emirate: GDRFA for Dubai, ICP for Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates. Standard cases typically take 3–7 working days from submission to Emirates ID delivery.

Step 1: Apply for an entry permit
Submit the application through GDRFA (Dubai) or ICP (other emirates). The dependent can be inside or outside the UAE at this stage.

Step 2: Status change (if applicable)
If the dependent is already in the UAE on any valid entry permit or visa, a status change must be processed before the residence permit is activated.

Step 3: Medical fitness test
Mandatory for all dependents aged 18 and above. Screens for communicable diseases including HIV and TB.

Step 4: Biometrics and Emirates ID
The dependent must visit an authorised service centre in person for fingerprints and iris scans — an Amer centre or GDRFA typing centre in Dubai, an ICP service centre in other emirates.

Step 5: Health insurance
A compliant health insurance policy must be active before the visa is issued. In Dubai, the minimum is the Enhanced Basic Plan (EBP); in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Basic plan.

Step 6: Digital residency issuance
Once insurance is uploaded to the portal, the residence permit is issued digitally.

You can check your family visa status through the ICP Smart Services portal for all emirates, or the DubaiNow app for Dubai residents. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our UAE visa status check guide.

How do you renew or cancel a UAE family visa?

Family residence permits are directly tied to the sponsor's visa — renewal and cancellation follow the sponsor's status, not an independent schedule.

If the sponsor renews their visa, dependent visas are renewed in the same cycle: the sponsor's visa first, then the dependents'. If the sponsor cancels their visa, the order reverses: dependent visas must be cancelled first, before the sponsor's own visa can be closed.

The 180-day rule works the same way: if the sponsor's permit becomes void or inactive under Article 59 of Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022, dependent visas are directly affected. An inactive sponsor visa can be reactivated via a re-entry permit at AED 700–1,000 depending on the emirate of registration.

If a visa expires without renewal, overstay fines accumulate at AED 50 per day across all visa types and emirates.

Full Guide on UAE Visa Cancellation — Grace periods, overstay fines, and step-by-step cancellation process for family residence permits.

A family residence permit in the UAE is only as stable as the sponsor's own visa. The dependent's legal status does not expire on its own schedule — it tracks the sponsor's compliance, not the calendar.

Bottom line about family sponsorship

A UAE family residence permit follows a predictable cycle when the sponsor's salary, housing, and documents are in order. The minimum threshold is AED 4,000 per month for a spouse and children — processing then takes 3–7 working days. The threshold changes when sponsoring parents or navigating a Golden Visa track: requirements shift, documents multiply, and GDRFA discretion replaces fixed rules.