Family Visa Sponsorship in Dubai & UAE: Salary Thresholds, Steps & Costs
Authoritative guide outlining the requirements to sponsor a spouse, children, or parents in the UAE, covering statutory monthly salary thresholds, required attestations, medical fitness testing, and GDRFA/ICP fees.
Independent Public Guide: This guide is independently compiled from verified UAE ministerial decisions and laws. We are not a government entity. For official filings, always use the designated government portals linked below.
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Who Is This Guide For?
Expatriates residing in the UAE intending to sponsor their spouse, sons, daughters, or parents on long-term family residence visas.
Required Documents
1. Sponsor's original Emirates ID and valid Residence Visa copy.
2. Attested Employment Contract and Salary Certificate from employer (or trade license for investors).
3. Registered Tenancy Contract (Ejari in Dubai / Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi) proving adequate residential accommodation.
4. Attested Marriage Certificate (legal translation if not in Arabic or English).
5. Attested Birth Certificates for children.
6. Medical Fitness Certificate for dependents aged 18 and older.
7. Health Insurance policy for each dependent.
Verified Official Fees & Costs
Statutory Minimum Salary: AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided housing.
Entry Permit (Inside Country): AED 1,100 - AED 1,250 (includes status change).
Entry Permit (Outside Country): AED 450 - AED 550.
Medical Fitness Test: AED 320 (standard) to AED 700 (VIP express).
Emirates ID (2 Years): AED 270 per person.
Residence Visa Stamping: AED 200 - AED 300 per year.
Key Takeaway: Expatriates earning a minimum of AED 4,000 per month (or AED 3,000 + accommodation) with an attested Ejari/Tawtheeq can sponsor their spouse and children. Sons are eligible up to age 25, while unmarried daughters have no age restriction.
1. Statutory Eligibility & Salary Criteria
Under modernized UAE residency regulations, expatriate workers holding valid residence visas can sponsor family members regardless of their professional title, provided they satisfy the economic threshold:
Standard Salary Threshold: Minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000.
Accommodation Exception: Minimum monthly salary of AED 3,000 plus company-provided housing supported by an official employer tenancy certificate.
Housing Requirement: A registered tenancy contract (Ejari in Dubai or Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi) confirming adequate living space for the family unit.
2. Sponsoring Sons vs Daughters
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022, major enhancements expanded dependent sponsorship age thresholds:
Sons: Can be sponsored up to the age of twenty-five (25) years. Previously capped at 18, sons now remain under family sponsorship throughout university and early career transitions without special educational deposits.
Daughters: Can be sponsored indefinitely regardless of age, provided they remain unmarried.
Children of Determination: Can be sponsored with no age limits upon submission of certified medical disability documentation.
3. Step-by-Step Sponsorship Process
Step 1: Document Legalization
Ensure foreign marriage and birth certificates are attested by the UAE Embassy in your home country and counter-attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), with Arabic legal translations.
Step 2: Apply for Entry Permit
Submit the entry permit application online through GDRFA (Dubai) or ICP (Northern Emirates). If family members are already in the UAE on a visit visa, apply for an "Inside Country Entry Permit" and complete the status amendment.
Step 3: Medical Fitness Test
All dependents aged 18 and older must undergo a mandatory medical fitness examination (blood test for infectious diseases and chest X-ray for pulmonary tuberculosis) at a certified government health center.
Step 4: Emirates ID & Visa Stamping
Submit Emirates ID biometrics application and secure health insurance coverage. Once approved, the residency visa is stamped digitally into the immigration passport database.
1. Submitting unattested marriage/birth certificates: Foreign documents must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the home country and UAE MOFA.
2. Inadequate Ejari residential space: Studios or single rooms may be rejected when sponsoring multi-child families.
3. Sponsoring sons over 25 without university proof: Sons can be sponsored up to age 25, or older only with continuous enrollment proof; daughters can be sponsored until marriage regardless of age.
4. Failing to secure mandatory health insurance: In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, health insurance is required before final visa stamping.
Official Government Sources & Public Portals
Verified against the following official government links on 1 Nov 2026:
What is the minimum salary required to sponsor a spouse and children in the UAE?
The statutory minimum monthly salary requirement is AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 per month if the employer provides verified residential accommodation.
Can female expatriates sponsor their husband and children?
Yes. Under modern unified immigration regulations, female expatriates who meet the minimum salary and housing requirements can sponsor their husband and children.
Up to what age can an expatriate sponsor their children?
Male children can be sponsored up to the age of 25 (or longer if enrolled in certified higher education). Unmarried female children can be sponsored indefinitely until marriage, with no upper age limit.
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