A UAE family residence visa lets an expat bring a spouse and children to live in the UAE. The sponsor must hold a valid UAE residence visa and earn a minimum salary, and each family member needs an entry permit, a medical test, and an Emirates ID. This guide explains who can sponsor family, the salary rules, the documents, the fees, and the full application process.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, known as ICP, issues family residence visas in most emirates, and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, known as GDRFA, issues them in Dubai. The sponsor applies online, and the family can be outside the UAE or already inside the UAE on a visit visa. The process has clear steps, and this guide covers each step in order.
Read this guide from start to finish if you plan to bring your family to the UAE. If you already live here, go straight to the section that matches your question, and use the tables to compare fees, salary rules, and visa durations. The figures in this guide are typical ranges for 2026, based on data from ICP, GDRFA, UAE government sources, and official service centres.
Why Sponsor Your Family to Live in the UAE?
Many expats bring their family to the UAE so the whole family can live together. The UAE offers safe cities, good schools, modern hospitals, and a high standard of living, and children can study in British, American, IB, or Indian curriculum schools. A family residence visa lets your spouse and children live, study, and use health care in the UAE for as long as your own visa is valid.
A spouse on a family visa can also apply for a work permit, and children can join schools and nurseries. The sponsor must meet the salary rule and provide a home, and the family must pass the medical test. The table below shows who an expat can sponsor under a UAE family residence visa.
A family visa also gives your spouse and children access to the same public services as residents. Children can join a school or a nursery, and the family can use hospitals and clinics in the UAE. A spouse can work in the UAE after the sponsor gets a work permit for the spouse, and children can take part in sports and social activities. The visa also lets the family travel in and out of the UAE, but a long stay outside the UAE can affect the visa, so check the rules before a long trip.
| Family member | Rule |
|---|---|
| Spouse | A husband or a wife can be sponsored |
| Unmarried daughters | No age limit while unmarried |
| Sons | Under 25 years old |
| Children with special needs | No age limit, with proof |
A Green visa holder can also sponsor first-degree relatives, and a sponsor with a higher salary can sponsor parents. Check the exact rules with ICP or GDRFA before you apply, because the rules can change. The next section explains the salary and eligibility rules in full.
Who Can Sponsor Family in the UAE?
The salary rule is the first test for a sponsor. An expat must earn at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 a month plus accommodation provided by the employer. The job title no longer matters, so the salary is the main test. The sponsor must hold a valid UAE residence visa, and the salary must come from a job in the UAE.
A husband can sponsor his wife and children, and a wife can also sponsor her husband and children if she earns the minimum salary. The sponsor must also hold a tenancy contract for a home in the UAE, because the family needs a place to live. A Green visa holder can also sponsor first-degree relatives. The table below shows the minimum salary for each type of sponsor.
| Sponsor | Minimum salary |
|---|---|
| Employee with accommodation | AED 3,000 a month plus accommodation |
| Employee without accommodation | AED 4,000 a month |
| Sponsor of a parent | About AED 10,000 a month |
The figure for a parent is higher than the figure for a spouse or a child, and the exact rule for parents can change, so check it with GDRFA or ICP before you apply. The sponsor must keep the salary for the full visa period, and a job change can affect the family visa. The next section explains how to apply, step by step.
How to Apply for a UAE Family Visa
The sponsor applies for an entry permit first, and the family can be outside the UAE or already inside the UAE on a visit visa. The entry permit is valid for 60 days, and the family must complete the medical test, the Emirates ID, and the residence visa within those 60 days. The sponsor can apply online through ICP, or through GDRFA in Dubai.
If the family is already in the UAE on a visit visa, the sponsor applies for a status change instead of an entry permit. The status change lets the family stay in the UAE while the residence visa is processed. The sponsor submits the same documents for a status change, and the process takes 2 to 4 weeks from the application to the final visa. The steps below show the full process in order.
- Apply for the entry permit or the status change
- Complete the medical fitness test for each family member aged 18 or above
- Apply for the Emirates ID for each family member
- Submit the residence visa application with the documents
- Pay the fees and wait for approval
- Receive the residence visa and check the details
The sponsor can track the application online and check the status at each step with the UAE visa status check guide. A delay often comes from a missing document, so check the document list before you submit the application. The next section lists every document you need for a UAE family visa.
Documents Needed for a UAE Family Visa
Prepare every document before you start the application, because a missing document is the most common cause of delay. Some documents need attestation in the home country and in the UAE, so start the attestation early. The sponsor needs a salary certificate or a labour contract, and a tenancy contract for the home. The list below shows every document you need for a UAE family visa.
Each family member needs a passport valid for at least 6 months and passport photos with a white background. The marriage certificate and the birth certificates must be attested and translated into Arabic by a legal translator. The sponsor must also show a valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID. Keep the originals and a copy of each document, because the service centre may ask to see both.
- Passport copies of the sponsor and each family member
- Passport photos of each family member with a white background
- Valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID of the sponsor
- Salary certificate or labour contract of the sponsor
- Tenancy contract of the sponsor (Ejari in Dubai)
- Attested marriage certificate with a legal Arabic translation
- Attested birth certificates of the children with a legal Arabic translation
- Medical fitness results and health insurance for each family member
A bank statement can also prove the salary if the salary certificate is not ready, and the UAE bank account guide explains how to open an account in the UAE. The sponsor must keep the Emirates ID valid, and the Emirates ID renewal guide explains how to renew it online. Check each document against the list above before you submit the application.
How Much Does a UAE Family Visa Cost?
A UAE family visa often costs between AED 3,000 and AED 4,500 per person, and the total changes with the emirate, the visa duration, and the channel. The main costs are the entry permit, the medical test, the Emirates ID, and the residence visa fee. A longer visa costs more, because the residence fee rises by AED 100 for each extra year. The table below shows the typical fee for each step.
The total also changes with the channel you use. A service centre or a typing centre can charge a service fee on top of the government fees, and an online application is often cheaper. The fees in this guide are typical ranges for 2026, based on data from ICP, GDRFA, and official service centres. Ask the service centre for the full fee list before you pay.
The Emirates ID fee depends on the visa duration, so a longer visa costs more for the Emirates ID too. A 1-year visa needs an Emirates ID for 1 year, and a 3-year visa needs an Emirates ID for 3 years. The medical test fee is the same for each family member aged 18 or above, and a child under 18 does not need a medical test. The sponsor must also pay for health insurance for each family member, and the insurance cost changes with the age of the family member and the plan. Ask the insurer for the full cost before you choose a plan.
| Step | Typical fee |
|---|---|
| Entry permit | AED 500 to AED 1,200 |
| Medical fitness test | AED 250 to AED 350 |
| Emirates ID | About AED 100 a year |
| Residence visa | AED 200, plus AED 100 a year |
| Status change (inside the UAE) | About AED 500 |
A family of four can pay between AED 12,000 and AED 18,000 in total, because each family member needs an entry permit, a medical test, an Emirates ID, and a residence visa. A service centre can charge a service fee on top of the government fees, so ask for the full fee list before you pay. The cost of living in Dubai for expats guide can help you plan the family budget.
Medical Test and Emirates ID
Each family member aged 18 or above must pass a medical fitness test at an approved health centre in the UAE. The test checks for serious infectious diseases, and the result is often ready in 24 to 48 hours. The sponsor must book the test after the entry permit is issued, and the family member must bring the passport and the entry permit to the test.
After a fit result, the sponsor applies for the Emirates ID for each family member. The Emirates ID is the official identity card in the UAE, and each resident must hold one. A child under 18 does not need a medical test, but each child still needs an Emirates ID and a residence visa. Health insurance is also mandatory for a residence visa in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so arrange the cover before you apply.
- Book the medical test at an approved health centre
- Bring the passport and the entry permit to the test
- Wait 24 to 48 hours for the result
- Apply for the Emirates ID after a fit result
If the medical result is unfit, follow the advice of the health centre and ICP before you apply for the residence visa. Keep the medical result and the Emirates ID receipt safe, because the residence visa application needs both. The next section explains how to renew and cancel a family visa.
Family Visa Renewal and Cancellation
A family residence visa is linked to the sponsor visa, so it lasts for 1, 2, or 3 years, matching the length of the sponsor visa. The sponsor must renew the family visa before it expires, and each family member aged 18 or above must pass a new medical test at renewal. Renew early, because an expired visa leads to an overstay fine of AED 50 a day.
The sponsor can renew the visa online through ICP, or through GDRFA in Dubai. The sponsor must also keep the Emirates ID and the health insurance valid, because the renewal needs both. If the visa of the sponsor is cancelled, the family visas are also cancelled, and the family gets a grace period of 6 months from the date of expiry or cancellation.
The sponsor can also cancel a family visa if the family leaves the UAE for good, or if the sponsor changes jobs and the new employer does not sponsor the family. The sponsor must cancel the visa through ICP or GDRFA, and the family must leave the UAE within the grace period, or get a new visa. If the sponsor cancels the visa, the Emirates ID of the family member is also cancelled. A cancelled visa cannot be used again, so the sponsor must apply for a new visa if the family returns to the UAE.
| Visa duration | Rule |
|---|---|
| 1 year | Renew each year with a medical test |
| 2 years | Renew after 2 years with a medical test |
| 3 years | Renew after 3 years with a medical test |
Renew the visa before it expires, and keep the Emirates ID and the health insurance valid at all times. A late renewal can lead to a fine of AED 50 a day, so mark the expiry date in advance and start the renewal early. The next section explains the rules for a newborn baby.
Family Visa for a Newborn Baby
A baby born in the UAE needs a residence visa too, and the sponsor must apply within 120 days of the birth. The sponsor needs the birth certificate of the baby, the passport of the baby, and a photo of the baby. The baby also needs health insurance, and the sponsor must add the baby to the family health insurance plan.
A baby born outside the UAE needs an entry permit before travel, and the sponsor must complete the medical test, the Emirates ID, and the residence visa within 60 days of arrival. A baby under 18 does not need a medical test, but the baby still needs an Emirates ID and a residence visa. Start the process early, because a late application leads to a fine of AED 50 a day from day 121.
Apply for the visa of the baby within 120 days of the birth, and keep the birth certificate and the passport of the baby safe. A newborn baby can also need a passport from the home country first, so check the rules of the embassy early. The next section lists tips to avoid delays and fines.
Tips to Avoid Delays and Fines
A few simple habits can save time, money, and stress during the family visa process. Most delays come from a missing document, and most fines come from a late renewal. The tips below help you avoid both.
- Check the salary rule before you apply
- Prepare all documents and attest the certificates early
- Apply for the entry permit before the family travels
- Complete the medical test and the Emirates ID within 60 days
- Renew the visa before it expires
- Keep the Emirates ID and health insurance valid
- Track the application online and keep each receipt
A missing document is the most common cause of delay, and a late renewal is the most common cause of a fine. If you are unsure about any step, ask ICP, GDRFA, or a service centre before you apply.
Keep a copy of every receipt and every approval in one folder, because the service centre can ask for proof of payment at any step. A digital copy on your phone is enough, but a paper copy is also useful. Check the expiry date of each family visa at the start of every month, and set a reminder 2 months before the expiry date. A simple calendar reminder can save a fine of AED 50 a day, and it gives you time to book the medical test and renew the Emirates ID.
Conclusion
A UAE family residence visa lets your spouse and children live with you in the UAE, and the process is clear once you know the steps. Earn the minimum salary, prepare the documents, apply for the entry permit, and complete the medical test and the Emirates ID within 60 days.
The right preparation saves time and money, and it helps your family settle in the UAE without stress. Renew the visa before it expires, keep the documents valid, and check the ICP website for the latest rules. A family visa is worth the effort, and your family will thank you for it.
FAQ
The minimum salary is AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 a month plus accommodation. The job title no longer matters, and the sponsor must hold a valid UAE residence visa and a tenancy contract. A wife can sponsor her husband and children if she earns the minimum salary.
A UAE family visa often costs between AED 3,000 and AED 4,500 per person, and the total changes with the emirate, the visa duration, and the channel. The main costs are the entry permit, the medical test, the Emirates ID, and the residence visa fee. Ask the service centre for the full fee list before you pay.
You need passport copies and photos of each family member, the residence visa and Emirates ID of the sponsor, a salary certificate or labour contract, a tenancy contract, an attested marriage certificate, and attested birth certificates of the children. Each family member aged 18 or above also needs a medical fitness test and health insurance.
The process often takes 2 to 4 weeks from the application to the final visa, and the medical result is often ready in 24 to 48 hours. The entry permit is valid for 60 days, and the family must complete the medical test, the Emirates ID, and the residence visa within those 60 days. A missing document can delay the visa.
Yes. A wife can sponsor her husband and children if she earns the minimum salary of AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 a month plus accommodation. The job title no longer matters for family sponsorship. The sponsor must hold a valid UAE residence visa and a tenancy contract.
An expired family visa leads to an overstay fine of AED 50 a day, and the sponsor must renew the visa or cancel it. Dependents get a grace period of 6 months from the date of expiry or cancellation. If the visa of the sponsor is cancelled, the family visas are also cancelled.
