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UAE Family & Dependent Visas

Sponsor your spouse, children and (where eligible) parents under your residence visa — fully attested, medically cleared, with Emirates IDs in 10–14 days.

Family sponsorship in the UAE

If you hold a UAE residence visa and meet the income threshold, you can sponsor your immediate family — spouse, children, and in many cases parents — onto dependent visas. The mechanics are identical to an employment visa (entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, residence stamp) but with additional documentation: marriage certificate, birth certificates, and proof of financial sponsorship.

Where families come unstuck is on the attestation chain. UAE authorities require non-UAE-issued certificates to be attested by the issuing country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE embassy in that country, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Get any of those steps wrong and the application is rejected — usually weeks into the process.

Family in front of Burj Khalifa

Who you can sponsor

SpouseHusband or wife, with attested marriage certificate.
ChildrenSons up to 25 (if studying), daughters until marriage. Disabled children — no age limit.
ParentsParents — both must come together; a high minimum-salary threshold applies (with an accommodation-based alternative).
Domestic helpersSponsorship of nannies, drivers, household staff for qualifying salary brackets.

Income thresholds (2026)

  • Spouse and children — a baseline monthly salary threshold applies (lower if you also provide qualifying accommodation)
  • Parents — a high monthly salary threshold applies (or a slightly lower one paired with qualifying accommodation), plus proof you’re the sole supporter
  • Domestic worker — a higher sponsor-salary threshold applies (varies by category)

We’ll confirm the current thresholds against your specific salary, accommodation and family composition on the consultation call.

What’s included

  • Eligibility check against current GDRFA criteria
  • Document checklist and attestation guidance (we coordinate with attestation services in your home country if needed)
  • Salary certificate from your employer / Free Zone authority
  • Tenancy contract, Ejari registration check
  • Entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and residence visa for each dependent
  • Insurance arrangement (mandatory for residence visas)
  • Renewal management — we track each dependent visa’s expiry and renew on time

Timeline

For dependents already in the UAE: 7–14 working days. For dependents arriving from overseas: 14–28 days from entry-permit issuance to fully-stamped residence visa, depending on attestation status.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Yes — but the bar is higher. The wife must be in a designated profession (doctor, engineer, teacher) with a salary above the GDRFA-defined threshold, OR she must hold a Golden Visa. We’ll assess your specific case in the consultation.
Three steps: (1) Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of issue, (2) UAE embassy in that country, (3) UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA Dubai). We can arrange (1) and (2) via partner attestation agents in major countries; (3) we handle locally.
Parents’ visas are issued for 1 year initially and renewed annually. There’s no upper age limit — as long as you continue to meet the income threshold and the relationship hasn’t changed, renewals continue indefinitely.
Children aged 5–18 must be enrolled in school as a condition of visa renewal. We can assist with school admission documentation and attestation if you’re relocating.
Bring your family

Get your dependents UAE-resident — fast.

Free 30-minute consultation. We confirm eligibility, list every document, and quote the complete process per dependent.

Book a Free Consultation+971 50 965 7316