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.
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; minimum salary AED 20,000 OR AED 19,000 + 2-bed accommodation.
Domestic helpersSponsorship of nannies, drivers, household staff for qualifying salary brackets.
Income thresholds (2026)
- Spouse and children — minimum monthly salary AED 4,000, OR AED 3,000 + accommodation
- Parents — minimum monthly salary AED 20,000, OR AED 19,000 + 2-bedroom accommodation, with proof of being sole supporter
- Domestic worker — minimum salary AED 25,000 (varies by category)
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.
