A family visa for the UAE enables you to bring your spouse, children or parents to live with you in the Emirates. Also known as a family residence visa or family sponsor visa. This manual will explain in simple terms everything you need to know about requirements, paperwork, costs and application steps.
What Is a UAE Family Visa?
A family visa in the UAE is a residence visa for the immediate family of the UAE resident. People also call it a dependent visa, family sponsor visa, or family residence visa. All these names have the same meaning.
This visa is issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai. In other Emirates, it is issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP).
With this visa, your family can live, study, and seek healthcare in the UAE. It stays valid as long as your own resident visa is valid. This is not the same as a family visit visa, which only allows a short visit. We discuss that difference later in this guide.
UAE Family Visa Requirements
You must meet a few basic rules before you can sponsor your family.
Sponsor requirements:
- Hold a valid UAE residence visa (employment, investor, or Golden Visa)
- Have a valid Emirates ID.
- Earn at least AED 4,000/month, or AED 3,000/month plus employer housing.
- Have a tenancy contract, or Ejari, with enough space for your family (Ejari is Dubai’s official rental registration system)
- Provide health insurance for each dependent (required in Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
Whom you can sponsor:
- Spouse, with an attested marriage certificate
- Sons, up to age 25, if they are still studying (raised from 18 in 2026)
- Daughters, at any age, as long as they are unmarried
- Parents, under stricter rules (see below)
Sponsoring parents: Need a higher salary. Usually around AED 20,000/month on your own. Another cheaper route is via Amer centers (Dubai’s government service centers for visa paperwork). This route needs about AED 10,000/month, a 2-bedroom home, and a refundable security deposit. Both parents normally need to be sponsored jointly, unless one has died away or they are divorced. Parent visas are normally valid for 1 year and renewed annually.
Women sponsors: Women residents can sponsor their families as well, generally by earning at least AED 10,000/month, with additional approval from immigration authorities.
Golden Visa holders have simpler rules. They can sponsor a spouse, children, and parents for the same long-term visa period of 5 or 10 years.
Documents Required for Family Visa in UAE
Good paperwork is the key to a smooth application. Here are the most common UAE family visa documents required:
- Sponsor’s passport copy and valid UAE residence visa
- Sponsor’s Emirates ID
- Passport copies of all dependents (valid for at least 6 months)
- Passport-size photos with a white background
- Marriage certificate, attested (officially certified) by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), for a spouse
- Birth certificate(s), attested, for children
- Tenancy contract or Ejari certificate
- Salary certificate or employment contract
- Medical fitness certificate, for dependents aged 18 and above
- Health insurance policy
How to Apply for Family Visa in UAE
Follow these steps:
- Check your eligibility. Confirm your salary, housing, and documents meet the rules above.
- Attest your certificates. Get marriage and birth certificates attested, if needed.
- Apply for an entry permit. Submit your application at an Amer center (Dubai), a typing center (other Emirates), or online through the GDRFA or ICP website. Typing centers are registered offices that submit visa applications for you.
- Bring your family to the UAE. They must enter within 60 days of entry permit approval. If they are already in the UAE on a visit visa, apply for a “status change” instead.
- Complete the medical test. Required for dependents aged 18 and above.
- Apply for an Emirates ID. This step includes fingerprint and eye scans.
- Get the visa stamped. The residence visa is stamped on your family member’s passport.
- Receive the Emirates ID. It is usually delivered by Emirates Post within a few days.
Approval usually takes 10 to 15 working days once your documents are cleared. The full process, including medical tests and ID processing, can take 2 to 6 weeks.
UAE Family Visa Cost
Here is a rough cost breakdown per dependent:
| Item | Approximate Cost (AED) |
| Entry permit | 500 – 1,150 |
| Medical test | 250 – 700 |
| Emirates ID | 170 – 500 |
| Visa stamping | 500 – 800 |
| Health insurance | From 700/year |
| Status change (if family is already in UAE) | + 750 |
Total cost: Usually AED 3,000 to AED 7,000 per dependent. The exact amount depends on the emirate, visa duration, and the dependent’s age.
For parents, add a refundable security deposit of about AED 2,500 to 3,000 each.
Note: Government fees change from time to time. Always check the GDRFA or ICP website for the latest amounts before you apply.
UAE Family Visit Visa
A family visit visa is different from a family residence visa. It is a short-term option for relatives who want to visit, not live in, the UAE.
Key points:
- Valid for 30, 60, or 90 days
- Can be extended twice, for 30 more days each time, without leaving the country
- Does not allow work and does not lead to residency on its own
- Needs proof of relationship (marriage or birth certificate), the sponsor’s salary certificate, and passport copies
Cost: Around AED 300 for 60 days, or AED 400 for 90 days, plus 5% VAT (value-added tax). Add a refundable security deposit of AED 1,000, small service fees, and medical insurance of AED 40 to 90.
If your family plans to stay long-term, apply for a family residence visa instead of renewing a visit visa again and again.
UAE Family Visa Renewal Cost
Renew your family visa before it expires. It’s best to start the process about 30 days early.
How to renew:
- Visit the GDRFA or ICP online e-channel (their official website or app), or an authorized typing center.
- Submit passports, the current visa copy, a new medical test, and Emirates ID renewal documents.
- Pay the renewal fees.
Renewal cost: Similar to a new application, usually AED 3,000 to 5,000 per dependent. This often includes an application fee (around AED 100), a yearly issuance fee (around AED 100 per year), and a small e-channel service fee (around AED 150) if you apply online.
Renewing late can lead to fines. The Emirates ID must also be renewed along with the visa.
How to Cancel Family Visa in UAE
Only the sponsor can cancel a family member’s visa. The dependent cannot cancel it themselves.
Steps to cancel:
- Log in to the ICP or GDRFA website or app using a UAE Pass account (the UAE’s official digital ID), or visit an Amer or typing center in person.
- Select the dependent whose visa you want to cancel.
- Submit passport and Emirates ID copies for both the sponsor and the dependent.
- Pay the cancellation fee, usually around AED 150 for online cancellation.
- Get confirmation by email or SMS.
After cancellation: Most dependents are granted 30 days to either depart the UAE or sort a new visa. Families of Golden Visa/Green Visa holders have a longer grace period of up to 180 days.
Note: If you are a sponsor and you wish to cancel your own visa, you have to first cancel the visas of your family members.
Final Thoughts
With a UAE family visa, you are able to establish a life with your loved ones in the Emirates. If you know the rules of salary, paperwork and processes, the process is easy to follow. Fees and rules are subject to change, so be sure to check the official GDRFA or ICP website for the latest details before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Around 10 to 15 working days once your documents are approved. The full process, including medical tests, can take 2 to 6 weeks.
Yes, once they get a work permit from an employer.
A visit visa is short-term, 30 to 90 days, and only for visiting. A residence visa lets your family live, study, and work in the UAE long-term.
You may face fines, and your family member’s legal status could be affected. Renew at least 30 days before it expires to stay safe.
