UAE · Guide
UAE family visa: spouse, children, parents, income and documents
How a UAE resident sponsors family: the AED 4,000 income threshold, who qualifies, housing rules, documents and fees, plus Golden and Green Visa rules.
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- Globexpat Team
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#Family#Visas#Documents
A UAE resident can obtain visas for a spouse, children and, in some cases, parents. According to the u.ae portal, sponsoring a wife and children requires a salary of AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided housing, and the job title does not matter. The sponsor also confirms that the family has suitable housing.
Family members' visas are tied to the sponsor's visa: they cannot last longer and are cancelled along with it. Golden and Green Visa holders get broader rights: the Golden Visa lets you sponsor children with no age limit and parents, and the Green Visa covers first-degree relatives.
Below we look at who you can sponsor, how to prove income and housing, which documents to prepare and what it costs.
Who you can sponsor
| Family member | Standard residence visa | Golden Visa | Green Visa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Daughters | Unmarried, no age limit | Yes, no age limit | Yes |
| Sons | Up to 25 | Yes, no age limit | Yes |
| Children with special needs | Yes, no age limit | Yes | Yes |
| Parents | Separate category, stricter requirements | Yes | First-degree relatives |
| Domestic staff | Under separate rules | Yes, under current rules | Under separate rules |
Sources: u.ae (family visa for employees), the ICP Golden Residency guide, the u.ae page on the Green Visa. On a standard visa, sons aged 25 and over fall under a separate GDRFA category with its own document set; check the conditions.
Minimum sponsor income
| Situation | Threshold according to u.ae |
|---|---|
| Sponsor without employer-provided housing | AED 4,000 a month |
| Sponsor with employer-provided housing | AED 3,000 a month plus housing |
| Sponsoring parents | Higher threshold; as of October 2026, check with ICP or GDRFA |
The federal portal gives no single figure for parents. The GDRFA Dubai page on humanitarian cases mentions a salary from AED 10,000 and a tenancy contract suited to the family size, but that page has not been updated for a long time. GDRFA also states that parents are usually sponsored together, except where one has died or they are divorced. Before applying, check the current conditions with your emirate's authority.
If you are employed. The threshold is checked against the salary in your employment contract and work permit. If your employer provides housing, this must be stated in the contract, and then the AED 3,000 threshold applies.
If you own a company. A partner visa has no "salary" line, so income is proven with company documents, bank statements and, in some emirates, a salary certificate issued by your own company. We recommend setting yourself a salary in the company's documents in advance. We explain how the visa itself works in the investor visa through a UAE company.
Housing
ICP requires proof that the sponsor has suitable housing for the family. GDRFA Dubai asks for an attested tenancy contract valid for at least 60 days (in Dubai the contract is registered in the Ejari system). If you live in your own apartment, you submit the title deed instead of a tenancy contract.
In practice the size of the apartment matters mainly for parents and large families: the authority may ask for housing that matches the number of family members.
If you are only just relocating and still living in a hotel or a short-term rental, that usually does not work: you need a registered long-term tenancy contract. So we suggest getting your own visa and renting a home first, and only then applying for your family.
Documents
A typical set for a spouse and children:
- Family members' passports and colour photos.
- The sponsor's passport, residence visa and Emirates ID.
- Marriage certificate, legalised and translated into Arabic.
- Children's birth certificates, legalised and translated.
- Employment contract or salary certificate; for a company owner, company documents.
- Tenancy contract or title deed.
- Health insurance for each family member (mandatory in Dubai).
Documents issued outside the UAE go through legalisation: a chain of attestations in the issuing country and at the UAE consulate, then at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Check the procedure for your specific country in advance, as this is the longest stage. Notes for residents of particular countries are collected on our country pages.
Application process
- Entry permit for the family member, or a status change if they are already in the UAE.
- Medical test for everyone aged 18 and over (according to u.ae).
- Biometrics and the Emirates ID application.
- Issuance of the residence permit. Its term cannot exceed the sponsor's visa.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Marriage certificate not legalised | The application is returned and the attestation chain must be repeated |
| Tenancy contract expires in less than 60 days | In Dubai the application will not be accepted until the contract is renewed |
| Contract salary below the threshold, the rest paid as bonuses | Refusal on the income threshold |
| Surnames spelled differently across documents | Requests for extra confirmation, delays |
| No insurance for a family member | Visa issuance delayed in emirates where insurance is mandatory |
We recommend starting document legalisation before you move: in many countries it can take several weeks.
How much it costs
| Item | Amount according to ICP |
|---|---|
| Residence permit | AED 100 application, AED 100 for each year, AED 100 smart fee |
| In-country status change | AED 500 |
| Emirates ID | AED 100 for each year, AED 100 smart fee, AED 150 express |
| Medical test, insurance, legalisation, translation | As of October 2026, check locally |
For example, for 2 years the federal fees for the permit and Emirates ID come to AED 400 and AED 300 per family member, excluding the medical test and insurance.
Renewal and cancellation
Family members' visas are renewed together with the sponsor's visa or immediately after it: their term cannot be longer. If the sponsor leaves the country for good, they first cancel the dependants' visas and then their own. According to u.ae, a sponsor who does not renew or cancel family members' visas on time may be fined. When the sponsor's basis changes (for example, from an employment visa to a partner visa), the family's visas are reissued under the new visa, and family members have a 6-month grace period to do this.
We advise on the document set and prepare the file with you; the application is submitted by a licensed agent or a typing centre. More on the options is on the family visa page.
What changed in 2026
- The u.ae portal updated its family visa page in 2026, and the income threshold stayed the same: AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus housing.
- Dependants keep a 6-month grace period after a permit expires or is cancelled, so they can obtain a new one.
- The Golden Visa family rules in the ICP guide are unchanged: children with no age limit, parents, and family status preserved if the sponsor dies.
FAQ
Can a wife sponsor her husband and children?
A female resident can act as sponsor if she meets the income and housing requirements. Additional conditions depend on the emirate and the profession, so check them before applying.
What happens to my family's visas if I change jobs?
When the sponsor's visa is cancelled, family members' visas are cancelled too. According to u.ae, dependants have a 6-month grace period to obtain a permit under the sponsor's new visa.
Can I include a son older than 25?
On a standard residence visa this is a separate category with its own requirements. On a Golden Visa, children can be sponsored with no age limit.
Does a child need a medical test?
According to u.ae, the medical test is mandatory for applicants aged 18 and over. It is not required for children under 18, but biometrics for the Emirates ID are.
How long is a family visa valid?
No longer than the sponsor's visa. A family member's Emirates ID is issued for the same term. Read about card timelines and fees in Emirates ID.
Sources
- u.ae, Residence visa for families of employees: u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id
- u.ae, General provisions for the residence visa: u.ae
- ICP, Golden Residency Guide and Issuing Residency Permit: icp.gov.ae
- GDRFA Dubai, Frequently Asked Questions and Issuance of a residence permit for humanitarian cases: gdrfad.gov.ae
- ICP, Identity Card Renewal (Emirates ID fees): icp.gov.ae