Dubai Dependent Visa
Bring your family to Dubai. As a resident, you can sponsor your spouse, children, and even parents to live with you in the UAE.
Dependent Visa at a Glance
If you have a residence visa and earn AED 4,000+/month (or AED 3,000 + housing), you can sponsor your spouse and children. Parents require AED 20,000/month income or AED 1 million in property. Golden Visa holders have no salary requirements.
Who Can Sponsor?
Requirements based on your visa type
| Sponsor Type | Min. Salary | Can Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Employee | AED 4,000/month OR AED 3,000 + accommodation | Spouse, children, parents |
| Golden Visa Holder | No minimum | Spouse, children, parents (unlimited) |
| Investor/Business Owner | No minimum (valid trade license) | Spouse, children, parents |
| Freelancer | AED 4,000/month (shown in permit) | Spouse, children |
| Retiree | Must meet retirement visa requirements | Spouse, children |
Accommodation counts!
If your employer provides housing, you can sponsor family with just AED 3,000/month salary. Bring a letter from your employer confirming accommodation is included.
Who Can You Sponsor?
Eligibility and documents for each family member type
Spouse
Eligibility
Legally married (marriage certificate required)
No age limit for spouse
Both husband and wife can sponsor each other
Same-sex marriages not recognized in UAE
Required Documents
Spouse's passport (6+ months validity)
Marriage certificate (attested)
Passport photos (white background)
Sponsor's Emirates ID copy
Sponsor's visa copy
Tenancy contract (Ejari)
Salary certificate or employment contract
Children
Eligibility
Sons: Under 18 (or under 25 if studying)
Daughters: Under 18 (or unmarried, any age with recent rule changes)
Must be biological or legally adopted
Stepchildren require additional documentation
Required Documents
Child's passport (6+ months validity)
Birth certificate (attested)
Passport photos (white background)
Sponsor's Emirates ID copy
Sponsor's visa copy
Tenancy contract (Ejari)
For adult children: Enrollment proof (students) or unmarried certificate (daughters)
Parents
Eligibility
Sponsor must earn AED 20,000/month minimum
OR own property worth AED 1 million+
Parents of any age
Both mother and father can be sponsored
Required Documents
Parent's passport (6+ months validity)
Relationship proof (birth certificate)
Passport photos (white background)
Sponsor's salary certificate (AED 20,000+)
OR property title deed (AED 1 million+)
Tenancy contract (Ejari)
Health insurance for parents
Application Process
Step-by-step guide to sponsoring your family
Confirm Eligibility
1 dayVerify you meet the salary/income requirements to sponsor dependents.
Check your employment contract or get a salary certificate from your employer.
Gather Documents
1-2 weeksCollect all required documents for yourself and each dependent.
Most foreign documents need attestation from home country and UAE.
Apply for Entry Permit
3-5 daysSubmit application through GDRFA website or typing center.
Entry permit allows your family member to enter UAE.
Family Member Enters UAE
Within 60 daysDependent travels to UAE on the entry permit.
Entry permit is valid for 60 days from issue date.
Medical Fitness Test
2-3 daysDependent completes medical exam at DHA-approved center.
Standard blood test and chest X-ray. Some exemptions for children.
Emirates ID Application
1 day (application)Apply for Emirates ID and complete biometrics.
Card arrives within 1-2 weeks.
Visa Stamping
3-5 daysFinal step - residence visa stamped in passport.
Visa validity matches sponsor's visa.
Costs Breakdown
Expected costs per dependent
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Permit | AED 200-350 | Inside or outside country |
| Medical Test | AED 320 | Per person, some child exemptions |
| Emirates ID | AED 100-370 | Depends on visa duration |
| Visa Stamping | AED 300-500 | Regular or express |
| Typing Services | AED 100-200 | If using typing center |
| Document Attestation | AED 500-2,000 | Per document, varies by country |
| Health Insurance | AED 2,000-8,000/year | Per person, mandatory |
Total: AED 3,000-5,000 per dependent
This includes all fees but excludes document attestation (varies by country) and annual health insurance. Budget AED 10,000-15,000 for a family of four including first year's insurance.
Special Situations
Common scenarios and how to handle them
Newborn in UAE
Babies born in UAE to resident parents get a 120-day grace period to obtain visa.
Process: Register birth → Get birth certificate → Apply for passport from your embassy → Apply for dependent visa
Children Turning 18
Sons need to switch to their own visa (student/employment) unless studying.
Process: Apply for visa change 1-2 months before 18th birthday. Student visa if enrolled in university.
Women Sponsoring Husbands
Women can sponsor husbands if employed in certain professions (nurse, teacher, engineer, etc.) or earning AED 10,000+.
Process: Same process as regular spouse sponsorship, may require additional salary proof.
Divorced Parents
The parent with custody can sponsor children. Requires custody documents.
Process: Provide custody agreement or court order (attested) along with standard documents.
Golden Visa Family Benefits
How Golden Visa makes family sponsorship easier
| Family Member | Standard Visa | Golden Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | ✓ (salary requirement) | ✓ (no salary requirement) |
| Children (under 18) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sons (18-25, studying) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Unmarried Daughters (18+) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Parents | ✓ (AED 20K+ salary) | ✓ (no limit on number) |
| Domestic Staff | Limited | Unlimited |
| Visa Duration | 1-3 years | 10 years |
Tip: If you're planning to sponsor parents and multiple family members, the Golden Visa might be more cost-effective long-term despite the higher property investment. It removes salary requirements and extends to 10 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a spouse and children, you need a minimum of AED 4,000/month OR AED 3,000/month plus company-provided accommodation. Golden Visa holders and business owners have no minimum salary requirement. To sponsor parents, you need AED 20,000/month OR property worth AED 1 million+.
Yes, but you need to earn at least AED 20,000/month or own property worth AED 1 million or more. This is significantly higher than the requirement for sponsoring a spouse/children. Parent sponsorship also requires you to cover their health insurance.
You have a 30-day grace period after your visa cancellation to either find new sponsorship, leave the country, or change visa status. Your family's visas are tied to yours, so they'll also need to find new sponsorship or leave. Start the process immediately if you face job loss.
Yes! Dependent visa holders can work in Dubai by obtaining a work permit. The new employer handles this. Since 2022, this has been simplified - your spouse can work without canceling the dependent visa first. They'll receive a work permit linked to your residency.
Recent rule changes allow unmarried daughters to be sponsored at any age. Previously, there was a strict 18-year limit. For sons, the limit remains 18, or up to 25 if they're enrolled in an accredited educational institution.
Children under 18 typically need a simplified medical test. Some centers may exempt very young children (under 12) from certain tests like chest X-rays. The exact requirements can vary, so check with the medical center when booking.
The complete process typically takes 2-3 weeks from application to visa stamping. However, if you need document attestation from your home country, add 2-4 weeks for that. Entry permit approval is usually 3-5 working days.
Standard dependent visa doesn't cover siblings, aunts, uncles, or other relatives. Only spouse, children, and parents (with higher income requirement) can be sponsored. Other relatives would need their own visa route (employment, visitor, etc.).
All documents must be translated into Arabic or English by a certified legal translator. The translation needs to be attested along with the original document. This is done in your home country before UAE attestation.
Ready to Bring Your Family to Dubai?
Once your family is here, explore our guides to find the perfect neighborhood, understand school options, and get settled in Dubai.