UAE Family Visa 2026: Essential Requirements, Fees, and Step-by-Step Application Process Unveiled

Dubai: New UAE residents planning to bring their family members to the country can now initiate the application process for a family visa. This visa allows sponsors to bring their spouse, children, or parents to live in the UAE. The family residence visa remains valid as long as the sponsor’s residency is active, typically lasting two to three years, with options for renewal. In contrast, parent sponsorships come with a one-year validity, renewable annually.

Before starting the application, potential sponsors should familiarize themselves with the eligibility criteria, including age limits and salary requirements.

Step 1: Check Eligibility

It is crucial to confirm eligibility before applying for a family visa.

• Minimum Salary for Spouses and Children: The profession or job title of the sponsor is no longer a determining factor. A minimum salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, is required to sponsor a spouse and children.
• Requirements for Sponsoring Parents: Sponsoring parents involves higher income thresholds, a security deposit, and proof of dependency. A standard parent sponsorship in Dubai requires a minimum salary of AED 20,000. However, the General Directorate for Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) offers a humanitarian route with a lower salary requirement of AED 10,000 through Amer centres.
• Age Requirements: Expats can sponsor unmarried daughters indefinitely without age restrictions. The age limit for sponsoring sons has been extended to 25 years, provided they are enrolled in an accredited institution.

Exceptions exist for specific cases:

• Golden Visa Holders: Those with a golden visa can sponsor their spouse, children, and parents for long-term residency (five or ten years) without minimum salary requirements. The age limit for sponsoring unmarried sons is also removed.
• UAE Citizens: Under the Executive Regulation of the Law No. 29 of 2021, a UAE citizen can sponsor their spouse, parent, or child holding a foreign passport for a five-year residence visa without employment in the UAE. Additionally, a widowed or divorced foreign passport holder who is a mother of a UAE citizen can obtain a residence visa without employment, sponsored by her oldest child.

Step 2: Gather Required Documents

Having all necessary paperwork ready before applying can expedite the process. Required documents for sponsoring a spouse and children include:

• Application form, submitted online or through a registered typing office
• Passport copies and recent photographs of the spouse, children, or parents
• Employment contract, Emirates ID, and passport of the family sponsor
• Salary certificate from the employer, detailing the monthly salary
• Attested marriage certificate (for spouse) in Arabic or a certified translation
• Attested birth certificates (for children) in Arabic or a certified translation
• Registered tenancy contract

For sponsoring parents, additional documentation is needed:

• Medical Insurance Policies: Parents must have health insurance that covers their conditions, renewed annually.
• Security Deposit: A refundable deposit is required for each parent, determined by the immigration department.
• Proof of Dependence: An affidavit or equivalent document from the consulate confirming that the sponsor is the sole support for the parents is necessary.

Step 3: Begin the Application Process

Once all documents are prepared, the next step is to apply for an entry permit for the family. This can be done at Amer centres in Dubai or typing centres across the UAE. It is essential to bring all required documents when visiting these centres.

Amer centres accept applications on behalf of the GDRFA, while typing centres must be registered with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

For those preferring to apply online, applications can be submitted through:

• UAE PASS: uaepass.ae
• ICP website: icp.gov.ae
• The ICP UAE app
• GDRFA website: gdrfad.gov.ae
• The DubaiNow app

Step 4: Apply for a Medical Fitness Test

A medical fitness test is mandatory for all family members over 18 years old. At the time of application, sponsors can choose a convenient test centre. Family members must bring the application form provided at the typing centre or print it if applying online. Medical fitness test results are typically available within 24 to 48 hours.

Step 5: Collect the Emirates ID

After passing the medical checks, family members can receive their Emirates IDs. During the visa application process, sponsors can select how they wish to receive the Emirates ID, either through courier service or by collecting it from an Emirates Post office.

Step 6: Submit Documents for Visa Stamping

Upon completing the medical test and Emirates ID application, all documents must be submitted to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) for final visa stamping. This can be done online or at an Amer centre.

Step 7: Pay the Fees

The family visa application incurs various fees, including costs for medical tests and Emirates ID delivery. The average costs for 2026 are as follows:

• Entry permit fee: AED 548.90
• Other service charges: AED 300
• Emirates ID fee: AED 270 (for two years)
• Medical fitness test fee: AED 320
• Visa stamping fee: AED 580

If the family is already in the UAE, an additional AED 750 is required for a visa status change, which allows individuals to transition from a visit visa to a residence visa without leaving the country.

As reported by www.emirates247.com.

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Published on 2026-04-17 11:55:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk