Planning to bring your family to live with you in the UAE? Whether you are working or running a business in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or any other emirate, you can sponsor your family members if you meet the basic income requirements. This guide explains who you can sponsor, what documents you need, the process, and links to official websites for easy access.
Who Can Sponsor Their Family in the UAE?
Anyone with a valid UAE residence visa—whether you're an employee, business owner, or freelancer, can sponsor close family members like your wife, children, and parents, as long as:
- You earn at least AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 with free housing.
- You have a valid UAE residence visa.
- All adult family members (18+) pass the required medical fitness test.
Check medical fitness centers here
Who Can Be Sponsored?
1. Wife & Children
You can sponsor your wife and kids if you meet the salary and housing criteria. To sponsor your wife, submit a marriage certificate that’s attested and translated into Arabic. Marriage certificate attestation process
- Unmarried daughters – no age limit
- Sons – can be sponsored up to 25 years old
- Children of determination (special needs) – no age limit
- Newborns – must be sponsored within 120 days of birth
2. Stepchildren
You can sponsor stepchildren if you have:
- A no-objection letter from the biological parent
- Security deposit per child
- Approval from the GDRFA
Visas are valid for 1 year and can be renewed.
3. Parents
You can sponsor both parents together for 1 year if:
- You earn the minimum required salary
- You provide proof you're their sole provider
- You buy medical insurance for each parent
In special cases, you may sponsor only one parent if the other is deceased or divorced (official proof required). Parent sponsorship requirements – GDRFA
Required Documents to Sponsor Wife and Children
- Application form (via ICP or a typing center)
- Passport copies of wife and children
- Recent photos
- Medical test results (for ages 18+)
- Attested marriage certificate
- Salary certificate or employment contract
- Tenancy contract (Ejari)
Timeframe & Rules
- You have 60 days from the family’s UAE entry date (entry permit) to apply for their visa.
- Visas are linked to the sponsor’s visa. If your visa is canceled, your family’s visas must also be canceled.
- After cancellation or expiry, dependents get a 6-month grace period to apply for a new visa.
Fines apply if visa renewal or cancellation is delayed. Check updates on ICP’s official portal.
Special Cases: Sponsoring Two Wives
Muslim residents may be allowed to sponsor two wives under special conditions set by the ICP. You must meet salary and legal documentation requirements. Read ICP guidelines
Visa for UAE Citizen's Foreign Family Members
If you are a UAE citizen, your foreign spouse, parent, or child can get a 5-year residence visa without needing to work. The UAE citizen acts as the sponsor. In cases of widowed or divorced foreign women who have UAE citizen children, the eldest child can sponsor the mother. Read the law – Executive Regulation No. 29 of 2021 (PDF)
Important Notes
- Job title is no longer a requirement to sponsor family. Only income matters.
- People with active contagious diseases may be denied residence visas.
- Inactive TB patients can get a 1-year conditional visa with treatment follow-up.
Health Conditions for UAE Visa – Official Page
Useful Links
- ICP – Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship
- GDRFA Dubai – General Directorate of Residency & Foreigners Affairs
- Emirates Health Services – Medical Screening
- Dubai Health Authority
- Disease Prevention & Screening Center – Abu Dhabi
- UAE Visa Types Explained – Official Portal
Official sources: UAE Government Portal · GDRFA Dubai