UAE family visa —
spouse, children, parents.
Sponsor your family on your UAE residency. Income thresholds, document requirements, MoFAIC-attested marriage and birth certificates, GDRFA processing — everything coordinated by YABS.
- Per dependant
- AED 2,400+
- Spouse min income
- AED 4,000
- Parents min income
- AED 20,000
- Validity
- 2 years
Definition — Family Visa
A UAE family visa is residency granted to a sponsor's family members — spouse, children, parents, and in some cases siblings. Eligibility is income-based: spouse/children sponsorship requires AED 4,000+ basic monthly salary OR AED 3,000+ with employer-provided accommodation. Parent sponsorship requires AED 20,000+ basic salary plus employer NOC plus parent medical insurance. Children can be sponsored until age 18, or 25 if studying. Adult unmarried daughters can remain on father's sponsorship indefinitely.
Who you can sponsor at what income.
The minimum sponsor income GDRFA Dubai and ICP apply when assessing family-visa eligibility. Salary measured on basic pay only — allowances are excluded. Provided accommodation can substitute for the AED 1,000 difference at the spouse/child tier.
| Relationship | Min sponsor income | Validity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse (wife / husband) | AED 4,000 basic (or AED 3,000 + accommodation) | 2 years | Marriage certificate must be MoFAIC-attested |
| Children (boys, under 18) | AED 4,000 basic | 2 years (renewable until 18) | Birth certificate MoFAIC-attested |
| Children (boys, 18–25 in higher education) | AED 4,000 basic | 1 year (annual proof of enrolment) | University enrolment letter required |
| Daughters (unmarried, any age) | AED 4,000 basic | 2 years (no age cap if unmarried) | Marital-status declaration each renewal |
| Parents (both) | AED 20,000 basic | 1 year (renewable) | Both parents must be sponsored together; medical insurance + employer NOC required |
| Domestic helper / nanny | AED 25,000 basic (sponsor income) | 1–2 years | Tadbeer centre engagement, separate quota |
| Sibling (minor or full-time student, no other family) | AED 4,000 basic | 1 year (case-by-case) | Death certificate or court appointment may be required |
6 steps to family visa.
Eligibility check + document gathering
YABS confirms sponsor income meets threshold. Marriage certificate (for spouse), birth certificate (for children), MoFAIC-attested in country of issue.
Entry permit (for first-time family arrival)
GDRFA issues entry permit for family member. Valid 60 days for travel to UAE.
Family member arrives in UAE on entry permit
Spouse/children/parents travel to UAE. Some family members can apply in-country if already on tourist visa.
Medical fitness test at DHA
Family member completes DHA medical fitness. Same as employment visa process. AED 320.
Emirates ID biometrics at ICP
ICP biometrics. AED 200 for 2-year EID.
GDRFA residency stamping
2-year residency stamped in family member's passport. Linked to sponsor's residency.
Where people get this wrong.
Pulled from 500+ YABS engagements. Each pitfall has a knock-on cost in time or AED — knowing them up front is half the value of using a PRO.
Submitting an unattested marriage or birth certificate
Cost: GDRFA returns the file; AED 700 entry-permit fee burned; 14–35 day delay for MoFAIC chain
YABS fix: YABS confirms attestation chain status (notary → foreign affairs → UAE embassy → MoFAIC) before any GDRFA submission. Partner agents in 30+ countries handle in-country chains.
Using gross salary on the salary certificate
Cost: Income falls below AED 4,000 basic threshold once allowances are stripped; visa rejected
YABS fix: We pre-screen the labour-contract basic-salary line and request a corrected salary certificate from HR before filing.
Sponsoring only one parent
Cost: GDRFA rejection; entry-permit fee lost; both parents must be sponsored together as of 2022 rules
YABS fix: We confirm both parents are travelling and have valid passports (6+ months) before opening the case.
Missing parent medical-insurance certificate
Cost: Stamping refused at residency stage; AED 1,100 stamping fee non-refundable
YABS fix: Insurance is bound on the same day the entry permit is issued — no insurance, no entry-permit submission.
Document checklist.
- Sponsor's passport + Emirates ID + valid residency
- Sponsor's salary certificate (recent, MOHRE-attested)
- Sponsor's labour contract (Tasheel-stamped)
- Tenancy agreement + Ejari (proof of address)
- Marriage certificate (for spouse), MoFAIC-attested
- Birth certificate (for child), MoFAIC-attested
- Family member original passport (6+ months validity)
- Photo (white background, recent)
- Medical insurance certificate (mandatory)
- For parent sponsorship: parent medical insurance + employer NOC + sponsor PAN ≥ AED 20,000
What you actually pay.
| Item | AED |
|---|---|
GDRFA entry permit | 700 |
DHA medical fitness | 320 |
Emirates ID (2-year) | 200 |
GDRFA residency stamping | 1,100 |
Medical insurance (basic, annual) Cost varies; child may be lower | 800 |
| Government fees subtotal | 3,120 |
| YABS service fee | 800 |
| 5% VAT (on YABS service fee) | 40 |
| Total | 3,960 |
Government fees vary by activity and approval requirements. Final quote confirmed after activity selection.
Frequently asked questions
What's the income requirement to sponsor my family?
Spouse and children: AED 4,000 basic monthly salary OR AED 3,000+ with company-provided accommodation. Parents: AED 20,000+ basic salary plus employer No Objection Certificate plus separate medical insurance for parents. Salary measured on basic only (excludes allowances). MOHRE-attested labour contract and recent salary certificate required as proof.
Can I sponsor my parents on UAE residency?
Yes if you earn AED 20,000+ basic monthly salary, can provide employer NOC, and arrange separate medical insurance for parents. Both parents must travel together (cannot sponsor only one). Parents' visa typically issued for 1-year initially, renewable. UAE recently liberalised parent sponsorship — confirm latest rules with YABS at application time.
Can I sponsor my unmarried sister?
Yes under UAE GDRFA rules. Adult unmarried sisters and daughters can remain on father's sponsorship indefinitely (no age cap). Brothers can be sponsored only if minors (<18) or full-time students with no other family in country of origin. Documentation includes attested birth certificate and family book.
What documents need MoFAIC attestation?
Marriage certificate (for spouse visa), birth certificates (for child visas), divorce decree (if applicable), parents' marriage certificate (for parent visa), and any guardian appointment papers. All foreign-issued documents must pass the full attestation chain ending in UAE MoFAIC. YABS coordinates the chain via partner agents in major countries — typical timeline 14–35 days for full chain.
Children visa age limit?
Boys: sponsored until age 18. Extended to 25 if enrolled in full-time university or higher education in UAE or abroad (proof required). Girls: sponsored indefinitely as unmarried daughters. After marriage, daughters move to husband's sponsorship. Children with disabilities can be sponsored beyond standard age limits with medical documentation.
Also useful.
Get started with family visa
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This page was last reviewed by the YABS compliance team in Q2 2026 and reflects current Dubai DED, Dubai Municipality, DHA, MOHRE, FTA, and DLD requirements.