Get your Family UAE visa and enjoy living together
- 7–14 business days setup
- 1–3 years visa duration
We check your eligibility, collect the documents, and handle the full file. You focus on your business — your family gets their visas.
- Processing Time7–14 Working Days
- Visa Duration1–3 Years
- Who Can SponsorEmployee / Business Owner / Golden Visa
- Who Can Be SponsoredSpouse / Children / Parents
What Is UAE Family Sponsorship?
UAE family sponsorship is the residence visa process that allows a valid UAE resident to bring eligible dependents to live in the UAE under the sponsor's visa status. Family members receive residency linked to the sponsor and must remain compliant with visa, health insurance, and renewal requirements. The process is handled through the relevant immigration authority in the emirate of residence.
Residency Linked to Sponsor
Dependents receive UAE residence tied to the sponsor's visa and must renew in line with the sponsor's status.
Emirates ID for Dependents
Consulting, engineering, design, marketing, accounting, legal, digital services, and other skill-based work
Health Insurance Required
Health insurance is mandatory for dependent visa processing and renewal, particularly in Dubai.
School Enrollment for Children
Children with valid residence visas and Emirates IDs can enroll in UAE schools, subject to the school's admission requirements.
Tied to Sponsor's Visa Status
If the sponsor's visa expires or is cancelled, dependent visas are affected and must be renewed, transferred, or cancelled accordingly.
No Automatic Work Rights
A dependent visa does not grant the right to work. A separate work permit and employment authorisation is required.
Who can be sponsor
Sponsorship is available across several visa types. Requirements differ by how income is earned and documented.
Income proof
Salary certificate, employment contract, recent salary slips, and bank statements
Key condition
- AED 4,000 Monthly income
- Valid UAE residence visa under a recognised employer
- Ejari and health insurance in place
Income proof
Trade licence, corporate bank statements, personal bank statements, shareholder proof, and audited financials where available
Key condition
- Company must be active
- income must show a consistent trail from company to personal account
Income proof
Stable financial capacity to support dependents; immigration considers overall net worth, income, and residence type, with stricter review for parent sponsorship.
Key condition
- Valid UAE residence visa linked to investment or ownership
- Suitable accommodation
- Health insurance
- Сontinued compliance with the terms of the investor‑based residency
Income proof
Freelance permit, residence visa, client contracts or invoices, and personal bank statements
Key condition
- Parent sponsorship is more difficult;
- Authorities apply stricter income and stability review for freelance sponsors
Who Can Apply?
Each dependent category has its own eligibility conditions and required documents.
Spouse
The sponsor must hold a valid UAE residence visa with sufficient income, registered accommodation, and health insurance in place.
Documents
- Passport copy
- Photo
- Sponsor's residence visa and Emirates ID
- Income proof
- Tenancy (Ejari)
- Health insurance
- Attested marriage certificate with Arabic translation if required
*Property value: AED 2,000,000 minimum
Children
Sons are sponsored up to age 18, with extension available for full-time students. Unmarried daughters can generally remain sponsored regardless of age.
Documents
- Passport copy
- Photo
- Birth certificate
- Sponsor's visa and Emirates ID
- Income proof
- Accommodation Proof
- School or university enrollment documents for older children
*Property value: AED 2,000,000 minimum
Parents
Both parents must typically be sponsored together unless one is deceased or divorced, with official documentation as proof.
Documents
- Parent passports
- Photos
- Sponsor's residence visa
- Income proof
- Health insurance for each parent
- Accommodation Proof
- Attested proof of relationship
- Death or divorce documents if applicable
Requires thres hold around AED 20,000 per month
Who Can You Bring to the UAE?
Each dependent category has its own eligibility conditions and required documents
- 1
Eligibility Check
We review your visa type, income level, accommodation, and dependent categories to confirm eligibility and identify any gaps before the file is opened.
- 2
Document Collection
Passports, income proof, tenancy documents, insurance, and relationship certificates are collected and reviewed. Attestation requirements are checked for each dependent.
- 3
Entry Permit Application
The dependent entry permit or status change application is submitted through the relevant immigration authority for the sponsoring emirate.
- 4
Medical and Biometrics
Dependents aged 18 and above complete medical fitness testing and Emirates ID biometrics at the designated centres.
- 5
Insurance Activation and Visa Issuance
Health insurance is confirmed and activated if not already in place. The residence visa is finalised and issued in the immigration system.
- 6
Emirates ID and Next Steps
Each dependent collects their Emirates ID and can proceed with school enrollment, bank account setup, and other residency-linked services.
How to Sponsor Your Family in the UAE as a Business Owner
For a UAE resident entrepreneur, family sponsorship is usually straightforward when the company is active, the residence visa is valid, and the sponsor can show a clean income trail. The main difference between an employee-sponsored family file and a business-owner file is how income is evidenced. An employed resident presents a salary certificate and employment contract. A business owner proves income through company ownership documents, company bank statements, personal bank statements, and sometimes management accounts or audited financials.
Building your income file as a business owner
The immigration file for a business owner is built around the company, not an employer. That means the trade licence, incorporation documents, shareholder proof, corporate bank statements, and any salary transferred from the company to the owner's personal account form the central evidence set. If the owner draws a regular salary from the company, that salary certificate helps. Many sponsors are also approved on the basis of documented profit distributions if the file is consistent and backed by bank records.
The most common reasons files get delayed
The most common cause of delays is inconsistency in the file. A sponsor may show an active company licence but no corresponding bank activity, or bank statements that do not match the declared business. Another frequent issue is starting the family file before the sponsor's own residence status is fully stable, or before accommodation and insurance documents are ready. For parent sponsorship specifically, authorities apply a stricter standard and expect higher income evidence and housing to match the number of sponsored parents.
Attestation cannot be done mid-process
Document attestation is where files often stall unexpectedly. Marriage certificates and birth certificates typically need to be attested by the relevant foreign affairs authority in the country of origin and then legalised by MOFAIC in the UAE, with an Arabic translation if required. Submitting scanned copies at the start and expecting to provide originals later usually causes delays. It is better to complete all attestation before opening the application.
After the visa: school enrollment and daily life
Document attestation is where files often stall unexpectedly. Marriage certificates and birth certificates typically need to be attested by the relevant foreign affairs authority in the country of origin and then legalised by MOFAIC in the UAE, with an Arabic translation if required. Submitting scanned copies at the start and expecting to provide originals later usually causes delays. It is better to complete all attestation before opening the application.
Keeping the family file compliant long-term
Health insurance must be treated as a mandatory part of the family file, not an afterthought. In Dubai it is required for resident visa processing and renewal. Dependent visas are directly tied to the sponsor's status, which means if the sponsor's company closes, the visa expires, or the residence is cancelled, the entire family file is affected. Business owners should keep their company licence, residence visa, and immigration status aligned at all times.
SUMMARY
The key for business owners is preparation before submission. When company income, accommodation, insurance, and family relationship documents all tell the same story, family sponsorship is a routine administrative process rather than a complicated legal challenge.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum salary to sponsor a family?
For sponsoring a spouse and children, the commonly applied threshold is AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 per month when employer-provided accommodation is included. Parent sponsorship requires higher income, typically around AED 20,000 per month or equivalent, along with suitable housing.
Can I sponsor my parents and what are the conditions?
Yes, but the requirements are stricter than for a spouse or children. You typically need higher documented income, adequate accommodation, and health insurance. In most cases both parents must be sponsored together unless one is deceased or formally divorced, with official documentation to support the exception.
What documents does a business owner need instead of a salary certificate?
A business owner should prepare the trade licence, MOA or incorporation documents, proof of company ownership, corporate bank statements, personal bank statements, and management accounts or audited financials where available. If the owner takes a regular salary from the company, a salary certificate issued by the company itself can also be included.
What happens to my family visas if my visa expires or my company closes?
Dependent visas are tied to the sponsor's lawful residence. If the sponsor's visa expires, is cancelled, or the company closes, the family visas must be cancelled, transferred, or renewed in line with the sponsor's new status. It is important to keep your company licence, visa, and residence status active and aligned.
Can I sponsor my family on a Free Zone visa?
Yes, provided your Free Zone residence visa is valid and you meet the income, accommodation, and health insurance requirements. The specific documentation depends on the Free Zone and your company's activity and structure.
How long does the process take?
Standard family sponsorship cases are typically completed in 7 to 14 working days once all documents, medical tests, and biometrics are in order. Files with missing or unattested documents take longer.
Does my child lose their visa when they turn 18?
Not automatically in every case. Sons reaching 18 can continue under sponsorship if they are enrolled full-time at a recognised institution and proof of enrollment is provided. Unmarried daughters can generally remain sponsored beyond the standard age limit, subject to the authority's review.
Can my spouse work on a dependent visa?
No. A dependent visa does not grant the right to work in the UAE. The spouse must obtain a separate UAE work permit and employment authorisation before starting any employment.
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