Guide to Sponsoring Your Family in the UAE

Are you thinking of bringing your spouse, children, and parents to come and live with you in Abu Dhabi or anywhere in the UAE? If you are a valid resident with a certain amount of income and other requirements, sponsoring your family in the country is very much possible!

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Here’s an example: if you are male resident earning at least AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, you can apply to sponsor your wife and children in the UAE. Interested? Continue reading to learn more about the requirements and conditions!

Guide to Sponsoring Your Family in the UAE

How to Sponsor Your Family in the UAE

Since March 2019, the UAE has allowed foreign workers — regardless of profession — to sponsor their families if they meet the criteria (e.g. AED 4000 minimum salary or AED 3,000 plus accommodation). In previous years, this was limited only to select professions. These conditions are set by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

Sponsoring Your Wife & Children

A male resident can sponsor his wife, daughters who are not married, and sons up to 18 years old. As of 21 October 2018, however, a new set of rules have been introduced. Students who reach 18 years old or graduate from a university or secondary school may avail of a one-year residency visa, without the need for their parents to place bank deposits.

To obtain this type of visa, the child’s attested graduation certificate from university or secondary school (including schools inside and outside the UAE) must be submitted.

Generally, these are the documents required to sponsor your wife and kids:

  • Completed application form (via a registered typing centre or online)
  • Copies of your wife and children’s passports
  • Photos of your wife and children
  • Medical clearance certificate of your wife and children above 18 years old
  • Copy of your employment contract
  • Salary certificate from your employer (stating your monthly salary)
  • Marriage certificate (translated into Arabic by a certified translator)
  • Registered tenancy contract
  • Latest utility bill

Sponsoring Your Husband & Children

If you are a female resident, sponsoring your husband and children is possible as long as you meet the requirements. Here in Abu Dhabi, for instance, you can apply for family sponsorship if you are an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse (or other health profession) and earning a minimum salary of AED 10,000 (or AED 8,000 plus accommodation).

Similarly, as a female resident in Dubai, you can sponsor your family if you are earning AED 10,000 per month, regardless of your profession.

Sponsoring Your Parents

If you are based in Dubai, you can sponsor your parents if you have a minimum salary of AED 20,000 or AED 19,000 plus a two-bedroom accommodation. You should also obtain medical insurance for your parents. These requirements may vary depending on the emirate.

Guide to Sponsoring Your Family in the UAE

Medical Clearance

Members of your family who are 18 years old need to take (and pass) a medical examination at a government-approved health centre in the UAE. This includes testing for HIV and tuberculosis, which are communicable diseases.

To avoid any problems, have your family undergo medical exams in your home country, including tests for communicable diseases. If they are found to be positive of such illnesses in the UAE, their visa would be disapproved and they would have to be deported immediately.

Family Visa Validity & Renewal

When your family enters the UAE, they will be initially be given an entry permit, which will have to be converted into a residency visa within 60 days of their arrival.

The validity of your family’s residency visa will depend on the nature of your work and job contract. If you are an expat employer, most likely you have an three-year visa. If you are an expat employee, then most likely you hold a one-year or two-year residency visa.

When your visa gets canceled, your family’s visa would be canceled, as well. To avoid any penalties, their visas would need to be renewed within a 30-day grace period.

All of these requirements may change from time to time. In any case, consult with the GDRFA of the emirate you are staying in to know the latest requirements and information.

DISCLAIMER: The above guide is presented for information-sharing purposes only. To read more about the requirements and conditions for sponsoring family members in the emirates, please visit the official website of the UAE Government.

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