UAE Family Visa – How To Apply For A UAE Family Visa

Depending on the purpose of your visit, the UAE government issues several types of visas and entry permits. One such visa is the UAE family visa. Family members of UAE residents who wish to extend their stay can request this type of visa. It is a long-term visa and must be sponsored by UAE residents after meeting some requirements.

UAE Family Visa

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The UAE family visa, also known as the UAE residence visa for family members, allows expatriate residents to sponsor their immediate family members to live with them in the UAE. Immediate family members typically include spouses, children, and parents.

UAE Family Visa Rules 2024

The family visa UAE rules state that educational background or profession will not be a condition for family visas.

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Instead, the income of residents looking to sponsor family visas will be considered. So, regardless of your job designation, you can sponsor family members if you have the financial means and a valid visa. Be sure to check your UAE visa status before taking the plunge to determine if you can sponsor your loved ones.

Until the UAE family sponsorship policy amendment of 2019, only certain professions were allowed to sponsor family members. Since 2019, male resident employed in the UAE can sponsor their immediate family members, such as their wives and children, with a minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.

Female Abu Dhabi residents looking to sponsor their families face slightly different conditions. A woman should have a valid work visa, and her monthly salary should be at least AED 5,000.

The salary of a woman in Dubai must be at least AED 4,000 in order to sponsor her family. She must also get her request approved by GDFRA.

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Residency Visa Rules for Children Sponsored by Parents

After amendments to family visa Dubai rules in 2022, expats can have male children up to 25. UAE family visa rules remain unchanged for daughters. There is no age limit on how long parents can sponsor their daughters – they can be sponsored until they marry.

A bonus of this type of visa is that parents will not have to make bank deposits of AED 5,000. The price of family visa UAE price will be AED 100 for first-time issuance and renewal.

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Children with disabilities will be granted a permanent residence permit regardless of their age. Moreover, Green migrant holders can sponsor first-degree relatives. Family members will reside for the same period as the sponsored residence holder.

Family visa regulations in the UAE were amended and announced in 2022 to great success. UAE new rules contribute to the country economic stability, as well as creating a conducive environment for individuals to start families.

UAE Family Visa Requirements

In order to sponsor family members to the UAE, you must meet the following requirements:

• Expatriates must have a minimum salary of AED 4,000 per month or AED 3,000 per month plus accommodation
• Expat women must earn at least AED 10,000 or AED 8,000 per month plus accommodation

Additionally, all family members over 18 must pass a medical fitness test at a government-approved health center. HIV and tuberculosis tests will be conducted on them.

Same-sex marriages are not recognized in the UAE, so you cannot sponsor your spouse.

UAE Family Visa Eligibility?

UAE Family Visas are not available to specific professions as of 2019. Those who meet the salary requirements can bring their families.

Who Can you Sponsor for a UAE Family Visa?

The process of sponsoring family members to the UAE is easier for male expatriates than for female expatriates. Men who are on a Residence Visa in the UAE can bring the following family members on a Family Visa:

1. Your wife: You may sponsor two wives if you are a Muslim resident, but you must meet certain requirements.

2. Your sons: A sponsor can only sponsor a son who is 18 or younger.If your sons are older than 18, you can still sponsor them, but only if they are students and up to 21 years old.In addition, if the sons are over 18, they have to enter the UAE at least once every six months if they are studying abroad.

3. Your daughters: Sponsoring your daughters is only possible if they are unmarried.

4. Your parents: The following conditions must be met in order for you to sponsor your parents:

• It is your responsibility to sponsor both parents, unless one of them has passed away
• Each parent pays a deposit of AED 2,500 as a guarantee. Make sure to check with the corresponding immigration department as this fee may change.
• You purchase medical insurance for your parents
• An AED 20,000 monthly salary or a AED 19,000 monthly salary plus a two-bedroom apartment

5. Your stepchildren :If you obtain a written No Objection Certificate from the biological parent, you may sponsor your stepchildren as well. Stepchildren’s visas are valid for one year and can be renewed.

Can a Woman Sponsor Her Family Members for a UAE Family Visa?

The criteria for sponsoring a woman’s family to the UAE are higher than for a man:

• She can sponsor her husband and children.
• A monthly salary of at least AED 10,000 or AED 8,000 plus accommodation is required
• Engineers, teachers, and doctors (nurses, doctors) are all welcome: Women who have a sufficient monthly salary can qualify for sponsorship even if they do not qualify for any of the aforementioned jobs (and only with approval from DRND)

• She cannot sponsor the children if she has a husband who can. Husbands must do it.

UAE Family Visa Required Documents

UAE Family Visa applications require the following documents:

• UAE Visa Application Form (available online or at a registered typing office)
• Copies of the passports of the sponsored family member/s
• Sponsored family member/s passport-sized photos
• Any family member over 18 needs a medical clearance certificate
• A copy of the sponsor employment contract
• A copy of the sponsor monthly salary
• Marriage certificates that have been legalised
• A registered tenancy contract is proof of accommodation in the UAE
• The latest utility bill

How to Apply for UAE Family Visa?

Expatriates or their employers can sponsor family visas for the UAE. Within 60 days of receiving your UAE Residence Visa, foreign residents must apply for a UAE Family Visa.

Applying for The Entry P1ermit

To allow your family members to travel to the UAE to join you, you (or your employer) must apply for an entry permit. Your family members can apply for entry permits at any of the following places:

1. You can apply to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – GDRFA either online (see the websites below) or in person. To apply in person, you must go to a licensed typing center of the GDRFA in each Emirate or one of the Amer centers in Dubai.

• Apple and Android users can download the GDRFA Dubai mobile apps from the App Store and Play Store, respectively.

2. Identity and Citizenship Federal Authority.

• Portal for ICA eChannel
• Apple and Android apps

Applying for the UAE Family Visa

UAE Family Visas are residence visas, so you must apply for them on behalf of your family members after they are already in the country.  In the relevant emirate, you can apply for a family visa at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

UAE Family Visa Cost

Depending on the type of visa you apply for and what other service fees you have to pay, the cost of a UAE family visa varies:

UAE Family Visa Processing Time

The average processing time for a UAE family visa or UAE sponsor visa is 15 to 17 days, according to some sources.

The UAE family visa application may take longer than expected due to immigration and weekends (Fridays and Saturdays) in Dubai.

UAE family visa validity

UAE Family Visas are issued for 1, 2, or 3 years and can be renewed at least thirty days before expiration. Family Visas are dependent on the sponsor, so if the sponsor’s visa expires or is canceled, then the Family Visas will also expire.

Dependent family members have a 30-day grace period during which they can renew their own Residence Visa.

How to apply for a family visa in Dubai

Dubai is part of the UAE, so if you live in Dubai as an expat and want to bring your family members with you, you must meet the same sponsorship requirements. GDRFA has a local office in Dubai where you can apply for your family members Dubai Family Visas. As an alternative, you can apply online through Amer, which allows Dubai citizens and residents to extend their Visa On Arrival and visitors to apply for family reunions.

Can I Cancel my UAE family Visa or UAE Sponsor Visa?

UAE family visas and UAE sponsor visas can be canceled in two ways:

Online Application

• visit the GDRFA Dubai portal, or download the GDRFA-Dubai application (Apple, Android).
• Choose your service

Please attach the following documents:

1. Signed cancellation form
2. Original passport of sponsor
3. Original sponsor’s ID

• Fees are due. His service costs AED 50 (the urgent service fee is AED 100, the innovation fee is AED 10, and the printing fee is AED 100 (if submitted through ZAJEL Courier Center)).
• submit the request.

Offline application

• Visit an AMER service center.
• At the reception, select the service.
• Service employee must receive required documents
• Service fees must be paid
• submit the application

Applicant will receive a text message and email confirming their application status.

The applicant will be notified that there are missing documents within 30 days, and if the missing documents are not attached, the application will be cancelled. Upon approval, the applicant will be notified of the approval, and the approved application will be emailed to them.

How To Renew my UAE family visa?

For expats in the UAE, the grace period has been extended from 30 days to 6 months after their residence visa has expired or been revoked. There is now a six-month grace period for dependents to obtain new residence permits after their visas expire or are canceled.

Therefore, expats now have six months to change their status and obtain another residence visa or leave the country. Grace periods are exempt from fines. A fine could be imposed if the employee fails to renew the visa of his dependents within the grace period or before that.

By selecting the relevant service and submitting the required documents, you can renew your UAE family visa on the GDRFA – Dubai website. Renewal requirements for UAE family residence visas are as follows:

1. Sponsors with valid residency permits
2. Medical fitness testing for adults over 18
3. Dubai and Abu Dhabi require insurance cards
4. ICA renewed identity card or an original receipt from your registration with ICA.

Following the expiration of the grace period, UAE immigration’s fines system imposes the following penalty:

• AED 25 (USD 6.81) per day during the first 6 months (180 days)
• AED 50 (USD 13.61) per day during the second 6 months (180 days)
• AED 100 (USD 27.23) per day after passing a year and more.

Required Documents for Renewal of UAE Family Visa

The documentation necessary for renewing the UAE family visa or sponsor visa varies based on the sponsor’s category:

General Required Documents:

1. Completed online application or application through a registered typing office for residency permit renewal, signed by the sponsor, whether from the public sector, private sector company, or personal sponsor.
2. Original passport of the sponsored individual.
3. Photograph of the sponsored individual.

Additional Required Documents:

For Employers in the Private Sector:

1. Copy of a valid firm card.
2. Copy of a valid trade license.
3. Copy of the renewed labor card of the sponsored individual.
4. Copy of the labor card renewal receipt for individuals aged sixty (60) and above.

For Individuals Sponsoring Their Families (spouses, children, parents, and siblings – first and second-degree relatives):

1. Copy of the husband/wife employment contract or company contract for investors.
2. Salary certificate from the employer indicating the employee’s monthly salary.
3. Legalized marriage certificate.
4. Registered tenancy contract.
5. Latest utility bill.

Benefits of UAE Family Visa

Obtaining a UAE family visa offers several benefits:

1. Family Reunification: It allows you to live with your loved ones and enjoy quality time together.
2. Access to Education: Your children can enroll in schools and universities in the UAE, benefiting from the country’s world-class education system.
3. Healthcare: Your family members will have access to quality healthcare facilities in the UAE.
4. Employment Opportunities: Spouses on family visas may be eligible to obtain employment in the UAE by obtaining a work permit.
5. Sponsorship Rights: As the sponsor, you have legal responsibilities and rights concerning your family members’ residency in the UAE.

FAQs About UAE Family Visa

What is the minimum salary for family visa in UAE?

Male sponsors must earn a minimum salary of AED 4,000 per month or AED 3,000 with accommodation provided by their employer to qualify for a family visa in the UAE. The employer must provide accommodation to female sponsors at a minimum salary of AED 4,000.

What is the family visa in UAE 2024?

For 2024, a family may apply for a 2-year visa, which is a long-term visa. Your children, spouses, and parents will all be covered by this visa if you extend it.

Can I hold family visa in UAE?

A sponsor new and old visas must be in the Emirate of Dubai to qualify for the on hold process. As soon as the visas are put on hold, dependents are not allowed to travel. For dependent visas to be put on hold, they must be valid for at least six months.

Conclusion