Can I Sponsor Family Members on My Residence Visa?

Sponsoring your family members while working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a valued benefit for many expatriate employees. The process is relatively straightforward but does involve meeting certain criteria and preparing the right documentation. Below, you’ll find all you need to know, broken into easy-to-follow sections.

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1. Eligibility Criteria

To sponsor your immediate family members for residence in the UAE, you (the sponsor) must meet a few essential criteria:

• Employment Status: You must hold a valid UAE residency visa (typically sponsored by your employer).
• Minimum Salary: As of recent regulations, you need to earn a minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus company-provided accommodation.
• Housing: Proof of housing in the form of a tenancy contract (Ejari) or company-provided accommodation.
• Legal Status: You must have a valid and active Emirates ID and be residing in the UAE.
• Profession: Sponsorship is generally open to all professions, but it’s always wise to check if there are role-specific requirements for your emirate.

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2. Who Can Be Sponsored?

You can sponsor the following family members:

• Spouse: Husbands can sponsor wives and, under certain conditions, wives can sponsor husbands (usually requiring a higher minimum salary).
• Children: Sons (up to 25 years if unmarried and studying), daughters (if unmarried, no age limit), and children with special needs (no age limit).
• Parents: You may sponsor both parents if you meet a higher salary threshold (usually around AED 20,000/month) and provide evidence that you have no one else to care for them in your home country.
• Newborns: Newborn children born in the UAE should be sponsored within 120 days of birth.

Often, extended family (siblings, in-laws, etc.) cannot be directly sponsored; exceptions are extremely limited and require special approval.

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3. Required Documents

Here’s what you’ll typically need to gather for each family member you plan to sponsor:

For All Sponsors:

• Copy of your passport and residence visa
• Emirates ID (original and copy)
• Salary certificate or employment contract
• Tenancy contract or proof of accommodation (Ejari attested)
• Most recent utility bill (DEWA, ADDC, etc.)

For Each Family Member:

• Passport copy (must be valid for at least 6 months)
• Passport-size photos (as per UAE specifications)
• Birth certificates (for children) – attested and translated if not in English/Arabic
• Marriage certificate (for spouse) – attested by home country and UAE authorities
• Medical clearance certificate (for adults, ages 18+; to be done at an authorized UAE medical center)
• School/college enrollment letter (for sons above 18 if being sponsored)
• Divorce or death certificates (if applicable, for remarried sponsors)

Note: All foreign documents must be legally attested at the home country and UAE embassy and then translated to Arabic.

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4. Process Steps

Step 1: Entry Permit Application

Apply for an entry permit for the family members if they are outside the UAE (through online portals like GDFRA or approved typing centers) or convert their status locally if they’re already here.

Step 2: Entry or Status Change

• Bring your family to the UAE (if not already present) using the approved entry permit.
• Complete the “status change” procedure if arriving on a visit visa.

Step 3: Medical Screening

• Adults (18+) undergo a medical fitness test at a government-authorized medical center.

Step 4: Emirates ID Registration

• Apply for Emirates ID by visiting an approved service center.

Step 5: Health Insurance

• Secure compliant health insurance for each family member, as required by UAE law.

Step 6: Residence Visa Stamping

• Submit all documents through the GDFRA online system or authorized typing center.
• The residence visa will be stamped in the family member’s passport, and their Emirates ID will be processed.

Step 7: Collect Documents

• Collect passports with stamped visas and Emirates IDs when ready.

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5. Tips and Important Reminders

• Deadlines: Newborns must be sponsored within 120 days of birth; overstays for visitors must be avoided to prevent fines.
• Attestation: All non-UAE documents must be properly attested and, if necessary, translated.
• Renewal: Residence visas for family members are generally valid for 1-3 years and must be renewed before expiry.
• Changes: Regulations may change. Always check with HR or the UAE immigration authority for the latest updates.