Key Highlights
- Expatriates in the UAE can get a residence visa for their spouse, children, or parents through family sponsorship.
- To be able to get this, you must have at least AED 4,000 as your salary or AED 3,000 along with a place to live. This is a very important step for eligibility.
- You need some key documents like attested marriage and birth certificates, entry permits, tenancy contracts, and proof of health insurance.
- During the application process, you have to do medical fitness tests at approved centers. There will also be service fees to pay, and you will need to register for your Emirates ID.
- For parents and some special cases, like bringing in two wives or stepchildren, there are extra rules to follow in the UAE.
Now, let’s move on and look at the basics of family sponsorship in the UAE.
Family sponsorship in the UAE lets people bring their family to live with them on a residence visa. Every year, many expatriates move to the country, so this is a key step for many families to settle for the first time. The application process means you have to meet some money rules, hand in all the right paperwork, and finish health checks and other steps for residency. It does not matter if you want to bring your spouse, children, or your parents. To make immigration easier, you need to know the eligibility criteria, what papers to get, and all steps in the application process.
Next, we will go over the eligibility criteria needed for family sponsorship in the UAE.
Eligibility Criteria for Family Sponsorship in the UAE
To sponsor family members in the UAE, you need to follow some important eligibility criteria. You must have a valid residence visa and earn at least a minimum salary. This means you should get AED 4,000 every month, or AED 3,000 plus have somewhere to stay. The type of profession you have no longer matters now for expatriates who wish to bring their family on a residence visa.
For Muslim residents who want to sponsor two wives, you must follow special rules set by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. You need to have enough money and show you are acting with moral responsibility.
Let’s look at the minimum salary you must have if you want to sponsor your family members for a family visa.
Minimum Salary Requirements
Understanding the UAE’s minimum salary requirements is important for families who want to get sponsorship. A resident must have at least AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 and a place to live, to be able to sponsor their family. This rule lets workers from many jobs still sponsor their families, no matter what their job title is.
Sponsors need to give an official salary letter or job contract from their employer, which shows how much they get paid. The federal authority for identity and citizenship, along with the general directorate of residency in Dubai, make sure people follow these rules.
In Abu Dhabi, sometimes the salary rules can be even tougher, and it can depend on each case. Having enough money shows that you are ready to pay for healthcare, medical insurance, and a place to stay.
Now, let’s talk about which family members you can sponsor.
Who Can Be Sponsored (Wife, Children, Parents)
Eligibility for family sponsorship in the UAE covers a few close family members. A resident sponsor can apply for a family visa application for their wife and children. This can be for biological children or adopted children. The children need to meet the needed age and education rules.
A resident sponsor can also sponsor their parents. You will need to meet the minimum salary rule and have a valid residence permit for this. The application process asks for all required documents, like attested marriage and birth certificates. All family members who apply must pass the health fitness check and follow the rules set by the federal authority.
Key Documents Needed for Sponsoring Family Members
It is important to collect the right paperwork for family sponsorship applications. Sponsors need to have attested marriage and birth certificates, tenancy contracts, and entry permits. If there are children older than 18, they must also give medical fitness examination results.
You must have health insurance for all family members. Also, you will need to fill out Emirates ID forms for everyone who is depending on you. If you use typing centers, your residency application will often go faster and more smoothly. Be sure all your papers follow UAE legal rules.
Now, you will find the details on which documents are needed to sponsor your spouse and your children.
Required Paperwork for Spouse and Children
Sponsors must give certified documents when they apply for family residence visas. You need to be sure you have these things:
- An attested marriage certificate that is translated into Arabic.
- Passport copies and recent photos of your spouse and kids.
- Medical exam clearance certificates for all dependents who are over 18 from health centers that are approved.
- Your employment contracts, along with salary certificates, given by your employer.
- Tenancy contracts that show you have enough housing.
Every person applying must fill out and send in an online or typed entry permit. If you complete these steps and have all the right documents, it will help you avoid delays in the application process.
When it comes to sponsoring your parents, there are even more things you will need to provide.
Additional Documents for Sponsoring Parents
Sponsoring your parents comes with some things you have to do. There are special steps you need to follow if you want to get family visas for your parents in Abu Dhabi.
- You have to show medical insurance policies. These need to be renewed every year and must show your parents are covered for their health conditions.
- You will also need to get a health fitness certificate. You can get this from the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi or other proper places.
If you are the only person who takes care of your parents, you need to give proof. You might have to give things like divorce papers or a death certificate if they are needed. There are deposit fees you have to pay for each parent when you submit everything to the immigration office.
Some extra rules will come up if your parents are divorced or widowed and you need those visas for them.
Now, let’s go over the step-by-step way to apply for family visas.
Application Process for Family Sponsorship Visa
Starting the family visa application is simple, but each step is important. To apply, sponsors can go online and use the Federal Authority or the General Directorate of Residency in Dubai. You can also go to Amer or typing centers in person. These places help to get permits.
After you get entry permits, the next steps are to pay the service fees and submit your Emirates ID. These steps are a big part of the process. You also need to show clear health certificates before you finish your visa paperwork.
Now, learn how to apply by following each part step by step.
Step-by-Step Guide to Applying
The table below shows a simple way to handle the family visa application if you are living in the Emirate:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Entry Permit | You need to send the application online or you can go to typing centers to get an entry permit approved. |
| Medical Test | People over 18 need to do health checks for the visa. |
| Emirates ID | Get fingerprints and other details recorded. You get your Emirates ID after passing the medical checks. |
| Visa Stamping | Your passport will get the visa stamped to show your stay is legal and complete. |
Sponsors should look for the latest news from Federal content sources to know what steps to follow and be clear about the process.
Next, you will need to think about costs and the Emirates ID since they become important topics after this step.
Fees, Medical Tests, and Emirates ID Procedures
The family visa application is not free. There are service fees that you need to pay, along with medical test costs and getting your Emirates ID. Some details to know are:
- Service Fees: You must pay an application fee. It starts at AED 200 and will go up each year if you need to renew.
- Medical Tests: To get the visa, you and your family have to do health checks at a UAE medical fitness center. The cost is from AED 260 to AED 360.
- Emirates ID: The Emirates ID cost is AED 370. If you want it faster, there is an extra surcharge of AED 150 at the time of your biometric registration.
UAE health boards still check for diseases that can spread, like tuberculosis.
To sum up, getting a family visa in the UAE means you need to pay the service fees, complete medical tests, and pay for your Emirates ID as part of the rules for family sponsorship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the processing time for a UAE family sponsorship visa?
The family sponsorship visa is usually done in about 2 to 3 weeks. Most people see delays at the entry permit step and during the medical fitness test. The online portals help a lot. They make it easy to apply and speed up some steps in the UAE immigration process. This means you can get checked faster.
Can a woman sponsor her family in the UAE?
Women can sponsor their female family members or their children. To do this, there is a minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. It does not matter what type of profession the woman has. These rules are set under current sponsorship norms for family members and female family members.
How long is the family residence visa valid?
The residence visa stays valid as long as the sponsor’s time is active. Family members get visas that can last one to three years. There are steps to renew these visas. You have to follow the renewal process every year to make sure you still qualify.
What happens if the sponsor loses their job?
When sponsors lose their jobs, they need to make sure their family’s visas stay active. They should do this by getting new residence permits for all before the six months’ grace period ends. In some special cases, health insurance and independent sponsorship can help protect family members.
Are there any exceptions to the eligibility criteria?
Yes, there are exceptions in special cases. These include golden visas, health reasons for not accepting, or finding out if there was carelessness while caring for a child. Unfit people who have health problems may still get a limited fitness certificate if they can show other qualifications.