To sponsor your family members in the UAE, it is essential to ensure that you possess a valid residence visa within the country. This can be obtained through a work visa sponsored by your employer or a self-sponsored visa such as a Green Visa, Investor Visa, or Golden Visa.
Once you have successfully obtained your visa, you can proceed with sponsoring your family members. However, it is important to meet certain requirements to be eligible for sponsorship. Here are nine key requirements to bear in mind:
- Expatriate residents are permitted to sponsor their families to reside in the UAE as long as they possess a valid residence permit or visa.
- The sponsor must have a minimum salary of Dh4,000 or Dh3,000 along with accommodation. The nature of the profession is no longer a determining factor for expatriate workers seeking to sponsor their family’s visas.
- Male and female family members who are above the age of 18 are required to undergo and pass medical fitness tests at approved health centers in the UAE. Individuals who are deemed medically unfit will not be granted a residence visa. Residents who are diagnosed with dormant or inactive pulmonary tuberculosis are considered medically fit and may be granted a one-year ‘Health Fitness Certificate for Residence’ contingent upon treatment and follow-up by the relevant health authority.
- A resident sponsor has 60 days to apply for the residence visa of their dependents after they enter into the UAE under an entry permit. In the case of babies born in the UAE, a residence visa must be applied for within 120 days of their birth.
- To sponsor your parents, you must sponsor them together. If the parents are divorced or if one of the parents has passed away, relevant official documents will be required as justification to sponsor only one of the parents.
- When sponsoring parents, the residence visa will be granted every year, regardless of the duration of the sponsor’s visa. Additionally, the sponsor must meet the salary requirement as stipulated by the immigration department of the emirate that issued their visa.
- An expatriate resident can sponsor their unmarried daughter without any age restrictions.
- Both male and female residents can sponsor their sons until they reach the age of 25. If the son is a Person of Determination, there are no age restrictions for sponsorship.
- An expatriate resident can sponsor their stepchildren, subject to the conditions set by the immigration department of the emirate. For example, according to the conditions of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA-D), the sponsor must pay a deposit for each child and obtain a written no-objection certificate (NOC) from the biological parent. The residence visas for stepchildren are valid for one year and can be renewed annually.
Documents required to sponsor wife and children include:
To apply for this opportunity, you have two options: you can either complete the application form online or visit a registered typing office to do so. Additionally, provide passport copies for both your wife and children, as well as recent photos of them. It is also necessary to obtain a medical clearance certificate for any family members above the age of 18.
To proceed with the application, we kindly request a copy of your employment contract or company contract as the sponsor. Furthermore, please provide a salary certificate from your employer, which should clearly state your monthly salary.
To ensure smooth processing, please submit an attested marriage certificate in Arabic or a translated version certified by an authorized translator. Lastly, we require a registered tenancy contract as part of the application process.
Also Read: How to apply for a family residence visa on the DubaiNow app?
Cancellation
The residence permits of the family are connected to the residence permit of the sponsoring family member. If the sponsoring family member’s visa is canceled, the visas of the dependents must also be canceled.
Dependents are given a grace period of six months from the date of expiration or cancellation of their visas to acquire a new residence permit. If the sponsor neglects to renew or cancel the visa of their dependents, they may be subject to a fine.