UAE Family Visa 2026: Essential Requirements, Fees, and Step-by-Step Application Process Unveiled

Dubai: New residents in the UAE looking to bring their family members into the country can now navigate the updated family visa application process. This guide outlines the essential requirements, fees, and a step-by-step approach to securing a family visa for spouses, children, and parents.

To initiate the family visa application, residents must hold a valid UAE residence visa, whether it is for employment or investment. The family residence visa remains valid for the duration of the sponsor’s residency, typically ranging from two to three years, with options for renewal. For parents, the visa is granted for one year and is renewable annually.

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Before starting the application, it is crucial to confirm eligibility as a family sponsor.

• Minimum Salary for Spouses and Children: The profession or job title of the sponsor is no longer a determining factor. A minimum salary of Dh4,000, or Dh3,000 with accommodation, is required to sponsor a spouse and children.

• Requirements for Sponsoring Parents: Sponsoring parents involves higher income thresholds, including a security deposit and proof of dependency. A standard sponsorship requires a minimum salary of Dh20,000. However, the General Directorate for Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) offers a humanitarian route with a lower salary requirement of Dh10,000 through Amer centres.

• Age Requirements: Expats can sponsor unmarried daughters indefinitely, with no age limit. For sons, the age limit was previously set at 18 years but has been extended to 25 years if they are enrolled in an accredited institution.

Exceptions exist for specific cases:

• Golden Visa Holders: Those with a golden visa can sponsor their spouse, children, and parents for long-term residency (five or ten years) without minimum salary requirements. The age limit for sponsoring unmarried sons is also waived.

• UAE Citizens: Under the Executive Regulation of the Law No. 29 of 2021, a UAE citizen can sponsor a spouse, parent, or child holding a foreign passport for a five-year residence visa without employment requirements. Additionally, widowed or divorced women who are mothers of UAE citizens can obtain a residence visa without needing to work, with their oldest child as the sponsor.

Step 2: Gather Required Documents

Having all necessary documentation ready will facilitate a smoother application process. Required documents for sponsoring a spouse and children include:

• Application form (submitted online or through a registered typing office)
• Passport copies and recent photographs of the family members
• Employment contract, Emirates ID, and passport of the family sponsor
• Salary certificate from the employer
• Attested marriage certificate (in Arabic or translated by a certified translator)
• Attested birth certificates for children (in Arabic or translated)
• Registered tenancy contract

For sponsoring parents, additional documents are required:

• Medical insurance policies covering health conditions, renewable annually
• Security deposit, which varies by immigration department
• Proof of dependence, such as an affidavit confirming the sponsor’s sole support of the parents

Step 3: Begin the Application Process

Once all documents are in order, the next step is to apply for an entry permit. Applications can be submitted at Amer centres in Dubai or typing centres across the UAE. It is essential to bring all required documents to these centres.

Amer centres process applications on behalf of the GDRFA, while typing centres must be registered with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Alternatively, applications can be submitted online through various platforms, including:

• UAE PASS
• ICP website
• ICP UAE app
• GDRFA website
• DubaiNow app

Step 4: Apply for a Medical Fitness Test

A medical fitness test is mandatory for all family members over the age of 18. Applicants can select a preferred test centre during the visa application process. Family members must bring the application form provided at the typing centre. Results from the medical fitness test are typically available within 24 to 48 hours.

Step 5: Collect the Emirates ID

Upon passing the medical checks, family members can obtain their Emirates IDs. At the time of visa application, sponsors can choose to receive the ID via courier or collect it from an Emirates Post office.

Step 6: Submit Documents for Visa Stamping

After completing the medical test and Emirates ID application, all documents must be submitted for final visa stamping to the ICP. This can be done online or at an Amer centre.

Step 7: Pay the Fees

The family visa application incurs various service fees, medical test costs, and delivery charges for the Emirates ID. The average costs for 2026 are as follows:

• Entry permit fee: Dh548.90
• Other service charges: Dh300
• Emirates ID fee: Dh270 (for two years)
• Medical fitness test fee: Dh320
• Visa stamping fee: Dh580

If family members are already in the UAE, an additional Dh750 is required for visa status changes.

For more detailed information on the family visa process, visit the official guide. Source: www.emirates247.com.

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Published on 2026-04-17 11:55:00 • By the Editorial Desk