There are millions of expatriates who visit Dubai for employment, business, investment as well as career opportunities. Once settle in Dubai, many people want to bring their family members such as spouse and children to live together. You must know that it is essential to have Family Visa Dubai to bring your family members. This visa allows the eligible UAE residents to sponsor their spouse or children to live in Dubai.
You need to know that Family Visa is completely different from tourist or visit visa. It will allow the eligible family members to live in Dubai legally. But it is essential for the sponsor to meet the specific requirements of income, accommodation, relationship as well as documentation.
You need to know that residence service is handled by the Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDFRA). However, the requirements can vary depending on the relationship between the sponsor and their family member. It is suggested to the applicants to check the latest official rules before applying for the Family Visa Dubai.
What is Family Visa Dubai?
Dubai Family Visa allows the UAE resident to sponsor the eligible members of their family. The most common sponsored family members are spouse and children.

To bring the family members, the sponsor should have a valid permit of UAE residence as well as must meet the financial or accommodation requirements. Once the resident meet with the minimum requirement then the sponsored member will be able to obtain the legal residence in Dubai after completion of required procedure.
Who is Eligible to Sponsor t Sponsor Family Visa Dubai?
Generally, a foreign resident who has a valid UAE residence are eligible to sponsor their family members but they should also meet some required conditions which are given below:
- Emirates ID
- UAE residence permit
- Sufficient income proof
- Suitable accommodation
- Proof of the relationship with family
- Supporting documents
It is essential that the sponsor profession and employment status should be relevant to the application. In some cases, you should also have to show the salary certification, contract of employment as well as other evidences.

In fact, male as well as female residents are eligible to sponsor their family members which is subject to the applicable rules.
Who can be sponsored on Family Visa Dubai?
You should know that you can sponsor your spouse, children, parents or other relatives but with the applicable rules. The members that can be sponsored are mentioned below:
Spouse
Generally, a resident can sponsor their husband or wife. It is essential to provide the valid marriage certificate in order to prove the relationship.
If marriage certificate was issued outside the UAE then it must be attested and authenticated before you can use for the application.

Children
In fact, children can also be sponsored under the family residence rules.
According to GDFRA, the resident can sponsor sons under 25 years and unmarried daughters which is subject to the relevant conditions. The children who require special needs may also qualify regardless of age under the applicable regulations.
It is essential for the parents to submit the birth certificate of the child and other documents in order to proof the relationship.
Parents and other Relatives
You need to know that sponsoring the parents or other relatives may also involve different conditions from sponsoring a spouse or children.
The resident who wants to sponsor their parents must check the specific requirements from GDFRA for that category instead of relying on the spouse or child process.
What are the Requirements of Family Visa Dubai?
Actually, the exact requirements will depend on the sponsorship type but the applicants have to submit the required documents which are mentioned below:
- Passport copy of the sponsor
- UAE residence visa or permit of the sponsor
- Emirates ID of the sponsor
- Passport copy of the sponsored person
- Passport size photograph
- Attested marriage certificate
- Attested birth certificate
- Salary certificate or employment contact
- Proof of accommodation
- Medical fitness certificate
- Supported documents requested by the authorities.
Documents must have consistent information. If any difference is found in names, date of birth or passport delays then it can cause problem.
What is Minimum Salary for Family Visa Dubai?
It is extremely important that sponsor should have the salary which should meet with the minimum requirement of Family Visa Dubai. To sponsor the family, it is essential that sponsor salary must be AED 4,000 per month or AED 3,000 + accommodation.

According to the GDFRA information, the exact requirement will depend on application type and the situation of the sponsor. Before applying, the applicants must verify the salary requirement.
It is essential to provide salary certificate, employment contacts as well as proof of the income as evidence.
Is Medical Test Necessary for Family Visa Dubai?
Yes, it is essential to complete the medical fitness test for the sponsored family members who are 18 years or above.
The applicants are required to complete the medical examination at an approved medical fitness center in the UAE. It is a part of the residence visa process which helps in establishing medical fitness for residence.

Children who are below the applicable age do not have to complete the medical fitness procedures.
Applicants are advised to follow the instructions which are provided by the relevant immigration or medical authorities.
What is the Application Process of Family Visa Dubai?
You should know that the family visa application involves various stages which are mentioned below:
Step 1: Check the eligibility of Sponsor
Before starting the application, sponsor must have a valid UAE residence permit and meet with the required income and accommodation condition.
Step 2: Prepare the Documents
It is essential to collect the sponsor’s and family member document earlier. Make sure you are using the attested marriage and birth certificates.
Step 3: Apply for the Family Entry Permit
If the family member is living out the UAE, the sponsor should firstly apply for the entry permit for sponsorship of residence.
With the entry permit, the sponsored family member will be able to enter the UAE and complete all the procedures.
Step 4: Complete the Medical Fitness Test
The sponsored family members who are older than 18 years should have to complete the medical fitness examination.
Step 5: Complete the Procedures of Residence Visa
Once all the required conditions are fulfilled, you can complete the residence permit application by submitting through the Dubai immigration channels.
Step 6: Apply for Emirates ID
The sponsored family members should also complete the process of Emirates ID as a part of establishing UAE residence.
What is the Fees of Family Visa Dubai?
Actually, the total cost of the family visa depends on various factors which includes the type of application, duration of residence, whether the member is inside or outside the UAE.
According to GDFRA, a residence permit fee is AED 200 along with the additional charges.
For family entry permits, a fee of AED 200 plus 5% VAT is applicable while additional charges may apply at certain circumstances. The total cost will also include
- Medical fitness test
- Emirates ID
- Health insurance if applicable
- Attestation of documents
- Service center fee
- Government charges
You should know that fee can change at any time, so you can check the fee from official GDFRA website.
How long does a Dubai Family Visa Take?
You need to know that the processing time will depend on the type of application. If you have submitted the application correctly then the expected completion time will be 48 hours for certain family residence permit. It is only possible when the application meets the requirements.

If the documents are incomplete the actual processing time will take longer. It is essential to complete the application by submitting the requested documents. So, try to prepare the application carefully in order to avoid the unnecessary delays.
Where you can Apply for a Dubai Family Visa?
Residents are advised to visit Dubai’s official immigration channels in order to to apply for family residence services.
You need to know that the GDRFA Dubai provides digital services for the eligible applications, whereas authorized Amer service centres can also assist the residents with immigration applications as well as related procedures.
Applicants are suggested to make use of official government websites or authorized service centres. They should avoid relying on unofficial websites or agents for information about current requirements and fees.
Conclusion
The Family Visa Dubai process allows eligible UAE residents to bring their spouse, children and other qualifying family members to live with them in Dubai. The process generally involves checking sponsor eligibility, preparing relationship documents, obtaining an entry permit where required, completing medical fitness requirements for eligible adults and finalizing the residence and Emirates ID procedures.
The requirements can differ depending on whether you are sponsoring a spouse, child, parent or another family member. Salary, accommodation, document attestation and the sponsor’s residence status are important factors to consider.
Before submitting an application, always check the latest information through GDRFA Dubai or an authorized Amer service centre. This helps ensure that you have the correct documents, meet the current eligibility requirements and pay the applicable fees.