Family & Spouse Visas in United Arab Emirates
Sponsoring a partner, children, or parents
A resident may sponsor a spouse and children, and in narrower circumstances parents, provided the sponsor holds a valid residence permit, meets an income condition, and has accommodation considered suitable. The rules were liberalised so that women as well as men may sponsor, and the salary threshold is published by the residence authorities rather than negotiated. Every dependant's status is derived from the sponsor's, which is the central risk of the arrangement.
| Who may sponsor | Any resident meeting the income and housing conditions source |
| Income condition | Commonly cited at around AED 4,000 monthly, or around AED 3,000 with accommodation |
| Documents | Attested marriage and birth certificates, tenancy contract, salary certificate |
| Dependants' requirements | Medical fitness test for over-18s, health insurance, Emirates ID |
Who can be sponsored
- A spouse, on production of a marriage certificate attested for use in the country.
- Sons up to a published age threshold, after which they generally need to be enrolled in study or obtain their own sponsorship.
- Daughters, while unmarried, without the same age cut-off applied to sons.
- Parents, under a separate and stricter arrangement that typically requires a higher income and its own insurance cover.
- Domestic workers, under a distinct sponsorship category with its own rules and contracts.
The income and housing conditions
The residence authorities publish a minimum monthly salary for family sponsorship, commonly cited at around AED 4,000, or a lower figure where the employer provides accommodation. The exact figure and its treatment of allowances differ between emirates and are applied by the local authority — ICP federally, and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai.
A registered tenancy contract is normally required, and the size and type of the property is assessed against the size of the family. Sharing accommodation or holding a bed space is generally not sufficient.
Documents issued abroad — marriage certificates, birth certificates, and in some cases proof of relationship for parents — must be legalised and attested, which is usually the slowest part of the process and is best started well before the move.
Derived status and its consequences
A dependant's residence exists only as a function of the sponsor's. If the sponsor's employment ends, the family's permits are cancelled alongside it and the same grace period applies to everyone. Health insurance arranged through the sponsor's employer usually ends at the same time.
Family members on dependant status may work, but only if a separate work permit is obtained through an employer. The employer applies for the permit while the person's residence continues to be sponsored by the family member, which is a common and well-established arrangement.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.