How to Sponsor Your Family's Residence Visa in the UAE
If you live in the UAE, you can sponsor your family to live with you. You can sponsor your spouse. You can sponsor unmarried daughters. You can sponsor sons under 25. You can also sponsor children with special needs. You must earn at least AED 4,000 per month. Or you must earn at least AED 3,000 per month plus accommodation. Each family member needs four things. They need an entry permit. They need a medical fitness test if they are 18 or older. They need an Emirates ID. And they need a residence permit. The permit is linked to your visa, so it ends when your visa ends. Parents follow different rules. They get a 1-year residence visa you can renew. The salary bar is higher, both parents are normally sponsored together, and each parent needs medical insurance.
At a glance
- Cost:
- From ~AED 320 per dependent (ICP) + Emirates ID + medical (parents: refundable deposit may apply)
- Total time:
- 1–3 weeks per dependent
- Steps:
- 10 steps
- Where to apply:
- u.ae
Last reviewed November 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due May 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UAE sources(November 2026).
0 of 10 steps
- Before You Go Self-check
Confirm your eligibility
The sponsor must hold a valid residence visa. You must earn at least AED 4,000 per month. Or you must earn at least AED 3,000 per month plus accommodation.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay Varies — confirm with ICP
Apply for each dependent's entry permit
Apply on ICP. In Dubai, apply on GDRFA instead. Is your family member already in the UAE? Then apply for a status change instead of an entry permit. Check the current entry permit fee in the ICP portal when you apply.
Click to mark as done
- Go Entry permit validity per issuance AED 500 status adjustment (if already in UAE)
Dependent enters the UAE
Your family member enters the UAE on the entry permit. If they are already inside the country, they complete a status change instead. The status-adjustment fee is AED 500.
Click to mark as done
- Go Result typically same/next day Varies
Medical fitness test
Family members aged 18 and over must take the medical fitness test at an approved health centre. They must pass it. Children under 18 do not need the test. The fee depends on the emirate and the centre.
Click to mark as done
- Go Same-day appointment From AED 300 (2-year card)
Emirates ID for each dependent
Apply for an Emirates ID for each family member. The application includes biometrics. The cost is AED 100 per year, plus an AED 100 smart fee, for each person.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay Varies — confirm with ICP From ~AED 320
Residence permit is issued
Send the residence application with all your documents. Your family member's visa cannot last longer than your visa. The ICP fees for each family member are an AED 100 application fee, AED 100 per year for issuance, and AED 100 for smart services.
Click to mark as done
- Before You Go Self-check
Sponsoring your parents: the different rules
You can sponsor both of your parents. They get a 1-year residence visa, and you can renew it. You must hold a valid residence visa. You must meet a minimum salary set by the issuing authority. You must provide suitable housing. A two-bedroom home is usually required. You must provide medical insurance for each parent. And you must prove your relationship to them. The salary limit depends on the route. The standard Dubai route is AED 20,000/month. Or it is AED 19,000 plus accommodation. An AED 10,000 limit applies to a humanitarian route. That route is decided case by case, per Emirates247 reporting. Check the current limit with ICP or GDRFA before you apply. You may also need to pay a refundable security deposit for each parent. ICP publishes AED 5,000 as the financial guarantee for humanitarian cases.
Click to mark as done
- Submit & Pay Varies AED 500 status adjustment (if already in UAE)
Sponsor both parents together
Parents are normally sponsored together, both at the same time. Has one parent died? Or are your parents divorced? Then provide the death certificate or the proof of divorce. Apply for each parent's entry permit on ICP. In Dubai, apply on GDRFA instead. Is a parent already in the UAE? Then apply for a status change instead. It costs AED 500.
Click to mark as done
- Go Before expiry From AED 200 (1-year card)
Parents: medical, Emirates ID, and annual renewal
Each parent must take the medical fitness test at an approved health centre. Each parent must pass it. Apply for an Emirates ID for each parent. Parents aged 15 and over must give biometrics. Per ICP, the cost is AED 100 per year, plus an AED 100 smart fee. Each parent's visa is valid for 1 year. You can renew it. Renew each parent's residence and Emirates ID every year. Keep their medical insurance active. You must renew the insurance every year too.
Click to mark as done
- Follow Up Varies by policy
Arrange health insurance
Each family member must have valid health insurance. Check that the cover is active before you rely on it.
Click to mark as done
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum salary to sponsor my family?
You must earn AED 4,000 per month. Or you must earn AED 3,000 per month plus accommodation. These figures come from u.ae and ICP.
Do my children need a medical test?
Only family members aged 18 and over need the medical fitness test. Children under 18 do not need it.
What salary do I need to sponsor my parents?
The limit depends on the route. The standard Dubai route is AED 20,000/month. Or it is AED 19,000 plus accommodation. An AED 10,000 limit applies to a humanitarian route. That route is decided case by case, per Emirates247 reporting. Check the current limit with ICP or GDRFA before you apply.
Must I sponsor both parents together?
Normally, yes. Both parents are sponsored together. Has one parent died? Or are your parents divorced? Then provide the death certificate or the proof of divorce.
How long is a parent residence visa valid?
The visa lasts 1 year. You can renew it every year, if you still meet the salary, housing, insurance, and deposit conditions.
What happens to my family's visas if my visa is cancelled?
Their permits are linked to yours, so they must be cancelled too. Your family members get a 6-month grace period. In that time, they must get a new residence permit.
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