UAE Family Visa Requirements 2026: Salary, Fees and Documents
A UAE family visa is a residence permit that lets an eligible resident sponsor family members to live in the UAE. According to the UAE Government portal, the sponsor needs a valid residence permit and a minimum salary of AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation provided by the employer. This guide explains who can be sponsored, which documents authorities list, what government fees are published, and how the process differs between ICP and GDRFA Dubai. The core rules apply to the sponsor’s situation rather than to one nationality, although a few nationality-related points are covered near the end.
This guide covers family residence sponsorship only. For the wider picture of residence routes, see our UAE residence visa guide, and for all visa categories see the UAE visa guide.
What Is a UAE Family Residence Visa?
A family residency visa allows a spouse, children, and, in some cases, other relatives to stay in the United Arab Emirates under the sponsorship of a resident. The sponsor’s permission is connected to the family’s residency permits. The UAE Government portal states that if the sponsor’s visa is canceled, the dependents’ visas must also be canceled.
It is not the same as a family visit visa, which allows a short stay and does not create residence. Eligibility for one does not give eligibility for the other.
UAE Family Visa Requirements in 2026
The following requirements are listed by ICP’s residency issuing service for a foreign resident’s family:
- The sponsor has a valid resident permit in the United Arab Emirates.
- The sponsor shows financial solvency: AED 3,000 per month plus employer-provided housing, or AED 4,000 if housing is not provided.
- Adequate housing is secured for the family, in proportion to the property’s capacity, whether owned or rented.
- Proof of kinship is provided.
- The family’s residence matches the sponsor’s permit and cannot exceed it.
- The sponsored person’s passport is valid for at least six months.
The UAE Government portal adds that a profession is no longer a condition for sponsoring a family.
What did not change: No official 2026 change to these family residence thresholds is listed on the ICP or UAE Government service pages. The AED 4,000, AED 8,000, and AED 15,000 income bands that you may see for visitation visas apply to sponsors of visitation visas rather than residency sponsorship.
UAE Family Visa Minimum Salary
| Situation | Minimum monthly salary | Source |
| Employer provides accommodation | AED 3,000 | UAE Government portal, ICP |
| No employer-provided accommodation | AED 4,000 | UAE Government portal, ICP |
People often call this the “AED 3,000 rule.” No official page uses that label, but the AED 3,000 plus accommodation option is the closest published match.
Two housing points are separate. The AED 3,000 level applies only when the employer provides the housing. Independently of the salary level, ICP requires adequate housing for the family, owned or rented.
Two further points need care:
- Female sponsors: Both male and female foreign residents are permitted to bring in family members, according to GDRFA Dubai. The UAE Government portal notes that a mother can sponsor her children in special cases approved by ICP, and Dubai’s entry permit page lists a no objection from the father when the guarantor is the wife. Verify your case with GDRFA or ICP.
- Parents: There is currently no wage information for parents on the UAE Government sponsorship page. The figures that circulate differ: older UAE Government content cited AED 20,000 for Dubai, while a Gulf News report quoting an immigration consultant says GDRFA currently lists AED 10,000. Neither figure appears on the GDRFA family service pages, so confirm with GDRFA before planning around one.
Who Can You Sponsor for a UAE Family Visa?
| Relative | What the official pages say |
| Spouse | Eligible (ICP, GDRFA) |
| Unmarried daughters | Eligible (ICP, GDRFA). The official pages don’t provide an age limit. |
| Sons | Eligible under 25 (ICP, GDRFA) |
| Children with special needs | Eligible regardless of age (ICP, GDRFA) |
| Parents | UAE Government portal says a resident can sponsor parents, with the visa granted yearly regardless of the sponsor’s visa length. Conditions are set by the authority. |
| First-degree relatives | ICP lists this for Green Residence holders |
UAE Family Visa Documents Required
ICP’s service lists these documents for the family-of-a-foreign-resident category.
| Document | Notes | Source |
| Passport | Valid for at least six months | ICP |
| Personal photo | See our UAE visa photo size guide. GDRFA asks for a white background. | ICP, GDRFA |
| Proof of kinship | Attested marriage contract and children’s birth certificates | ICP |
| Birth certificates or special-needs proof | To show a child’s age or special needs | ICP |
| Employment certificate | Shows family monthly income and housing provision | ICP |
| Water or electricity bill | Listed by ICP | ICP |
| Valid health insurance | Listed by ICP | ICP |
| Medical fitness test | Sponsored individuals must be at approved centers and be at least 18 years old. | UAE Government portal, GDRFA |
| Personal ID card copy | ICP lists this for applicants from Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq | ICP |
For Dubai’s entry permit stage, GDRFA lists an employment contract, a salary certificate for government, semi-government and free zone employees, an attested birth certificate and a certified marriage contract. That service page shows no update date, so treat it as a guide and confirm the checklist when you start the service.
The official pages do not set out the full attestation chain or translation rules. Ask the authority which attestation your country’s documents need. At renewal, ICP also lists a lease agreement among the documents.
UAE Family Visa Cost and Fees in 2026
There is no single official total. ICP and GDRFA Dubai publish different charges, and they are not combined here.
ICP residence issuance (family of a foreign resident)
| Charge | Published amount |
| Application fee | AED 100 |
| Residence issuance fee | AED 100 per year of validity |
| Smart services fee | AED 100 |
| Financial security deposit fee | AED 20 |
| Status adjustment | AED 500 |
GDRFA Dubai residence permit for family members
| Charge | Published amount |
| Residence permit fee | AED 200 |
| Knowledge Dirham and Innovation Dirham | AED 10 each |
| Fee inside the country | AED 500 |
| Delivery | AED 20 |
GDRFA adds that the issuance fee rises by AED 100 for each year when residency is over two years.
GDRFA Dubai entry visa for family sponsorship
| Charge | Published amount |
| Visa fee | AED 200 plus 5% VAT |
| Knowledge Dirham and Innovation Dirham, if the sponsored person is inside the UAE | AED 10 each |
| If the sponsored individual is in the United Arab Emirates, there is an internal fee. | AED 500 |
GDRFA notes that the total visa amount may vary with the sponsored person’s circumstances.
Not included in the tables above: the ICP entry permit total, medical test prices, Emirates ID charges and health insurance premiums. A financial guarantee may apply to the entry permit and is refundable under ICP’s conditions.
How to Apply Online for a Family Visa to the UAE
If your family is outside the UAE
- Sponsor: Confirm you meet the salary, housing and residence conditions.
- Sponsor: Apply for an entry permit through ICP Smart Services or GDRFA, using UAE Pass where required. Health insurance and a six-month-valid passport are listed as prerequisites by ICP.
- Family: Enter the UAE within the entry permit’s validity. ICP specifies 60 days after the home entry permission is issued.
- Family: Complete the medical fitness test (age 18 and over) and any Emirates ID steps.
- Sponsor: Pay the costs and submit the application for a residence permit along with the necessary paperwork.
- Both: Wait for the notification. ICP says the Emirates ID card is delivered by authorised courier after issuance.
The residence process must finish within 60 days of entry. If it does not, ICP says overstay fines of AED 50 per day apply. See our UAE overstay fine guide.
If your family is already in the UAE
ICP lists a status adjustment fee of AED 500, and GDRFA lists a fee of AED 500 when the sponsored person is already inside the country. Verify the service screen that pertains to your situation.
ICP vs GDRFA Dubai: Which Authority Should You Use?
| Detail | ICP | GDRFA Dubai |
| Service | Issuing Residency Permit | Granting foreign family members a residency permit |
| Channels | ICP Smart Services website and app | Smart services, Customer Happiness Centres, Amer centres |
| Login | UAE Pass | UAE Pass or username |
| Published completion time | 2 days | 48 hours |
| Fee structure | AED 100 lines (see above) | AED 200 plus extras (see above) |
Dubai-issued residence is generally handled by GDRFA. Other emirates may use ICP or their own channels. Abu Dhabi, for example, runs its own TAMM portal with a Family section. Check which authority issued the sponsor’s residence and use that authority’s service page.
UAE Family Visa Processing Time
The published times are 2 days for ICP and 48 hours for GDRFA Dubai. These explain the actual residency permit service. Entry permit approval, travel, the medical test, biometrics, document attestation and delivery are separate, so total real-world time is longer.
Validity of UAE Family Visas and the 2-Year Visa Question
No official page describes a fixed “2-year family visa.” ICP says family residence matches the sponsor’s permit and cannot exceed it. The UAE Government portal says parents’ visas are granted yearly regardless of the sponsor’s visa length. Validity is therefore best treated as set by the authority for your case, and by the sponsor’s own permit.
Medical Fitness, Emirates ID, Renewal and Cancellation
- Medical fitness: Sponsored persons aged 18 and over must pass a medical fitness test at an approved centre, and medically unfit people are not granted a residence visa (UAE Government portal).
- Emirates ID: ICP ties the residence permit to an Emirates ID card application.
- Renewal: ICP says all issuance requirements must be maintained at renewal, and lists renewal fee lines of AED 100 application, AED 100 per year and AED 100 smart services. GDRFA lists a renewal fee of AED 200 for family members.
- Grace period: GDRFA lists 60 days after expiry or cancellation. ICP lists 60 days for residence issued with a guarantor or host, and 180 days for Golden, Green and Blue Residence holders and their family members. The UAE Government portal describes 6 months for dependents after the sponsor’s visa is cancelled. Because these figures differ, confirm the period for your own permit before it expires.
- Cancellation: ICP says family permits must be cancelled before the sponsor’s residence is cancelled, or placed on hold for a limited period with applicable fees, including a AED 5,000 guarantee fee listed for that option. GDRFA lists a cancellation fee of AED 100 plus AED 10 each for the Knowledge and Innovation Dirham. Failing to renew or cancel can lead to a fine, according to the UAE Government portal.
Can Nationality Affect a UAE Family Visa?
The aforementioned housing, kinship, and wage regulations are not classified as nationality-based. There are two nationality-related points in official sources:
- For candidates from Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq, ICP provides a copy of their personal ID card.
- On 5 June 2026 the UAE news agency WAM published an announcement by NCEMA and ICP that issuance of all new visas for nationals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, including visit visas, would be suspended from 13:00 on 6 June 2026, subject to extension. The same announcement says travellers arriving from the listed countries, including those who transit through other countries, are denied entry unless they have spent more than 21 days outside those countries. Khaleej Times reports that on 26 September 2026 NCEMA, MoHAP and ICP announced an easing of the measures for nationals of Uganda, while the measures for the DRC and South Sudan remain.
The announcement does not mention family residence applications specifically. Family members travelling from the aforementioned countries may be affected by the entry rule, which applies to travellers of any nationality arriving from certain nations. Do not assume a restriction that applies to visitor entry also applies to your residence case, or the other way round. Confirm with ICP or GDRFA.
UAE Family Residence Visa vs Family Visit Visa
| Detail | Family residence visa | Family visit visa |
| Purpose | Living in the UAE | Short stay |
| Sponsor | Resident meeting salary and housing rules | Resident host meeting the visit visa income bands |
| Linked to sponsor’s permit | Yes | Separate rules |
A visit visa does not create residence rights. The two services have separate conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimal wage for obtaining a UAE family visa?
AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided accommodation, per the UAE Government portal and ICP.
What is the cost of a UAE family visa?
There is no single total. ICP lists AED 100 application, AED 100 per year issuance and AED 100 smart services lines. GDRFA Dubai lists AED 200 plus extra charges, and AED 200 plus VAT for the entry visa. The expenses for medical care and Emirates ID are different.
How can I apply online for a UAE family visa?
Through ICP Smart Services or GDRFA Dubai’s smart channels, using UAE Pass where required.
How long does it take to get a family visa to the UAE?
ICP lists 2 days and GDRFA lists 48 hours for the residence service. The whole process takes longer.
What is Dubai’s AED 3,000 rule?
It most likely refers to the AED 3,000 plus employer-provided accommodation salary option. No official page uses that name.
Can a UAE resident sponsor their spouse and children?
Yes, if they meet the conditions. Sons are eligible under 25. For unmarried daughters, no age limit is stated on the official pages.
Can a UAE resident sponsor their parents?
The UAE Government portal says yes, on a yearly basis, subject to the authority’s conditions. Confirm the salary requirement with GDRFA or ICP.
Is a UAE family visa valid for two years?
Not by default. The sponsor’s permit determines validity, which cannot be exceeded.
What distinguishes a family visitation visa from a family residence visa?
Yes. One creates residence, the other allows a short stay.
NOTE: ICP, GDRFA Dubai and other UAE portals periodically update menus, requirements, and costs. For your case, use the official portal. This document is provided for general information only, and it is not linked with any UAE authority.
