Making Dubai Home: How to Bring Your Family Over
May 9, 2025
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Living and working in Dubai is an incredible opportunity, but for many expatriates, the experience truly feels complete when loved ones can join them. Thankfully, the UAE government allows residents to bring their families over, making Dubai feel even more like home 
[1]
[2]
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[5]. If you hold a valid UAE residence visa, you can generally act as a sponsor for your immediate family members 
[6]. This guide walks you through the essentials of the family visa process in Dubai for 2025, covering who is eligible, what you need, and how it all works, primarily managed by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai and the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) in other emirates [1][2]. Let's explore how you can reunite with your family in this vibrant city.
Are You Eligible to Sponsor Your Family? (Sponsor Requirements)
So, can you actually sponsor your family? First things first, you, the sponsor, must hold a valid UAE residence permit or visa [1][2][3]
[4]. This could be a standard employment visa, a Green Visa, or even a Golden Visa [1][2][3][5]. The next big hurdle is income. You need to meet a minimum salary threshold. Generally, this is set at AED 4,000 per month [1][2][3][4][5]. Alternatively, if your salary is AED 3,000 per month, you can still qualify if your employer provides accommodation [1][2][3][4][5]. Good news – recent changes mean your eligibility is now mainly based on your income level, not your specific job title, making it simpler for many [1][2][4][5].
You'll also need to prove you have suitable housing for your family [3][5]. This usually means providing a registered tenancy contract, like an Ejari certificate if you're in Dubai [3][5]. What about gender? Both men and women employed in the UAE can sponsor their families [2][3][4][5]. While the official minimum salary (AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 + accommodation) generally applies to everyone, be aware that some unofficial sources occasionally mention higher thresholds for women, perhaps linked to certain professions [2][3][4][5]. It's always best to verify the current requirement. In specific situations, a mother might be able to sponsor her children even if the father is in the UAE, but this usually requires special approval from ICP [1][2]. Typically, if the father meets the criteria and resides in the UAE, he is expected to be the sponsor [4].
Which Family Members Can You Sponsor?
Sponsoring Your Spouse
You can sponsor your legal spouse to join you in Dubai [2][3][5]. The key piece of evidence required is your marriage certificate [2][3][5]. Critically, this certificate must be properly attested in your home country and the UAE, and officially translated into Arabic if it's in another language [2][3][5]. For Muslim residents, there's a provision allowing sponsorship of two wives, provided specific conditions laid out by the authorities are met [4].
Sponsoring Your Children
Bringing your kids over involves sponsoring your biological or legally adopted children [2][3][5]. You'll need their attested birth certificates as proof [2][3][5]. There are age considerations to keep in mind. Generally, sons can be sponsored up to the age of 18 [4]. This limit can extend to 21 if they are full-time students, and you might need to provide proof of their studies [4]. Interestingly, some sources suggest sons might be sponsored up to 25, so it's wise to double-check the very latest rules with GDRFA or ICP [4]. For daughters, the rules are simpler: they can be sponsored regardless of age, as long as they remain unmarried [4]. What about stepchildren? Yes, they can often be sponsored too, but under specific conditions set by GDRFA, which might include getting a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the biological parent and possibly paying a financial deposit [2]. Visas for stepchildren are typically issued for one year at a time and are renewable annually [2].
Sponsoring Your Parents
Sponsoring parents is possible but comes with stricter requirements compared to sponsoring a spouse or children [2][5]. Often, a higher minimum salary is needed for the sponsor – one source mentions AED 10,000 per month, although official government portals sometimes indicate the standard minimum salary applies if you can prove you are their sole provider [2][5]. You generally must sponsor both parents together [2]. Exceptions are made if one parent has passed away or if they are divorced, but you'll need official documents to prove this [2]. A crucial requirement is demonstrating that you are their sole financial support and that they have no one else to care for them back in their home country [2]. Furthermore, you must secure a mandatory annual health insurance policy for each parent that meets minimum coverage requirements, and this policy needs to be renewed every year [2]. Unlike other dependent visas, parent visas are typically granted for only one year at a time, renewable annually, regardless of how long your own visa is valid for [1][2].
Step-by-Step: The Family Visa Application Process
Navigating the visa process can seem daunting, but breaking it down makes it manageable. Here’s a typical flow for sponsoring your family:
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Step 7: Residence Visa Stamping: Once the medical tests are cleared, security checks are passed, and all documents are approved, the residence visa sticker will be placed in your dependent's passport [5]. Congratulations, they are now official UAE residents!
Essential Documents for Family Sponsorship
Getting your paperwork right is crucial for a smooth application. While specific requirements can sometimes vary slightly, here’s a checklist of commonly needed documents:
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For sponsoring parents: Proof that you are their sole financial support and/or that they lack care back home [2].
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For sponsoring parents: Proof of the mandatory annual health insurance policy for each parent [2].
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For sponsoring stepchildren: A No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the biological parent and potentially proof of the required deposit [2].
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For sponsoring sons over 18 (up to 21 or potentially 25): Proof of current full-time study [4].
Visa Validity and Renewals
How long is the family visa valid for? Generally, a dependent's residence visa duration is linked to the sponsor's visa validity [5]. So, if you have a two-year work visa, your spouse's and children's visas will typically also be issued for two years [5]. The main exception is for sponsored parents; their visas are usually granted for only one year at a time and must be renewed annually, even if your visa is longer [1][2]. Remember to initiate the renewal process for all dependent visas before they expire to maintain their legal residency status.
Important Considerations & Final Tips
Bringing your family to Dubai is a major life step, and while the process is well-established, it requires careful attention to detail. Always ensure you meet all the eligibility criteria, especially the minimum salary and accommodation requirements, before starting the application [1][2]. The most crucial tip? Regulations can and do change. Always double-check the very latest requirements, procedures, and fees directly with the official government authorities – the GDRFA for Dubai or the ICP for other emirates – or consult their official websites before and during your application process [1][2]. This ensures you have the most current and accurate information.
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