How to Get UAE Residence Visa for Your Family 2026
UAE free zone company investors can sponsor their spouse, children, and household staff for UAE residence visas. This guide covers the complete process for family sponsorship, income requirements, documents needed, and key rules for 2026.
In this guide:
Who Can Be Sponsored?
- Spouse (husband or wife) — regardless of nationality
- Children: sons up to age 18 (or up to 23 if university students); daughters regardless of age (as long as unmarried)
- Children with special needs: no age limit
- Parents: separate process, not sponsored under standard family visa
- Domestic workers: separate household employment visa process
Income Requirement for Family Sponsorship
UAE requires the sponsor (investor or employee) to meet a minimum income threshold to sponsor family:
- General family visa: minimum monthly income AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 + accommodation provided)
- This applies to employees; for investors (company owners), income is demonstrated via company salary or bank statements
- Dubai specifically: minimum AED 4,000 per month for spouse and children sponsorship
Documents Required for Family Sponsorship
- Sponsor’s UAE residence visa and Emirates ID
- Sponsor’s trade licence (for investor sponsors)
- Marriage certificate (for spouse) — attested by UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Birth certificates (for children) — attested by UAE MOFA
- Spouse/children’s passports (6+ months validity)
- Passport-size photographs
- Medical insurance for each sponsored family member (mandatory in Dubai and Abu Dhabi)
Document Attestation Process
Foreign marriage and birth certificates must be authenticated before UAE immigration will accept them:
- Notarisation in home country (by local notary/authority)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation in home country
- UAE Embassy attestation (in home country)
- UAE MOFA attestation (in UAE — once documents are in UAE)
- Alternative: Apostille (for countries in the Hague Convention — simpler process)
Process Timeline
- Document attestation: 2–6 weeks (varies by country)
- Entry permit for spouse/child: 1 week
- Medical fitness test: same day to 3 days
- Residence visa stamping: 1 week
- Emirates ID: 2–4 weeks
- Total from starting attestation: 4–10 weeks
Cost of Family Visa in UAE 2026
- Entry permit: AED 400–700 per person
- Medical fitness: AED 250–500 per person
- Emirates ID: AED 370 per person
- Residence visa: AED 200–400 per person
- Medical insurance: AED 600–2,000 per person per year
- Total year 1 per family member: AED 2,000–4,500