As one of the cities that boasts of a great economy and a state-of-the-art infrastructure, Dubai attracts thousands of expatriates every year, who come to the city in search of better living and employment. To such expats, being able to bring their loved ones with them is one thing that can be considered as highly significant in settling down in the UAE. This is where the family visa in Dubai comes in which is a vital residency permit that enables the expatriates to sponsor their spouse, children and parents to stay with them in the Emirates.
The Dubai government has made significant strides in recent years to streamline the family visa process into making it more affordable and efficient. The 2025 updates have also brought simplified digital processes, quicker approval processes, and less strict rules to eligibility — rejoining a loved one than ever. Knowing the procedure step by step to apply to a family visa in Dubai will give you the assurance that you do not face any hassles of missing out any legal aspect of your visa application and therefore your family will be brought to the UAE on time. This guide is a complete guide into all you should know that includes eligibility and documentation, introduction of online application, visa stamping, and renewing so as to move your family to Dubai without any complications and in a stress-free manner.
What Is a Family Visa in Dubai?
A family visa in Dubai is a residency visa wherein an expatriate resident has the chance to sponsor his close relatives to reside with him or her in UAE. It is not a visit visa that is temporary and usually takes 30-90 days. Family residency visa, however, allows the dependent a right to live in Dubai, study and work under certain conditions.
The advantages of family residence visa in Dubai are:
- Dependents as legal residents.
- Availability of health and educational amenities.
- Facility to open bank accounts and acquire local IDs.
- Eligibility to Emirates ID and health insurance.
- Feeling of stability and security in the family in the long run.
Who is eligible to apply family visa in Dubai?
The sponsor should be a resident expatriate with a valid residence visa in order to be eligible to apply a family visa in Dubai. The sponsor may either be working in the private sector, the government sector or a free zone company or can be self-employed with certain provisions.
Eligibility Requirements (2025 Changes):
- Minimum Salary Requirement: The sponsor should have a minimum of AED 4,000 per month or AED 3,000 + accommodation as part of an employer.
- Gender Neutral Sponsorship: Men and women will also have an option to sponsor their families provided they meet the salary and accommodation requirements.
- Profession Irrelevance (2025 Rule): This profession of the sponsor does not have an impact on eligibility anymore, which is a significant change of the previous years.
- Free Zone Employees: They are allowed to make applications via their respective free zone authorities or the GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs).
Who Can Be Sponsored under a family visa?
The following dependents can be sponsored through a family visa in Dubai:
- Spouse: Husband or wife who is married legally (attested marriage certificate is obligatory).
- Children: Sons (to 25 years) and daughters (no age limit), not married.
- Parents: With more income and housing qualifications.
- Stepchildren: In possession of proper custody papers and NOC of the biological parent.
- Special Cases: Cases of humanitarian or exceptional approval may also apply to divorced women, widows and dependent siblings.
The main conditions to sponsor family visa in Dubai
In order to be able to sponsor the family members, a few conditions and documents have to be met:
- Salary Requirements: AED 4000 or AED 3000 with accommodation.
- Accommodation Proof: Registered valid Ejari or tenancy contract under the name of the sponsor.
- Medical Insurance: This is obligatory to all dependants.
- Emirates ID Prerequisite: This is a prerequisite needed when stamping the visas.
- Marriage and Birth Certificates: Marriage and birth certificates must be attested by the UAE Embassy in their home country and MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in the UAE.
- All the foreign-issued certificates must be translated to Arabic and attested by the legal authorities.
The documents that are needed in the application of a family visa
The Dubai family visa application can be summed as below:
- Copies of passports (sponsor + dependents, valid within at least 6 months)
- Recent passport size photographs (white background)
- Emirates ID and residence visa copy of the sponsor.
- Salary certificate or work contract.
- Certified marriage and birth certificates.
- Ejari tenancy contract or accommodation proof.
- Medical test results (dependents older than 18)
- Health insurance policy
- Application form of entry permit (online or through Amer centers)
- When using online applications, make sure all scanned documents are in clear formats and uploaded as PDF or JPG.
The procedure of applying to receive a family visa in Dubai
Step 1: Prepare the necessary papers
Gather all the aforementioned documents and make sure that each one of them is attested and valid.
Step 2: Apply for Entry Permit
Request an entry permit on the GDRFA web site, GDRFA app or Amer typing centre. This is a permit that enables family members to access the UAE.
Step 3: Conduct Medical Test
Dependents aged above 18 are required to undergo medical fitness test at licensed medical centers.
Step 4: Apply for Emirates ID
Apply to an Emirates ID at ICP Smart Services or Amer center.
Step 5: Visa Stamping
Have passport stamped with residence visa, upon receiving medical and ID approvals.
Step 6: Residency Activation
After that, having a stamp, the dependent officially becomes a UAE resident and the records may be modified in the GDRFA system.
Application of Family Visa in Dubai Online
Dubai has not only completed family visa application digitally, but it is also in 2025.
Steps:
- Go to the portal or Amer service center of GDRFA.
- Complete the details of the sponsor and dependent.
- Upload scanned documents.
- Make the respective fees online.
- Get entry permit by electronic means.
- Follow it online till approved.
Health and Medical Test and Insurance Requirements
- Those over the age of 18 years will be required to have a medical fitness test, which will be used to screen communicable diseases such as HIV, TB, and Hepatitis B.
- Approved centers: Government and private clinics with the permission of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
- Health Insurance: This is obligatory to all the family members prior to the issuance of the visa. The dependents may be included under
the corporate or individual insurance plan of sponsor.
The Process Explained of the Entry Permit and Visa Stamping Process
The dependent is permitted to legally enter UAE before the residence visa is given through the entry permit. Upon entry, the conversion of the entry permit to residence visa has to be done within a period of 60 days.
The stamping of the visa involves:
- Document filing and passport delivery.
- Emirates ID application and medical test.
- Paying visa fees.
- Getting the stamped passport with 1-, 2- or 3-years residence visa.
Family Visa Duration, Validity and Renewal
The length of family visa is usually 1, 2 or 3 years, based on the validity of the visa of the sponsor.
Renewal process:
- Institute renewal prior to expiry through GDRFA or Amer centers.
- Refresh medical test and health insurance.
- Renew your payment and provide documents.
- The expiry has a 30 day grace period. Late renewals attract fines.
Rules of Family Visas of Women and Special Cases (2025 Update)
With the update of 2025, women have an opportunity to sponsor their relatives in case they fulfill particular criteria:
- Minimum Salary: AED 10,000 or AED 8,000 and accommodation.
- Should be a valid UAE residence visa holder and employee.
- Under special provision, divorced women and widows can still sponsor their children.
- Daughters who are not married are allowed to stay in the family visa irrespective of age.
- Parents wishing to visit their children in Dubai should be sponsored, which costs AED 2800.
To sponsor parents, one will have to satisfy further requirements:
- Minimum salary: AED 20,000.
- Two-bedroom accommodation evidence.
- Good medical cover of both parents.
- Verified evidence of connection and a declaration that no other individual can be able to take care of them.
- This has to be renewed on a yearly basis.
Usually, Typical Reasons why Family Visa Applications are Rejected
These are the pitfalls to avoid rejection:
- Lack of documentation or bad documentation.
- Poor pay or uncertified tenancy agreement.
- The certificates that are not attested by the authorities of the UAE.
- Online application mismatched information.
- After fixing the problems by means of the Amer service centers, you are able to reapply or appeal.
Family Visa status Check Online in Dubai
Visa progress can be tracked by:
- GDRFA website or app
- Amer centers
- ICP Smart Services portal
Statuses of application like under process, approved or rejected reveal where it is. Certain problems may be addressed by paying a visit to one of the Amer branches.
Renewal and Transfer of family visa
In case the sponsor changes his/her job or employer the visa can be renewed, but it should be re-registered:
- Renew before expiry.
- Send new employment documentation.
- Update certificate of tenancy and salary.
- The family visas may also be handed over to a new sponsor (say a spouse) after the approval of GDRFA.
Knowing Family Visa Grace Period and Cancellation Rules
Dependents are given a 30 days grace period after expiration of visa to renew or leave the country.
Any overstaying after this is followed by fines. All the dependent visas should be cancelled and reusing GDRFA or Amer services before the sponsor permanently moves out of the UAE.
FAQs:
Q1. What is family visa and how does it operate in Dubai?
The family visa allows the residents to sponsor dependents to long-term stay in Dubai according to the UAE residency laws.
Q2. Can a woman patronize her husband and kids?
Yes, in case she complies with the income and accommodation requirements established by UAE officials.
Q3. How much is family sponsorship in Dubai?
AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 with housing available at the company.
Q4. Are siblings or parents eligible to get sponsored?
Higher salary and housing demands can be sponsored to the parents; only in special approval, siblings.
Q5. What is the average time of family visa in 2025?
Typically 2-4 weeks subject to documentation and approvals.
Guidelines of a Smooth Family Visa Application
- Always make sure that there are certificates that are attested and translated.
- Check personal information two times.
- Keep Emirates ID and Ejari current.
- Renew on time to avoid fines.
- Keep a duplicate of every receipt and approval.
Conclusion:
The changes in the policies and digital transformation of the government have made it easier to apply a family visa in Dubai in 2025. The online procedure which is facilitated by GDRFA or Amer is done in stages and involves bringing the families of the expatriates and establishing them in a comfortable environment.
Expatriates can secure a stable life of their loved ones in Dubai by observing the proper protocols, ensuring that they keep proper records, and keeping abreast of the current UAE visa policies. The Dubai family visa system in 2025 will also form the background of the lives of most locals as family reunification not only enhances households, but the social structure of the diverse expatriate population of Dubai.
Comments are closed