How to Apply for a Family Visa in Dubai

Every year, thousands of people immigrate to UAE, whether it is for job hunt or for starting their dream business. The nation, known for its strong legal framework and flourishing economic system, welcomes foreigners as its own. You can find all the comforts of life in the UAE, but one thing missing that can make your experience feel a bit less fulfilling is not having your family by your side. Therefore, the nation’s government provides Family visa UAE to the expats so that they can enjoy living their best life here with their dear ones.

Let’s have a look on the essentials of getting the family visa UAE along with its types, application process and costs involved.

Meaning of a UAE family visa

Also known as dependent visa, a family visa UAE is a particular type of residence visa that a UAE resident can get for his family members. Through this visa, your spouse, children, parents can come and live in UAE with you for a specific period of time. 

You just need to be a UAE residence visa holder yourself to sponsor residency of your family members. Also, the sponsor should be having a minimum salary of AED 4,000* or AED 3,000* plus accommodation. 

Types of UAE family visa

UAE government allows you to sponsor residency of your dependents and the process is less complicated for males than for females. As female UAE resident, you may have to fulfil more legal requirements to be able to get family visa for your dependents.

The type of family visa UAE you need depends on who you are sponsoring:

For sons: You can sponsor your son only until he is 25 years old. If he is a special child, then there is no age restriction.

For daughters: Daughters can be sponsored only if they are unmarried and there is no restriction on age.

For wife: The expatriate resident must prove his marital status by providing an attested marriage certificate in Arabic or duly attested into Arabic by certified translator. For sponsoring two wives, a Muslim resident must meet certain terms and conditions.

For newborn: You must apply for residence visa of babies born in UAE within 120 days of its birth.

For step children: For sponsoring step children, sponsor must meet GDRFA’s conditions. A deposit for each child and written NOC from biological parent is needed. Their residence visa will be valid for one year, renewable on annual basis.

For parents: For sponsoring parents, the expatriate needs to follow some rules. For example, both parents must be sponsored, one alone cannot be sponsored. Salary requirement to be eligible for sponsoring parents can be around AED 20,000*. Deposit and medical insurance for each parent will be needed. If one of them is deceased, supporting documents may be needed for sponsoring the other parent alone.

Process for obtaining a family visa UAE

Here is the procedure for getting a family visa for your dependents in UAE:

Get the paperwork ready: 

Both the documents related to the sponsor and the family member must be kept ready for smooth application process.

Apply for entry permit: 

For the family members to enter the UAE, an entry permit is needed. You can apply for the same through the GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs) or ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and port Security) website/app. You can also visit the authorized typing center/Amer center in the UAE.

Apply for the residence visa: 

Once the family member has entered the UAE, you can start their residence visa application process. This can be done through making an application with the GDRFA.

Medical assessment of dependents:

The family members who are above 18 years must pass medical examinations to be eligible for residence visa. The assessment is carried out at government approved health centers.

Background check:

To make sure that dependent has no criminal background, a thorough background assessment is also conducted.

Obtaining Emirates ID:

Application for Emirates ID must be made through designated channels. Emirates ID works as an identity card for those seeking residency in UAE.

Obtaining health-insurance:

As per the rules, dependents must also have valid insurance policy.

Issuance of family visa:

Once all above steps are completed, the application will be reviewed and once approved, the family visa in Dubai will be successfully issued. Your dependent can start living in UAE by your side!

Cost of family visa in UAE

The range for UAE family visa cost is AED 3,000* to AED 7,000*. Please note that the cost depends on lot of factors such as the type of family visa UAE you are applying for. The family visa cost in UAE typically involves the following:

Entry permit cost: AED 1,175* (inside UAE) and AED 580* (outside UAE)

Status change fees: AED 675*

Medical test fees: AED 380*

Emirates ID fees: AED 390*

Visa stamping charges: AED 510*

For more details, get in touch with the professional consultants.

Documentation for getting a family visa in Dubai

Here is what you will need for getting a family visa UAE:

For dependents:

Filled application form

Passport copy

Medical clearance certificate

Medical insurance

Birth certificate of sponsored child 

For sponsors:

Passport copy

Employment/company contract

Salary certificate/bank statements

Attested marriage certificate (in case sponsoring wife)

Proof of accommodation

Latest DEWA (utility) bill

Please note that there may be additional documents that may be asked for by the authorities. For more details, it is recommended to contact the experts.

Do family visas in UAE need to be renewed?

Yes, family visas also need to be renewed in timely manner to stay legally complaint and to avoid penalties. Also, at the time of renewing family visa, the Emirates ID also needs to be renewed. The application for renewal of family visa can be made with the GDRFA. Here is the UAE family visa renewal cost:

Issuance fees: AED 100*

Application fees: AED 100*

Service fees: AED 150* (when applying through ICP), AED 200 (when applying through GDRFA)

Conclusion

When applying for any kind of visa in UAE, you must be careful with the paperwork and legal requirements. When you meet all the legal necessities, the application process becomes smooth and error free. 

Dubiz Business Setup can be your trusted partner for all visa and PRO related services in Dubai. They are experts in UAE company formation and have helped many entrepreneurs and businesses secure their visas hassle free. Form securing the entry permits to documentation and approvals, they can handle everything on your behalf. If you are looking for reliable business setup expert in Dubai and UAE, Dubiz is your go to partner. Book a consultation with them today!