How to Get a Dubai Family Visa – All the Details

Expatriates in the UAE including Dubai often come to the country leaving their family behind. But, if they wish to bring their family, they can, provided they meet certain criteria. Here is everything you need to know about getting a Dubai family visa.

Eligibility

To be eligible to sponsor a family visa, one must have a valid resident visa stamped on their passport along with a valid Emirates ID. Male expatriate who holds a valid Dubai residence permit can sponsor their wife and children provided they receive a minimum salary of AED 4,000 or 3,000 per month and are living at least in a one-bedroom accommodation. The family members can avail a 1 year, 2 year or 3-year visa depending on their sponsor’s visa status and can renew further. 

Certain points to remember are:

• If a female expat wishes to sponsor her husband and children, she must be an engineer, teacher, nurse, doctor or holds any other job in the medical sector. Additionally, she should earn at least AED 8000 or 10,000 and can afford an independent accommodation. She should also be willing to submit any additional documents if the authorities request her to.
• If an expat wishes to sponsor their parents, they need to deposit a certain amount as guarantee and must provide valid proof that the parents do not have any means of care at their native. They should earn a minimum salary of 19,000 or 20,000 AED and could afford a two-bedroom accommodation and must avail an annual medical insurance policy for both the parents.
• A Muslim expat can sponsor two wives provided they fulfil the necessary terms and conditions laid out by the GDRFA.
• Single mothers can sponsor their children by keeping a deposit for each child and by submitting a written no objection certificate from the other biological parent.
• To sponsor stepchildren, a written NOC from the biological parent is mandatory, along with monetary deposit for each child.
• Expatriates can sponsor daughters until she is married.
• Sons of expats can be sponsored only until the age of 18. If they pursue education in the UAE or abroad after 18, they can be sponsored until 21.

Applying for Family Visa

1. When the family is outside the country

 

To bring your family to Dubai, you need to first apply for an entry permit. This can be done at:

• The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – GDRFA
• Amer Centre
• The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship
• The ICA’s eChanel portal
• UAEICP mobile apps for Apple and Android

The visa process includes submission of the following:

• Opening file
• Coloured copy of passport of each member
• Original photo
• Birth certificate/Marriage certificate
• Salary certificate/Labour contract of the sponsor
• Ejaari or tenancy contract of the sponsor
• Original Emirates ID of sponsor

 

1. When the family is in the country

Before getting the Dubai family visa, you can bring your family to the country with a visit visa. Once they are in the country, you can apply for the family visa with the following:

• Opening file
• Original passport
• Visit visa copy
• Original photo softcopy
• Birth certificate/Marriage certificate
• Salary certificate/Labour contract of the sponsor
• Ejaari or tenancy contract of the sponsor
• Original Emirates ID of sponsor

Application Process

1. File Opening

With all the necessary documents in place, you need to open a new file in the immigration system.

1. Entry Permit

Next, you need to avail the entry permit based on the location of your family.

1. Change Status

If your family is already in Dubai, you need to apply for changing their visa status.

1. Medical Examination

Anyone above the age of 18 must go through a medical examination which can be done at any Dubai Health Authority and Ministry of Health & Prevention approved medical center in Dubai.

1. Emirates ID

You can avail Emirates ID for each member at this point by applying online on FAIC website.

1. Medical Insurance

Every visa holder in the UAE must have a medical insurance approved by the DHA and this must be obtained next.

1. Stamping

With all these processes in place, the family visa will finally be stamped.

Where to Get the Family Visa?

The entire family visa process is done by the UAE Government. However, you can contact us, the Al Nahda Center, where every Government entity is available including Amer, DHA and FAIC. Our staff, with their experience and expertise will ensure that your Dubai Family Visa process is a cake walk. Come to us with all the valid and relevant documents and we will take care of the rest.