How To Apply For UAE Family Residence Visa?

Web Desk — If you have just started a new job or business in the UAE, here’s how you can apply for your family resident visa.

An expatriate resident, having a valid residence permit or visa, can sponsor his/her family’s residence permit or visa. You can start the application process for your family’s visa once your residence visa is in place – whether it was sponsored by your company or if you applied for a self-sponsored visa.

It is important to remember that the cost of a residence visa is borne by the sponsor of the visa. A resident sponsor has 60 days to apply for his/her dependents’ residence visa after they enter the UAE under an entry permit.

Eligibility Criteria

You must have a minimum salary of Dh4,000 or Dh3,000 plus accommodation to sponsor your spouse and children.

The salary and document requirements are different when it comes to sponsoring your parents, siblings, or step-children. You need to reach out to the emirate’s immigration department to make sure you fulfill all the eligibility criteria to apply for these family members’ visas.

Step 1: Get Your Documents In Order

The documents you need to sponsor spouse and children are:

. Application form – either online or through a registered typing office.

. Passport copies of the spouse and children.

. Photos of the spouse and children.

. Copy of the sponsor’s employment contract or company contract.

. Salary certificate from the employer stating the sponsor’s monthly salary.

. Attested marriage certificate in Arabic or duly translated into Arabic by a certified translator.

. Registered tenancy contract.

Step 2: Visit an Amer or typing center

Amer centers in Dubai and typing centers are located across UAE to take visa applications. Make sure you have all the relevant documents when you visit the center.

As an alternative, you can also apply for your family’s visa online, through the following online channels:

. ICP website – icp.gov.ae

. GDRFA-D website – gdrfad.gov.ae

. ‘DubaiNow’ app, for Apple and Android devices

. ‘ICP UAE’ app, available for Android and Apple devices

Step 3: Apply for their medical fitness test

All family members above the age of 18 need to pass a medical fitness test at approved health centers.

At the time of applying for the family visa, you will be asked for the location of your choice for the medical fitness test center. At the medical center, you will be required to fill up the application form given to you.

Step 4: Received the Emirates ID

Finally, you will need to either collect you Emirates ID from and Emirates Post office near you, or request for it to be delivered to you via courier service.

Cost of Visa

The visa cost may vary slightly depending on the service charges levied by the service center that you apply through. However, this is an estimated cost breakdown for the residence visa:

Entry permit: Dh550

File opening charges: Dh300

Emirates ID cost (for two years) – Dh385

Medical fitness test: Dh320

Visa stamping: Dh580

If your family is currently inside the UAE, you would need to pay an additional Dh750 for visa status change.