UAE Government Portal Guide: Residence Visa for Families of Employees (sponsorship rules and thresholds)

Official Guide of 2026 · UAE Federal · in force

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Residence visa for families of employees | The Official Portal of the UAE Government

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Sponsorship requirements Residence visa for a UAE citizen's spouse, parent and child

Sponsorship requirements

Expatriate residents may bring in his/her spouse, unmarried daughters, sons under 25 years old, and children with special needs. Holders of the Green visa are also entitled to sponsor first-degree relatives.

The sponsor must have a minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.

Male and female family members who are to be sponsored and who have completed the age of 18 need to undergo and pass medical fitness tests at approved health centres (PDF, 1 MB) in the UAE.

Source: ICP

The conditions are subject to change from time to time. Kindly check with Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) or GDRFA .

Locate government medical fitness centres of:

Disease Prevention and Screening Center - Abu Dhabi

Dubai Health Authority

Emirates Health Services

Useful links:

Health conditions for a UAE residence visa - UAE Government portal

Resolution No. 5 of 2016 amending provisions of the Cabinet Decree No. 7 of 2008

Cancellation

The family's residence permits are linked to the residence permit of the sponsoring family member. If the sponsoring family member's visa is cancelled, it requires cancellation of the visas of the dependents.

Dependents are granted a 6-month grace period from the date of expiry or cancellation of their visas to obtain a new residence permit. If the sponsor fails to renew or cancel the visa of his dependents, he could be liable to pay a fine.

Residence visa for a UAE citizen's spouse, parent and child

A UAE citizen’s spouse, parent or child, who holds a foreign passport, can get a UAE residence visa for 5 years without having to work in the UAE. In this case, the sponsor shall be the UAE citizen.

A foreign widow or divorced woman, who is a mother of a UAE citizen, can get a residence visa without having to work in the UAE. In this case, the sponsor shall be the oldest child.

Source: The Executive Regulation of the Law No. 29 of 2021 on Entry and Residence of Foreigners (PDF, 500 KB).

§Passage 2

Read about visit visa for a relative or friend .

Updated On :

28 Sep 2026

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← Record: Family Residence Visa Guide (u.ae)
Text reproduced from the official publication for reference. Formatting, numbering and footnotes may differ from the original and the official text prevails. Arabic is the authoritative language of UAE federal and emirate legislation. Cross-reference links are generated automatically and cover only instruments held in this library.