Employers and employees with valid UAE residence visas can sponsor residence visas for their families. Employees who make a minimum income of AED4,000 or AED3,000 plus accommodation, regardless of their work title, can sponsor their families.
All individuals who have reached the age of 18 are eligible to pass the medical fitness assessment.
Sponsorship requirements for visa
Expatriate residents can sponsor their families to live in the United Arab Emirates if they hold a valid visa or residency permit. The sponsor must have a minimum salary of AED4,000 or AED3,000 plus accommodation. Family members, both male and female, who are to be sponsored and who have reached the age of 18, must undergo and pass medical fitness examinations at authorised health facilities in the UAE.
Below are some key points:
- A mother can sponsor her children in special cases approved by the ICP.
- A resident sponsor has 60 days to apply for his dependents’ residence visa after they enter the UAE under an entry permit.
- A resident can sponsor his parents, and the residence visa will be granted on a yearly basis regardless of the duration of the sponsor’s visa.
- The type of profession is no longer a condition for an expatriate worker to be able to sponsor his family visas.
- Medically unfit people will not be granted a residence visa.
- Residents who are detected with dormant or inactive pulmonary tuberculosis are also considered medically fit and are granted a one-year ‘Health Fitness Certificate for Residence’ subject to treatment and follow-up by the respective health authority.
Sponsoring family visa to your wife and children
If an expatriate resident meets the sponsorship requirements, he can sponsor his wife and children’s UAE residence visas. The expatriate resident must provide an authenticated marriage certificate in Arabic or one that has been properly translated into Arabic by an authorised translator in order to verify that they are married in order to sponsor the wife.
Sponsoring two wives: If a Muslim resident fulfils certain criteria specified by ICP, he may be permitted to sponsor two spouses in critical situations.
Sponsoring daughters: An expatriate resident can sponsor his daughter or daughters only if they are not married, with no restrictions with regard to their age limit.
Sponsoring sons: A male or female resident can sponsor his or her son (s) until he is 25. Sons of determination (those with special needs) can be sponsored with no restrictions with regard to the age limit.
Sponsoring newborns: In order to avoid fines, newborns born in the United Arab Emirates must apply for a residency visa within 120 days of their birth.
Sponsoring stepchildren: The GDRFA’s requirements include a deposit for each child and a formal no-objection certificate from the biological parent. These requirements must be met before an expatriate resident can sponsor his stepchildren. Their residency permits are valid for a year and are then renewed every year.
Documents required to sponsor wife and children
Here are the list of documents that are required to sponsor the UAE residence visa for wife and children:
- Application form – either online or through a registered typing office
- Passport copies of the wife and children
- Photos of the wife and children
- Medical clearance certificate of the wife and children above 18 years
- Copy of the husband’s employment contract or company contract
- Salary certificate from the employer stating the husband’s monthly salary
- Attested marriage certificate
- Registered tenancy contract
Cancellation
The sponsoring family member’s residence permit is connected to the family’s residence permits. The dependents’ visas get terminated in the event that the sponsoring family member’s visa is revoked. Dependents have six months from the date of visa cancellation or expiration to apply for a new residency permit. The sponsor may be required to pay a fee if he fails to revoke or renew his dependents’ visas.
Sponsoring visa to your parents
An expatriate employee can sponsor visa for his parents for a year as long as they meet the requirements. These requirements are set out by the immigration department. Also, he needs to make a deposit as a guarantee for each parent. An expatriate employee cannot sponsor only one of his parents. He needs to sponsor both parents together.
Relevant governmental documentation would be required as grounds to sponsor just one parent in the event of a secone parent’s death or divorce. The employed expatriate resident must get a medical insurance policy for the parents with the minimum coverage required for each. This needs to be renewed annually, and make the required minimum wage in order to sponsor the parents.
Residence visa for a UAE citizen spouse parent and child
Spouses, parents or children of UAE citizens with foreign passports are eligible to apply for a five-year residence visa without needing to work in the country. The sponsor in this case will be the UAE national. It is not necessary for a foreign widow or divorced woman who is a mother of a UAE citizen to work in the country in order to obtain a residence visa. The oldest child in this scenario will act as the sponsor.
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