A family (sponsored) visa lets a UAE resident bring a spouse, children and, in some cases, parents. This article covers who can sponsor, the income and housing requirements, the cost of AED 3,000–5,000 per person, the full set of documents and the step-by-step procedure. We also look at age limits for children and health insurance for the whole family.
Preparing the documents (legalisation, MOFA, translations) is covered in a separate guide.
All prices are in dirhams (AED), according to Russian-speaking expat chats, January–July 2026.
Residence visa, Emirates ID and visa procedures, with specialists on the ground in Dubai and payment in stages.
Learn about our supportWho can sponsor a family
Any resident with a valid residence visa can sponsor a family visa in the UAE. The visa type does not matter: an employment visa through an employer, a free zone visa through your own company or a Golden Visa all give the right to sponsor. More on all routes to residence in our UAE residence guide.
Who can be sponsored:
- A spouse, with a marriage certificate (legalised and translated)
- Sons, up to 25
- Unmarried daughters, with no age limit
- Parents, a separate procedure with additional income requirements
- Children with special needs: u.ae does not state an age limit
Traditionally, family visas in the UAE were sponsored by men. Today a female resident can also sponsor a husband and children, but the procedure may require additional documents depending on the emirate.
You do not have to wait for the plastic Emirates ID to apply for a family visa. In residents' experience, a copy of the application for it is enough, so the processes can run in parallel.
Requirements for the sponsor: income, housing, insurance
To sponsor a family visa, the sponsor must meet three conditions: a minimum income, suitable housing and valid health insurance for each family member.
Minimum income
The minimum salary for sponsoring a family is AED 4,000 a month (or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided housing). The threshold is stated on the official u.ae portal. Check the conditions for sponsoring parents with the GDRFA.
For sponsors through a free zone (company owners), income is confirmed by a salary certificate issued by your own company. You set the salary yourself, but it must be no lower than the threshold and must match your bank statements.
Housing
The sponsor must have separate housing suitable for a family. A room or a bed space will not do: you need at least a studio or a one-bedroom flat with a tenancy contract (Ejari). For a family with children, a flat with one or two bedrooms is almost always required.
According to chats, the minimum rental budget for a family is AED 8,000–12,000 a month. More on areas and prices in our guide to renting in the UAE.
The tenancy contract must be registered in Ejari (in Dubai) or a similar system in other emirates. In applicants' experience, family visa documents are not accepted without registration.
Health insurance
Health insurance is mandatory for each family member. The basic free zone insurance the sponsor gets does not cover family members; it has to be arranged separately.
Prices according to Russian-speaking expat chats, January–July 2026.
The basic insurance included in the visa package covers very little. According to residents, "from the company you'll get the basic minimum that won't even cover a blood test". To compare policies, use the policybazaar.ae comparison site.
Healthcare in the UAE is genuinely expensive: without insurance, a doctor's visit costs AED 200–500. For a family with children, extended insurance is not a luxury but a necessity.
Cost: AED 3,000–5,000 per person
A family (sponsored) visa costs AED 3,000–5,000 per family member. This includes government fees, the medical test (Medical Fitness Test) and the Emirates ID.
Additional costs:
- Translation of documents into Arabic (licensed translator): AED 100–150 per document
- Consular legalisation and MOFA attestation of the marriage certificate and the children's birth certificates
- Health insurance for each person (see above)
It is best to check government fees yourself on the official gov.ae portal. Intermediaries often inflate the cost.
Documents for a family visa
From the sponsor:
- Passport copy
- Residence visa copy
- Emirates ID (or a copy of the application for it)
- Salary certificate or a bank statement confirming income
- Tenancy contract (Ejari)
For the spouse:
- Original passport (valid for at least 6 months)
- Marriage certificate, legalised (consular legalisation and MOFA attestation; an apostille does not work) and translated into Arabic or English by a licensed translator
- Passport-size photos
- Medical test results (taken in the UAE)
- Health insurance
For each child:
- The child's original passport
- Birth certificate, legalised and translated
- Passport-size photos
- Medical test results (from age 18)
- Health insurance
In residents' experience, the legalisation requirements differ for the visa and for the school.
"Legalising only the birth certificate is needed for the visa itself. Just ask the school"
— "do I understand correctly that full legalisation isn't needed and a Google translation is enough?" — UAE resident, 2026
Step-by-step procedure
- Collect the documents: marriage and birth certificates with consular legalisation and translation. Best done before the family arrives in the UAE
- File the application through an Amer centre, the GDRFA or a typing centre. Online filing is possible through the ICA portal (icp.gov.ae)
- Get an entry permit: permission to enter for family members who are not yet in the country. In applicants' experience, it is usually valid for 60 days
- The family enters the UAE on the entry permit
- Medical test (Medical Fitness Test) for family members over 18, at accredited medical centres
- Visa stamping: the residence visa is placed in the passport or issued electronically
- Emirates ID for each family member. In applicants' experience, the plastic card arrives in 1–3 weeks
In applicants' experience, the whole process from application to Emirates ID takes 2–4 weeks with a correct set of documents. Delays are most often caused by an incomplete set or errors in the documents.
An Amer centre is a government service centre, not a visa agent. Services are paid at fixed rates. If an intermediary offers to "speed up the process" for an extra fee, check the rates on gov.ae.
Children: age limits and schools
Age limits for sponsorship
- Sons, up to 25
- Unmarried daughters, with no age limit
- Children with special needs can be sponsored (u.ae lists them separately and does not state an age limit); sons over 25 need their own visa
Schools: what to know
Schools are one of the main expenses for families in the UAE. Fees start at USD 5,000 a year and reach USD 15,000–25,000 a year for good international schools.
Key points from the experience of Russian-speaking families:
- English is a must. For secondary school, you need a level that allows you to write essays and give detailed answers
- Choose the area by the school, not the other way round. Dubai is a car city, and the daily school run eats time and money
- Documents for the school: a translation is enough. Full legalisation is needed only for the birth certificate (for the visa)
- There are few Russian-language schools, and opinions on their quality are mixed
Health insurance for the family: what to watch
Health insurance is mandatory for each family member when applying for the visa. Without a valid policy, the documents are not accepted.
- Basic insurance covers only the sponsor. The family must be insured separately
- A minimum policy covers emergency care and hospitalisation, but not dentistry, check-ups and most tests
- An extended policy for a family of 3–4 costs AED 15,000–25,000 a year
- Pregnancy and childbirth are not covered by all policies; check when choosing
To compare policies: policybazaar.ae. When choosing, look at the copay (co-payment percentage), the clinic network and the coverage limits.
If you plan to move your family to the UAE and want to work out the requirements for your specific situation, book a consultation. We will help collect the documents, estimate the budget and choose the best route.
Learn about our supportChoosing the visa route, documents, application and Emirates ID, end to end, with specialists on the ground and payment in stages.
Learn about our supportFrequently asked questions
Yes. A female resident can sponsor a husband and children. The procedure is similar, but additional documents may be required depending on the emirate.
Approximately: AED 9,000–15,000 for visas (3 people at AED 3,000–5,000 each), plus AED 15,000–25,000 a year for health insurance, plus legalisation and translation of documents (AED 500–1,000). One-off total: AED 25,000–40,000. A family's monthly expenses start at AED 17,000.
The Medical Fitness Test is mandatory for family members aged 18 and over (according to u.ae); children under 18 do not need it. The test is done at accredited UAE medical centres and includes a blood test and a chest X-ray.
Yes, but in applicants' experience the requirements are higher: a confirmed high income, a two-bedroom flat and extended health insurance; a parents' visa is usually issued for 1 year with the option to renew. The official u.ae portal does not publish the conditions for ordinary residents; check with the GDRFA. Golden Visa holders can sponsor their parents (according to the ICP).
When the sponsor's visa is cancelled, the family members' visas are cancelled too. According to u.ae, dependants get a 6-month grace period from the date the visa is cancelled or expires to find a new sponsor or leave. For families of Golden Visa holders, the ICP states that if the sponsor dies, family members can stay in the UAE until their permits expire.