How to Sponsor Your Family in the UAE: 2025 Complete Guide

The UAE has been a leading choice among expatriates who want to pursue their careers, development of their business and a high quality of life. The most used question among the residents is: How can I take my family to stay with me in the UAE? Being a professional with an employment visa, an investor or even a Golden Visa holder, it is necessary to be familiar with the 2025 rules on family sponsorship so that you can be able to smoothly sail the application process.

Who Can You Sponsor?

Being a resident of the UAE, you are able to sponsor your immediate family members in order to get a residence visa. These are your spouse, children and even your parents.

• Spouse: It is possible to sponsor your husband or wife with the help of an attested marriage certificate.

• Children:

  • Sons can be sponsored until they are 18, and the term can be extended up to 25 if they are students.

  • Sponsoring can take place regardless of age in case of unmarried daughters.

  • Children with special needs will mostly be eligible so long as supporting documentation is produced.

• Parents: Sponsoring parents is permitted but at a more costly income and documentation condition including evidence of appropriate accommodation and health insurance.

There are also those emirates where the stepchildren can be sponsored with a No Objection Certificate issued by the biological parent.

Income and Eligibility Requirements

In the year 2025, there were more comprehensible income-based requirements of family sponsorship. In order to sponsor your family to a residence visa, you have to meet minimum salary criteria:

• Most employees: AED 4,000 per month, or

• AED 3,000 per month with company-provided accommodation.

For parents, the monthly income is much higher, typically approximately AED 19,000–20,000, in addition to evidence of proper residence.

It is also significant that family members above 18 years must go through the UAE medical fitness test, which is an obligatory phase of all residence visas

Documents Needed in Family Sponsorship

The type of documents that you need to have changes with the kind of family members that you are sponsoring. Common documents include:

• Dependent passports and recent passport photographs.

• Certified marriage certificate (spouse sponsorship).

• Children’s birth certificates which are duly attested by the concerned authorities.

• Passport, residence visa, and the copy of Sponsor IDs of the Emirates.

• Salary certificate of the employer and tenancy contract or housing evidence.

• Health insurance coverage for all dependents.

• Medical fitness certificate for individuals aged over 18 years.

For parent sponsorship, one might have to provide evidence of dependency and a security deposit depending on the emirate.

Step-by-Step Process of Sponsorship

1. Check Eligibility: Make sure that your earnings, visa status, and accommodation are in line with the UAE requirements.

2. Organize Paperwork: Sign all the necessary certificates and gather the required documents.

3. Submit an Application: This is done through ICP (federal portal) or GDRFA (Dubai application).

4. Entry to the Family: Family members are allowed into the UAE with the entry permit.

5. Medical Tests and Emirates ID: Adults above the age of 18 are required to have medical checkups and obtain Emirates ID.

6. Stamp Residence Visa: Complete the stamping of visa in passports.

7. Renewal: The visas of residence usually have a period of 2–3 years and they need to be renewed on time.

Short-Term Visit Visas

In case a family comes to the UAE on a temporary basis, the visit visa can be issued based on income:

• Immediate family visits: AED 4,000/month of income.

• Extended family (including sisters or grandparents): AED 8,000/month.

• Friends or non-relatives: AED 15,000/month.

Visit visas must show evidence of relationship, passport validity, and a confirmed return ticket.

Suggested Recommendations to Help Prevent Delays

• Always observe emirate-specific rules, as there are slightly different processes in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other emirates.

• Apply within 60 days of the family’s arrival on the entry permit to avoid fines.

• Ensure that all documents are certified by UAE or home country authorities.

• Remember that if your work visa expires, the residence visa of your family can also be affected. There is a grace period within which to find alternative sponsorship.

Conclusion

In the year 2025, it has been easier to bring your family to the UAE with clear income and documentation requirements. Unless you are in a hurry, you can be guaranteed that your loved ones can join you in the UAE without problems and legally by preparing all the paperwork, paying the required salaries, and going through the step-by-step process.

It may be a long-term stay or a one-time trip, but awareness of the recent labor regulations on sponsorship will eliminate unwanted delays, fines, and visa denials.

Ready to Get Your UAE Family Visa?

Simplify the sponsorship process and apply with confidence. e-startup.ae helps you check eligibility, prepare documents, and secure your family visa quickly.