Sponsoring Your Family in the UAE: Salary, Housing and Costs for Spouses, Children and Parents
Who a UAE resident can sponsor, the salary and housing tests, Dubai's rules for parents and older sons, fees, medical tests, insurance and visit visas for relatives.
Last reviewed 27 October 2026 · 11 min read
In short
A foreign resident of the UAE can sponsor a spouse, sons under 25, unmarried daughters and children with special needs, if the sponsor earns at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus housing provided by the employer, and has adequate housing for the family. Family permits cannot outlast the sponsor's own permit, and family members aged 18 or over must pass a medical fitness test. In Dubai, parents who meet GDRFA Dubai's dependency condition can be sponsored on a one-year renewable permit decided case by case by a committee: as of October 2026, GDRFA asks for a salary of at least AED 10,000, an attested tenancy contract, three months of bank statements and, once the committee approves, a guarantee of AED 5,000 per request, capped at AED 15,000. Golden Residence holders can sponsor children of any age and their parents, and Green Residence holders can also sponsor first-degree relatives.
Who can you sponsor, and what salary do you need?
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) sets the federal conditions, which the UAE Government portal (u.ae) repeats. The General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai publishes its own pages for Dubai, so this guide says which authority each point comes from. The portal notes that the conditions are subject to change from time to time.
Both employees and employers with a valid UAE residence visa can sponsor their families, and employees can do so whatever their job title if they meet the salary test. Under ICP's conditions, the sponsor must:
- hold a valid UAE residence permit
- show a monthly income of at least AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus housing provided by the employer
- provide adequate housing for the family, in proportion to the property's capacity, whether owned or rented
- prove the relationship, with an attested marriage contract and the children's birth certificates
- provide valid health insurance and an employment certificate showing the family's monthly income and housing
In Dubai, GDRFA's family entry permit page repeats the AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 test and asks for the father's no objection if the wife is the sponsor. A business partner sponsoring a family in Dubai needs a share of at least AED 48,000 in the partnership agreement.
Can you sponsor a son over 25 or an unmarried daughter?
Under ICP's federal conditions, sons can be sponsored while they are under 25, unmarried daughters are listed with no age limit, and children with special needs can be sponsored regardless of age. GDRFA Dubai's family page likewise allows a resident to sponsor sons up to 25.
In Dubai, a child aged 25 or over can be considered for a humanitarian residence permit, which lasts one year, can be renewed and is decided by a committee, as the next section explains. GDRFA asks for the sponsor's salary certificate or employment contract and certified proof that the child is still studying, inside or outside the UAE, or a certified university graduation certificate, attested by the UAE Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if issued abroad.
Golden Residence holders avoid the age limit: ICP allows them to sponsor children regardless of age.
How do you sponsor your parents in Dubai?
GDRFA Dubai lists parents under its residence permit for humanitarian cases. It grants a one-year renewable permit where the sponsor or host meets the relative's humanitarian needs, and a committee reviews every request case by case. Its terms list a resident's father and mother as qualifying relatives, provided that the condition of dependency is fulfilled. As of October 2026, GDRFA's page asks for:
- a salary of at least AED 10,000, shown by a salary certificate or employment contract, or for a partner or investor, the partnership agreement, trade licence and partners' annex
- an attested tenancy contract suitable for the number of family members
- bank statements for the last three months
- a copy of the parent's passport
- once the committee approves, a financial guarantee of AED 5,000 for each request, with the total capped at AED 15,000
The same documents apply to a spouse's parents. GDRFA's fees for the permit are AED 200, plus AED 10 each for the knowledge and innovation dirhams, AED 500 if the parent is already in the UAE and AED 20 for delivery, and it expects to complete the service in 14 days.
You may see AED 20,000 quoted elsewhere as the salary needed to sponsor parents. GDRFA Dubai's page, as of October 2026, gives AED 10,000 and does not mention AED 20,000.
ICP's conditions for a foreign resident's family do not list parents, other than as first-degree relatives of Green Residence holders, although its fee list includes a guarantee of AED 5,000 for each person in a humanitarian case, up to AED 15,000. If you apply to ICP rather than GDRFA Dubai, check its requirements for parents first. Parents with their own pension, savings or property may qualify for a retirement visa of their own instead. ICP's conditions are at least 15 years of service, inside or outside the UAE, or an age of 55, together with property worth at least AED 1 million, a deposit of the same value or an annual income of at least AED 240,000. Our retirement visa guide covers the Dubai and Abu Dhabi rules.
What happens to family visas if the sponsor's visa is cancelled?
Family permits depend on the sponsor's. ICP states that family residence matches the sponsor's permit and cannot exceed it, and the UAE Government portal says that when the sponsor's visa is cancelled, the dependants' visas must be cancelled too. A sponsor who fails to renew or cancel them could be fined.
ICP requires a foreign worker's family permits to be cancelled before his own, or placed on hold for a limited period for a fee. Its fee list includes a guarantee of AED 5,000 for cancelling the sponsor's permit without cancelling the family's. ICP provides it where the sponsor's move to another employer is approved and other conditions are met, including that the sponsor meets the salary and occupation conditions and the family's permits have at least three months left to run.
The grace period after cancellation depends on the permit, and the official pages differ. The UAE Government portal gives dependants 6 months to obtain a new permit. ICP's cancellation page lists 180 days for the families of Golden, Green and Blue Residence holders and for widows or divorced women of residents, 90 days for skilled workers at levels 1 to 3 and property owners, 60 days for permits issued with a guarantor or host and 30 days for all other categories. GDRFA's humanitarian permit allows 60 days. ICP fines AED 50 for each day of overstay after the grace period ends, so confirm the period with the authority that issued the permit. Our guide to leaving the UAE sets out the cancellation order and grace periods in full.
The family does not always have to leave: ICP's conditions let a resident sponsor his or her spouse and children, so a spouse with a residence permit of their own who meets them can apply to become the sponsor. In Dubai, GDRFA's humanitarian permit also covers:
- a widow or divorcee and her children, within six months of the divorce or death, if she is in the UAE, her husband was the sponsor, she has legal custody of any children she wishes to sponsor and she becomes the sponsor
- a wife and children whose permits have expired or been cancelled inside the UAE, where the sponsor's salary is less than AED 4,000
These are one-year permits, and renewal is referred to GDRFA's committee. If a Golden Residence holder dies, ICP states that the family may remain in the UAE for as long as their permits are valid.
What does it cost, and what about medical tests and insurance?
As of October 2026, ICP's fees for a family member's residence permit include:
- an application fee of AED 100 and a smart service fee of AED 100
- an issuance fee of AED 100 for each year of the permit
- a financial security deposit fee of AED 20
- a status adjustment fee of AED 500
- for an investor's family, a financial guarantee of AED 3,000 per family member, up to AED 15,000
In Dubai, as of October 2026, GDRFA charges AED 200 plus VAT at 5% for the family entry permit and, if the family member is already in the country, a further AED 10 knowledge dirham, AED 10 innovation dirham and AED 500. Its expected completion time is 48 hours, and the family member then has 60 days from entry to complete the residence formalities. GDRFA notes that the total can vary with the sponsored person's circumstances. The medical test and health insurance are not in this fee list.
Family members aged 18 or over must pass a medical fitness test at an approved health centre in the UAE. The UAE Government portal explains that applicants for a residence permit must be free of communicable diseases such as HIV and TB.
ICP lists valid health insurance among the documents for a foreign resident's family. In Dubai, cover is compulsory for residents under Dubai Health Insurance Law No. 11 of 2013, and the Dubai Health Authority says that where an employer does not cover an employee's spouse and dependants, the sponsor is responsible. The minimum is the Essential Benefits Plan.
How do Green and Golden Visa holders differ?
Green Residence is a five-year renewable permit that needs no sponsor, and ICP allows its holders to sponsor first-degree relatives as well as a spouse and children. Golden Residence holders can sponsor spouses and children regardless of age, and parents. Our Golden Visa guide explains who qualifies.
| Sponsor | Children | Parents | Main condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident on a standard permit | Sons under 25, unmarried daughters and children with special needs | In Dubai, a one-year humanitarian permit decided by a committee | AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus housing; AED 10,000 for parents in Dubai |
| Green Residence holder | Spouse and children, under the approved requirements | Can sponsor first-degree relatives | Meeting a Green route, which for a skilled worker includes a salary of at least AED 15,000 a month |
| Golden Residence holder | Children regardless of age | Can sponsor parents | Meeting a Golden route |
Can relatives come on a visit visa instead?
A relative who does not need residence can come on a visit visa. In Dubai, as of October 2026, GDRFA issues a single-entry visit visa for a relative or friend of a UAE citizen or resident for 30, 60 or 90 days. The resident shows proof of the relationship, the reason for the visit and a salary certificate or employment contract. The costs are:
- visa fee: AED 200 for 30 days, AED 300 for 60 days or AED 400 for 90 days, plus VAT at 5%
- security deposit: AED 1,000, plus AED 20 for the deposit service and AED 40 for collecting and reimbursing it
- medical insurance: AED 40, AED 60 or AED 90, depending on the length of the visa
- if the visitor is already in the UAE: a further AED 10 knowledge dirham, AED 10 innovation dirham and AED 500
ICP's page sets salary tiers that GDRFA's Dubai page does not mention. As of October 2026, a resident applying through ICP needs a monthly salary of AED 4,000 to host first-degree relatives (father, mother, spouse, son or daughter), AED 8,000 for second and third-degree relatives, such as siblings, grandparents, uncles and cousins, and AED 15,000 for friends. ICP also asks for health insurance valid in the UAE and a return ticket, and takes a guarantee of AED 1,000 for a single-entry visa, which may be refunded on request after the visa is cancelled or the visitor leaves, if no residency violations were committed. ICP may extend the visa, as long as the total stay does not exceed 120 days.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary to sponsor my wife and children in the UAE?
AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus housing provided by the employer, under ICP's federal conditions, and GDRFA Dubai uses the same figures. You also need adequate housing, proof of the relationship and valid health insurance. Sponsoring parents in Dubai needs a salary of at least AED 10,000 and the approval of a GDRFA committee.
Can a woman sponsor her husband and children in the UAE?
Yes. ICP and the UAE Government portal say a resident may bring in his or her spouse and children, subject to the salary test of AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus housing, and the housing condition. In Dubai, GDRFA asks for the father's no objection when the wife is the sponsor.
Do sponsored family members need a medical test?
Yes, if they are aged 18 or over. They must pass a medical fitness test at an approved health centre in the UAE.
Can my family stay in the UAE if I lose my job?
Only for a limited time, unless their permits are kept or someone else sponsors them. ICP requires family permits to be cancelled before the sponsor's, or placed on hold for a limited period for a fee. If you move to a new employer, ICP lists a guarantee of AED 5,000 for cancelling your permit without cancelling your family's, subject to conditions. After cancellation the grace period depends on the permit, and the official pages differ: ICP lists between 30 and 180 days, the UAE Government portal gives dependants 6 months and GDRFA Dubai's humanitarian permit allows 60 days. A spouse with a residence permit of their own who meets the conditions can apply to sponsor the family instead.
How Indigo Group can help
Indigo Group can help with UAE visa applications, including family residence visas, and the government liaison involved, through our Corporate Services team. For an overview of how we work with expatriates, see financial advice for expats in Dubai. Indigo Group's regulated entity, Indigo Financial Analysis and Consultancy LLC, is licensed by the UAE Capital Market Authority (CMA), licence no. 706042.
Read more about our UAE visa and corporate services.
To talk this through, book a consultation or message us on WhatsApp.
Related guides
Sources
- Residence visa for families of employees (updated 28 September 2026), The Official Platform of the UAE Government (u.ae)
- Issuing Residency Permit, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
- Cancellation of residency permits, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
- Issuance of a Visa, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
- Golden Residency Guide, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
- Green Residence Guide, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
- Issuing an entry visa for residence without work: Family Sponsorship, GDRFA Dubai
- Issuance of a residence permit for humanitarian cases, GDRFA Dubai
- Issuing a visit visa for a relative or friend for one entry, GDRFA Dubai
- Health conditions for UAE residence visa (updated 8 September 2026), The Official Platform of the UAE Government (u.ae)
- Frequently Asked Questions: health insurance in Dubai, Dubai Health Authority
Last reviewed 27 October 2026. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Rules change, so please speak to a qualified adviser about your circumstances.
