The salary rule

To sponsor your family you usually need a monthly salary of at least AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation provided by your employer. Sponsoring parents needs a much higher income. Rules can change, so check the latest requirement with ICP or GDRFA before you apply.

Who you can sponsor

• Your wife or husband.
• Sons, usually up to the age of 25.
• Unmarried daughters of any age.
• Children with special needs, at any age.

What it costs

Expect roughly AED 3,000 to 5,000 per person for an entry permit, residence visa, Emirates ID and, for adults, the medical test. Typing centre fees and urgent services cost extra. In our calculator we use about AED 3,500 per dependant.

Health insurance is separate. In Dubai and the northern emirates you pay for your dependants’ cover. In Abu Dhabi your employer must cover one spouse and up to three children.

Documents

• Your passport, visa, Emirates ID and salary certificate or employment contract.
• A registered tenancy contract (Ejari, Tawtheeq or equivalent).
• Attested marriage certificate for your spouse.
• Attested birth certificates for your children.
• Passport copies and photos for each family member.

Attestation takes time, so start in your home country before you move.

Timing

Once your own visa, Emirates ID and tenancy contract are in place, family visas usually take two to four weeks. Many families arrive on a visit visa and change status inside the UAE, which costs a little more but saves a trip.