Apply in Person

1. Foreign nationals working and living in the UAE on a Residence Visa, are allowed to bring their dependents with them through a UAE Family Visa. However, not everyone can bring their dependents along as there are certain requirements that have to be met.
   • Eligibility requirements are listed under the “Eligibility” section below.
2. The applicant (foreign resident),must submit a UAE Family Visa application within 60 days of receiving their own UAE Residence Visa
3. Before the sponsored family members travel to the UAE, the foreign nationalist (or employer) must apply for an entry permit to allow them (The family) in the country in the first place. Application for a family member’s entry permit can be submitted through the following channels:
   • The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – GDRFA either online or in-person. If applying in-person applicant must do so through one of the licensed typing centers of the GDRFA in each Emirate or through the Amer centers in Dubai.
   • Applicant can find the GDRFA Dubai mobile apps for Apple and Android in App Store and Play Store respectively.
   • The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship
   • The ICA’s eChanel portal
   • The mobile apps for Apple and Android
4. Upon the family’s arrival, the sponsor has two months to convert the entry permit to a valid UAE Family Visa (residence visa). The sponsor should submit the application for a UAE family Visa; which is a type of residence visa on behalf of the family at the offices of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) of the relevant emirate.
5. The applicant is issued with a UAE Family Visa application form;carefully complete the appropriate information under the relevant sections. The forms should be attested (signature) by the applicant once completed.
6. Attach the supporting documentation as listed under the” Required Documents” section of this page and should be submitted for assessment and verification.
7. Applicants will be required to make the payment for the required amendment applied. Please refer to this page’s “Fees” section for information.
8. The Applicant is issued with a waiting slip that shall contain details of the application for future reference/inquiry where required.
9. Upon receipt of the application file, will be evaluated by the immigration department which shall approve the issue for the visa, where it is satisfied that the applicant has met all the requirements.
10. After the lapse of the processing time, the applicant should revisit the office where the application was filed with their passport and acknowledgment receipt to collect the Family visa.
11. The validity of the visa is for up to two years, but the exact duration depends on both the nature of the job of the sponsor as well as his or her labor contract.
12. For instance, if the sponsor’s visa is for three years, the sponsored relatives are likely to get the same duration. This excludes parents and adult sons, who get a residence visa in the UAE for one year. Likewise, if the sponsor’s visa is canceled for any reason, the dependents’ visas will be canceled as well.
13. When the dependent’s visa expires or gets canceled, s/he has 30 days to obtain a new one. If they fail to do this, they will become illegal residents and may also have to pay an overstay fine.

• UAE Visa Application Form (online or through a registered typing office)
• Passport copies of the family member/s being sponsored
• Passport-size pictures of the family member/s being sponsored
• Medical clearance certificate for any family member over the age of 18
• Copy of the sponsor’s employment contract or company contract
• Proof of the monthly salary the sponsor earns
• The legalized marriage certificates
• Proof of accommodation in UAE, such as the registered tenancy contract
• The latest utility bills

General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)

Abu Dhabi (Head Office).
Address:
12th Street,
Khalifa city - Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
P.O. Box: 47999
Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 2 4955555
Fax: +971 2 4955550
Email:contactus@icp.gov.ae/
Dhabi Contact Details
GDRFA-Abu Dhabi Website

General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)

Dubai Office (Head Office)
Address:
Al Jaffliya next to the Bur Dubai Police Station opposite the Jaffliya Metro station.
Dubai - United Arab Emirates
P.O. Box: 4333
Dubai - United Arab Emirates
Toll-free number: 8005111
Tel:  +971 4 313 9999
Email: amer@gdrfad.gov.ae
GDRFA-Dubai Contact Details
Website

General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)
Ajman (Head Office)
Address:
AL JURF - Al Jamia Street - Al Jerf 2
Ajman - United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 600 522222

General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)

Fujairah (Head Office)
P.O. Box 4400,
Fujairah E-Government, Emiri Court
Fujairah, United Arab Emirates(UAE)
Tel: +971 9 222-0555 /+971 9 222-0333
Email: mail@egov.fujairah.ae
GDRFA Fujairah Office Contact Details
GDRFA Fujairah Office Website

General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)

Ras Al Khaimah (Head Office)
PO Box 155, Al Mamourah,
Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
Phone: +971-72055000
Fax: +971-72287966
Email: rakgdrf@moi.gov.ae

General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)

Sharjah(Head Office)
Address:
Sharjah - Airport Street - Bridge No. 6 - Al Rahmaniya area
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Tel +971-6-5726777
Fax +971-6-5733226,
Email: foryou_service@snrd.ae.

General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)

Umm Al Quwain (Head Office)
Address:
Abu Bakar Al Sadeeq Road - Al Neefah
Umm Al Quawain - United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 600 522222

Requirements for man Sponsor Her Family Members for a UAE Family Visa

• Male expatriates must have a minimum salary of AED 4,000 per month or AED 3,000 per month plus accommodation.
• Your wife. If you are a Muslim resident, you may also sponsor two wives but you must meet certain terms set out by the GDRFA.
• Your sons. You can sponsor your sons only if they are 18 or under. If the sons are over 18, you can still sponsor them but only if they are students, and only up to the age of 21. Additionally, if the sons are over 18, they must enter the UAE at least once every six months if studying abroad otherwise their UAE visa will be canceled.
• Your daughters. You can sponsor your daughters only if they are unmarried.
• Your parents. You can also sponsor your parents, provided you meet the following conditions:
• You sponsor both parents unless one of them has passed away
• You pay a deposit of AED 2,500 as a guarantee for each parent— make sure to check with the corresponding immigration department as this fee may change.
• You get your parents a medical insurance policy
• You have a monthly salary of AED 20,000 or a AED 19,000 plus a two-bedroom accommodation
• Your stepchildren. You may also sponsor your stepchildren if you get a written No Objection Certificate from the biological parent. The visa for stepchildren is valid for one year and renewable.

Requirements for Women Sponsor Her Family Members for a UAE Family Visa

• She can sponsor her husband and her children.
• She has to earn a monthly salary not lower than AED 10,000 or alternatively AED 8,000 plus accommodation
• She must work as an engineer, teacher, or a profession related to the medical sector (doctor, nurse etc)
• In certain cases (and only with approval from the DRND), if the woman has a sufficient monthly salary, she could qualify for sponsorship even if she isn’t employed in one of the aforementioned categories
• If she has a husband who can sponsor the children instead, she is not allowed to do it herself. It must be the husband.

Please Note:

• Additionally, all family members who are over 18 have to pass a medical fitness test taken at a government-approved health centre in the UAE. They will be tested for HIV and Tuberculosis.
• The UAE does not recognize same-sex marriage; therefore you cannot sponsor your spouse if you are in a same-sex relationship.

The following fees are applicable:

• Sponsor registration file-268.9 AED
• Tasheera (Wife/Children Outside the UAE) - 488.9 AED
• Tasheera (Wife/Children Inside the UAE) - 1,138.90 AED
• Tasheera (Parents Inside the UAE) - 488.9 AED
• Normal Medical Test - 322.5 AED
• Emirates ID (1 Year) - 250 AED
• Emirates ID (2 Year) - 350 AED
• Emirates ID (3 Year) - 450 AED
• Transfer of New Residence to a Passport- 59.9AED

• A Family Visa for the UAE can be issued for 1, 2, or 3 years and can be renewed at least thirty days before expiry. Family Visas are dependent on the sponsor, so if the sponsor’s visa expires or is canceled then the Family Visa will also be void.
• However, dependent family members get a 30-day grace period during which time they may see if they can get their own Residence Visa renewed.

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• Sponsor contact details
• Contact details
• Dependent (Family details)
• Sponsor employment details
• Income details of the sponsor
• Declaration by the applicant

Foreign nationals working and living in the UAE on a Residence Visa, are allowed to bring their dependents with them through a UAE Family Vis which is a type of residence

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