Comprehensive guide for expatriates
Dubai is a favored destination for expatriates, with over 80% of the UAE's population made up of people who have come here in search of a better future. If you're thinking of setting up a company in Dubai and would like to relocate your family, or if you're already here without your loved ones, it's crucial to understand how to sponsor your family members. Sponsoring your spouse, your children and even your parents is actually a fairly straightforward procedure. Our firm offers you a complete guide to explain the various steps involved in sponsoring your family members in the Emirates and living together under the sun. By the end of this article, you'll know exactly how to go about bringing one or more members of your family to the Emirates.
What documents do I need to sponsor members of Your family in Dubai?
In recent years, the UAE authorities have made sponsorship procedures easier and more accessible. However, before you can sponsor your family, you must have a valid residence in the UAE.
To support your application for family sponsorship in the Emirates, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA) requires the following documents
Employment contract
A valid employment contract.
Payslip or employer's certificate
Proof of your income.ion.
Bank statements
Attested personal bank statements from the UAE.
Marriage certificate
A marriage certificate translated and certified in Arabic.
Children's birth certificates
Children's birth certificates translated and certified, if applicable.
Copies of passports
Copies of passports of family members to be sponsored.
Passport photos
Passport-size photos.
All these documents must be legalized and certified in your country of origin by following these steps:
Certification by a lawyer
Documents must be certified by a lawyer in the country of origin.
Legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Documents must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country of origin.
Legalization by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates
Documents must be legalized by the United Arab Emirates Embassy in the country of origin.
If you are already in the United Arab Emirates, the documents must be :
Depending on the specifics of your situation, additional requirements may be necessary. Sponsorship conditions vary according to the person you wish to sponsor.
Sponsorship of wife by husband living in Dubai
How can a husband sponsor his wife?
A resident employed in the UAE can sponsor his wife and children. As of 2019, there are no longer any restrictions regarding the nature of employment. From now on, all employees, whatever their profession, may sponsor their family provided their monthly salary is greater than or equal to AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus an accommodation allowance.
To sponsor a wife, a certified marriage certificate, or one translated and certified in Arabic, is required. Similarly, for children, birth certificates must be in Arabic or translated and certified in Arabic.
Note: A Muslim resident may be authorized to sponsor his or her two wives if he or she meets the conditions laid down by the GDRFA.
How can a wife sponsor her husband?
Standard conditions
A wife can sponsor her husband and children if she earns a basic salary of AED 3,000 plus housing allowance, or a total salary of AED 4,000 without housing allowance, only if she is a teacher or works in the medical sector.
In Abu Dhabi, the female sponsor must be a teacher, engineer or work in the medical sector, with a salary of AED 10,000 or more, or AED 8,000 plus a housing allowance.
Specific conditions
For women employed in other sectors, it is still possible to obtain authorization to sponsor their families if their monthly salary exceeds AED 10,000 and with special authorization from the GDRFA.
How can a mother sponsor her children in Dubai?
A woman can sponsor her children if she holds a residence visa and her monthly salary is at least AED 10,000 or AED 8,000 plus an accommodation allowance. She must also have a valid Ejari rental contract in her name, and provide any additional documents required by the authorities.
If the mother wishes to sponsor her children, she must obtain a letter of no objection (NOC) from her husband, confirming that he has no objection to the children being under their mother's sponsorship. This letter must be notarized and legalized in the country of origin.
On the other hand, if the father is resident in the Emirates and meets all the necessary conditions to sponsor the children, the mother will not be authorized to sponsor them.
If the mother wishes to sponsor her children, she must obtain a letter of no objection (NOC) from her husband, confirming that he has no objection to the children being under their mother's sponsorship. This letter must be notarized and legalized in the country of origin.
For single mothers, it is possible to sponsor their children. In this case, the authorities may require documents similar to those required for sponsoring children in other situations.
Sponsoring children over 18 in Dubai
Expatriate residents can sponsor their daughters for life, as long as they are not married. For sons, sponsorship is only possible up to their 18th birthday. However, there is an exception: if the son continues his studies in the UAE or abroad, he can be sponsored until his 21st birthday, provided he can provide proof of his student status.
To maintain the validity of his residency visa, the child must enter the Emirates at least once every six months. The resident must also lodge a deposit with GDRFA for his son's visa. This visa is granted on an annual basis and is renewable until the child completes his or her studies.
Sponsoring step-children in Dubai
Expatriate residents may also sponsor their step-children, subject to certain conditions laid down by the GDRFA:
Residence visas for stepchildren are valid for one year and are renewable annually.
Sponsoring parents and parents-in-law in Dubai
An expatriate resident can sponsor his or her parents and spouse's parents for a one-year stay in the UAE, under certain conditions established by the GDRFA. Here are the main requirements:
It is important to note that an expatriate employee cannot sponsor just one parent; both parents must be sponsored together. In the event of the death or divorce of one of the parents, official documents attesting to their situation must be provided to the authorities to allow the sponsorship of just one parent.
To sponsor your parents, you must meet the following conditions:
Duration of Sponsored Visas in Dubai
The duration of visas for sponsored persons depends mainly on the nature of the sponsor's employment and the duration of his/her employment contract.
For example, if the sponsor's visa is valid for three years, persons dependent on his or her visa will probably have a similar duration. However, parents and sons over 18 generally obtain residence visas valid for one year only.
It is important to note that if the sponsor's visa is cancelled for any reason, the dependents' visas will automatically be cancelled.
If the dependent's visa expires or is cancelled, he or she has 30 days to obtain a new visa. If they fail to do so, they will be considered illegal residents and will have to pay an overstay fine.
To help you through the family sponsorship process and ensure that everything runs smoothly, don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to offer you comprehensive, personalized assistance in managing your family's visas in Dubai.