The United Arab Emirates continues to attract entrepreneurs, professionals, and investors from around the world with its exceptional quality of life, world-class infrastructure, and reputation as one of the safest places to live. Naturally, many expatriates wish to bring their families to join them in the UAE. Whether you're relocating or already living in the country, understanding the family sponsorship process is key to ensuring a smooth and legal transition for your loved ones.
At Stratos, we specialise in helping individuals, entrepreneurs, and business owners sponsor their families with ease. From assessing eligibility to submitting applications and managing renewals, we provide comprehensive support to ensure the process is efficient, compliant, and stress-free.
Eligibility to sponsor family members in the UAE depends on your residency visa type, income level, and professional status. You may qualify if you are a salaried employee holding a valid UAE residency visa, a business owner or investor with an active trade license and Emirates ID, or a Golden Visa holder, which comes with unique sponsorship privileges.
As the primary family member, you can sponsor your spouse, children, and parents. For spousal sponsorship, a legal marriage certificate is required, and it must be attested and officially translated. You can sponsor your sons up to the age of 25, or indefinitely if they are disabled. Daughters can be sponsored as long as they are unmarried, regardless of age. Children over the age of 18 must pass a medical fitness test conducted at an approved UAE health center. Sponsoring parents is also possible, provided you are their sole financial supporter and meet a higher minimum salary threshold. A refundable deposit may also be required in this case. Extended relatives such as siblings and cousins, however, are not eligible for sponsorship under the standard residency visa system.
The key requirements for family sponsorship in 2025 include a minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, though this may vary slightly by emirate. You must also hold a valid tenancy contract under your name, such as an Ejari in Dubai or a Tawtheeq in Abu Dhabi. Additional requirements include attested legal documents such as marriage and birth certificates, a valid Emirates ID, current visa, and health insurance coverage for each dependent. A medical fitness test is mandatory for all adults over the age of 18.
The sponsorship process begins with gathering the necessary documents, including passport copies, personal photos, attested certificates, salary verification (or Memorandum of Association for business owners), Emirates ID, visa copy, tenancy contract, and proof of medical insurance. Once ready, you must apply for the family visa entry permit. In Dubai, this is done through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), while applicants in other emirates use the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA). Your family or person sponsored must enter the country within 60 days of permit approval.
Following entry, adult dependents must undergo a medical fitness examination and apply for their Emirates ID. Once these steps are complete, the residency visa will be stamped into their passport. The visa is generally valid for one to three years, depending on your visa type and emirate of residence.
The process appears straightforward; however, many applicants encounter challenges such as incomplete documentation, errors in online applications, tenancy contract issues, or failure to meet specific formatting or translation requirements.
At Stratos, we minimise these risks by managing every aspect of the process on your behalf. Our services include document attestation and translation, accurate application submission and government follow-ups, medical test coordination, Emirates ID scheduling, and timely renewal alerts. We also provide specialised assistance for investors and Golden Visa holders, whose sponsorship terms may differ.
Bringing your family to the UAE doesn't have to be complicated. With Stratos' support, you can ensure that each step of the process is handled professionally and efficiently. Whether you're sponsoring your spouse, children, or parents, we are here to help you reunite with your loved ones and build your life in the UAE with confidence.