Key takeaways
- The sponsor's monthly salary must be at least AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 with accommodation provided.
- Foreign marriage and birth certificates need attestation in the issuing country, at the UAE embassy there, then at MOFA in the UAE.
- MOFA charges AED 150 for each personal document it attests; an apostille alone isn't accepted, because the UAE isn't party to the Apostille Convention.
- GDRFA Dubai lets residents sponsor sons under 25, unmarried daughters and children with special needs at any age.
- Residents have 120 days from a baby's birth to arrange the residence visa; the UAE government portal says AED 100 a day is charged after that.
The complete document checklist
| Document | For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor's passport, residence and Emirates ID | Sponsor | Valid and in the same name spelling as the certificates |
| Salary certificate or employment contract | Sponsor | Shows monthly income of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 with accommodation |
| Registered tenancy contract (Ejari in Dubai) and a utility bill | Sponsor | ICP lists both for family residence |
| Attested marriage certificate | Spouse | Translated into Arabic where required |
| Attested birth certificate | Each child | Translated where required |
| Passport copy and photo | Each family member | Passport valid for at least six months |
| Health insurance | Each family member | Required in Dubai and for renewal everywhere |
| Notarised no-objection letter from the father | Children, if the mother sponsors | Listed by the Dubai Land Department for Golden visa family residence |
Extra documents depend on nationality and visa type. ICP, for example, asks Afghan, Iranian and Iraqi family members for a copy of their national ID at renewal.
The salary and housing rule
The UAE government portal and GDRFA Dubai list a minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 if accommodation is also provided. Your salary certificate or contract is the main evidence, and ICP's renewal list asks for an employment certificate showing income and housing.
Housing is the second test. A registered tenancy contract in your name is the usual proof; in Dubai, that's Ejari. A lease in someone else's name is a common reason for delay.
Getting certificates attested, in the right order
Foreign marriage and birth certificates follow a chain:
- The foreign ministry of the country that issued the certificate.
- The UAE embassy or consulate in that country.
- The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), which charges AED 150 per personal document.
The UAE isn't a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille on its own doesn't replace this chain. Certificates issued in the UAE go to the issuing body first, then to MOFA, and some UAE birth certificates already carry digital MOFA attestation. If a certificate isn't in Arabic, the authority may ask for a legal translation by a translator licensed by the Ministry of Justice. See birth certificate attestation, marriage certificate attestation and legal translation.
Who you can sponsor
GDRFA Dubai lets residents sponsor a spouse, sons under 25, unmarried daughters and children with special needs regardless of age. Both men and women can sponsor, as long as they meet the salary rule, show suitable housing and prove kinship.
If the mother sponsors the children, the Dubai Land Department's Golden visa service lists a notarised no-objection letter from the father, and an undertaking that sons or daughters over 18 are unmarried. Parents can sometimes be sponsored under extra conditions, which the authority sets case by case.
Investors and Golden visa holders
Company owners can sponsor their families too, but income evidence looks different from a salary certificate. Plan how you'll show it, for example through your company's documents, before you apply. See UAE visa options for business owners.
For Golden visa holders through property, the Dubai Land Department lists AED 5,774.50 for a 10-year family residence permit, plus AED 100 for each sponsored person, alongside a certified marriage contract, certified birth certificates, health insurance and an IBAN.
Fees and timing
GDRFA Dubai lists a residence permit fee of AED 200 per family member, with AED 10 each for the Knowledge and Innovation fees, AED 500 if you apply from inside the UAE, AED 20 for delivery and AED 100 for each year beyond two. Its expected completion time is 48 hours once the file is complete.
The medical test (for anyone 18 or over), Emirates ID, insurance and attestation are paid separately. Attestation usually takes the longest, so start it first.
Common reasons a family visa is delayed
- A salary certificate that doesn't clearly show the monthly figure.
- A tenancy in another person's name, or one that isn't registered.
- Certificates attested at home but not yet by MOFA.
- Names spelt differently across passports and certificates.
- A newborn's residence started after 120 days, which brings fines.
- Family members leaving before the medical test and biometrics are done.
We prepare the file, arrange attestation and translation and submit it for you. See our family visa service.
Sources
- UAE government portal: residence visa for family members
- GDRFA Dubai: residence permit for family members of foreign residents
- ICP: renewal of residency permits
- ICP: issuing a residence visa
- Dubai Land Department: Golden visa for property investors
- MOFA: attestation FAQs
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status table
Official sources checked on 7 November 2026. This guide explains published rules in plain English and is not legal or tax advice. Rules change; we check the current position for your case before you act.