Sponsoring family residency visa by expatriates :

As an employer, you can sponsor residence visas for your employees who have a valid UAE residence visa. As an employee, you can sponsor residence visas for your family if you earn a minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.

Sponsoring your wife and children :

Please note that the sponsor must prove a marital relationship between the sponsor and the applicant. The most valid way to do this is by submitting an authenticated marriage certificate in Arabic or duly translated into Arabic by a certified translator.

In special cases, a Muslim resident may be allowed to sponsor his two wives. This can be the case if he meets certain conditions set by the GDRFA.

There are some restrictions on family reunification. An expatriate resident can sponsor his daughter/s only if she/they is/are unmarried. Family reunification is not possible in the following cases:

The sponsor of the son can apply for a renewal of the residence visa and it will be granted on a yearly basis. The son should be studying in the UAE or abroad to avail the facility. The renewal is only applicable till the son finishes studies, but he needs to enter the country once in six months.

New rules for children’s visa sponsored by parents :

On 21 October 2018, the one-year residence visa for students has been granted. Students who graduate from their university or secondary school and adults who complete 18 years of age are allowed to apply for a one-year residence visa and renew it on the 21st day of each month.

To sponsor your wife and children, you must provide the following documents :

• Online application or through a registered typing office
• Passport copies of the wife and children
• Photos of the wife and children
• Medical clearance certificate for the wife and children above 18
• Copy of the husband’s employment contract or company contract
• Salary certificate from the employer stating the employee’s monthly salary
• Legalized marriage certificate
• Registered tenancy contract
• Latest utility bill

Renewal & validity :

The duration of residence visa depends on the type of sponsor and the person sponsored. It is issued for one, or two or three years. Visa is renewed subject to conditions similar to those of fresh visas.