How to Secure a Family Visit Visa in Dubai: A Complete Guide

Planning to bring your spouse or parents to visit you in Dubai? Understanding the application process for a family visit visa is crucial. This visa, issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), allows your family to stay in the UAE for 30, 60, or 90 days. Here’s what you need to know.

What is a Family Visit Visa?

A Family Visit Visa in Dubai allows residents to bring their spouse, parents, or children to the UAE for short stays of 30, 60, or 90 days. It requires meeting specific salary and accommodation criteria.

Who Can You Sponsor?

The good news is, that you can sponsor a wide range of family members on a visit visa. Here’s a breakdown of eligible categories:

For Females: Wife, daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, sister-in-law, aunt
For Males: Husband, son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law

Also Read: Free UAE Family Group Visit Visa for Children!

Key Requirements for a Family Visit Visa

Salary Criteria

For Parents: You’ll need a minimum monthly income of Dh8,000 along with a valid Ejari (rental contract) proving a two-bedroom apartment or villa.

For Spouses and Children: A minimum of Dh4,000 monthly salary and proof of accommodation like a one-bedroom apartment with a valid Ejari is required.

Proof of Kinship

You must provide documentation to support your relationship with the person you are sponsoring:

Child: Birth certificate
Spouse: Marriage certificate
Parents: The relationship is confirmed by the second page of their passport, listing the names of the parents.

Important Note: Marriage certificates or birth certificates issued outside the UAE need to be attested by your home country’s consulate, then by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and finally translated into Arabic.

Must Read: New Visa Rules: UAE Residents Can Now Sponsor 90-Day Visits for Friends and Family

Required Documents

Here’s a checklist of documents you’ll need for the application:

Attested Salary Certificate: If you work in a free zone, provide a certificate from the authority.
Sponsor’s Documents: Passport copy, passport photo, Emirates ID copy, and labour contract.
Applicant’s Documents: Passport copies with personal details.
Proof of Kinship: As mentioned above (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.)

Additional Documents: Depending on your specific situation, GDRFAD might request additional documents during the application process.

Visa Costs and Refundable Deposits

Single Entry Family Visit Visa

30 days: Dh436.75 (Refundable deposit: Dh1,000)
60 days: Dh556.75 (Refundable deposit: Dh1,000)
90 days: Dh686.75 (Refundable deposit: Dh1,000)

Note that service charges vary by Amer centre.

Refund Process

The Dh1,000 security deposit will be refunded once your family member leaves the UAE. You have one month from their departure to claim the refund, with the original receipt as proof. Refunds can be processed through the GDRFAD website or an Amer centre.

How to Apply for the Family Visit Visa

Online Application

Dubai residents can apply through the GDRFAD official website gdrfad.gov.ae. For a detailed application process, click here.

Amer Centres

You can also apply through Amer centres, which handle immigration applications on behalf of the GDRFAD. A list of authorized Amer centres can be found on the GDRFAD website.

Tourist Visa Option

Alternatively, apply for a tourist visa through a registered travel agency, making the agency the visa sponsor. More information on this process is available here.