Introduction
Are you a business owner or investor, job holder, or entrepreneur living in Dubai, and do you want to bring your family there? Are you curious to know the details about family visa and dependent visa in Dubai? This guide will explore everything regarding the process of family visa and dependent visa in Dubai.
Dubai is a charming capital with various cultures and a wide range of unique and attractive buildings. People who live or work in Dubai bring their families through family and dependent visas to reside in the city after fulfilling the minimum salary requirement and other requirements to sponsor the family in Dubai. Today, almost 89% of Dubai’s total population consists of expatriates.
Let’s explore the application process, requirements, visa validity, and renewal process to get a family and dependent visa in Dubai.
What is a Family Visa and Dependent Visa in Dubai?
Through a family visa and dependent visa in Dubai, the Dubai government allows you to bring your family, provide them with legal residence, and reunify your family, providing you with a stable work-family relationship. Your family members can study and work in Dubai on this visa.
Which Family Members are Eligible to Sponsor a Family Visa and Dependent Visa in Dubai?
- As a business owner or investor, you can sponsor your legally married partner. There are no restrictions on the nationality.
- You can sponsor your sons under 18 while unmarried daughters of any age.
- You can sponsor your parents if you have medical insurance and also fulfill the salary requirements.
Who Can Sponsor a Family Visa and Dependent Visa in Dubai?
There are no legal or gender-specific restrictions. If you fulfill the basic requirements and comply with Dubai’s sponsorship laws, you can relocate your family to Dubai. But remember, you must have to fulfill the salary requirements given below:
- Male sponsors range around AED 4,000, along with a legal residence.
- Female sponsors range around AED 10,000, along with a legal residence.
If you are a female business owner, investor, or job holder, you must obtain a special permission letter from GDRFA. Also, if you are a mother, you can’t sponsor your child if his father can sponsor him.
What are the Requirements for Sponsoring Family Members?
To sponsor the family members, you must provide essential documents attested by MOFA or from the UAE embassy. You must pass medical fitness tests, including blood tests and chest X-rays. The mandatory documents include:
- Passport copies of both
- Passport-sized photographs of family members.
- Attested marriage certificate for sponsoring a spouse.
- Attested birth certificates for sponsoring children.
- The tenant contract and DEWA bill are proof of accommodation.
- Salary certificate or employment contract of the sponsor.
How Can You Apply for a Family Visa and Dependent Visa in Dubai?
As a business owner, entrepreneur, or job holder, you must have a legalized accommodation and a minimum required salary along with other documents, including copies of your passports and photographs and attested birth certificates of your children or, if you want to sponsor the spouse, an attested marriage certificate.
Submit your application. All family members of 18+ age must pass the required medical tests. After passing the test and application approval, you will get a visa stamp once your child’s, spouse’s, or friend’s visa application is approved. You can apply online by visiting the GDRFA website or physically visiting the GDRFA offices.
What is the Validity and Renewal Process for Family Visa and Dependent Visa in Dubai?
Your family and dependent visa will be valid only for one year, and then you have to renew it if you want a prolonged stay with your family. The most important thing is that if your visa (as a sponsor) expires, your family members’ visas will also be canceled because they are dependent on you.
So, if your visa is near to expire, start the renewal process in advance to avoid mishaps and hassle. To apply, simply visit the GDRFA website, submit all the required documents, and pass the medical test reports as well. Pay the fees and wait for the approval.
How Much Cost is Required to Apply for a Family Visa and Dependent Visa in Dubai?
| Expense Category | Cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Sponsorship Fees | |
| Initial Entry Permit | 1,170 – 1,470 |
| Change of Status | 650 |
| Visa Stamping | 500 – 1,000 |
| Medical Examination Fees | |
| Standard Medical Test | 250 – 500 |
| Express Medical Test | Up to 700 |
| Emirates ID Fees | |
| Emirates ID Application (1 year) | 170 |
| Emirates ID Application (2 years) | 270 |
| Emirates ID Application (3 years) | 370 |
| Health Insurance | 650 – 2,000 (annually) |
| Additional Fees | |
| Typing Center Fees | 100 – 200 |
| Attestation Fees (if required) | 150 – 200 per document |
| Total Estimated Costs | |
| One-year visa | 3,000 – 5,000 per person |
| Two-year visa | 3,500 – 5,500 per person |
| Three-year visa | 4,000 – 6,000 per person |
What are the Common Challenges Regarding Sponsoring Visas, and How Can They Be Overcome?
During visa processing, you may face several issues, including incomplete documents and incorrect information. Such issues will delay the process and, in some cases, lead to your visa rejection. So, you must carefully complete the required documents with authentic and accurate information. Besides these, you must:
- Pass all the medical tests.
- Fulfill the salary requirements.
- Avoid attestation delays
- Avoid application errors to curb the chances of visa denial.
Fulfill all the requirements and accurate documents in advance.
Tips for a Smooth Application
- Do good research on the required documents and collect all relevant information from authentic resources.
- Fill out the personal information on the visa form, especially name spelling and address, carefully.
- Prepare the documents early to meet the requirements.
- Double-check information before application submission
- Meet salary requirements to apply for a family visa so that the financial needs can be met efficiently.
- Schedule medical tests from the registered medical center
- Cross-check the required documents
- Apply early to meet any denial or objection in a timely.
Why Choose Bizhub for Smooth Visa Processing?
Still, if you face issues, consider hiring a professional service. One of the top and renowned services is Bizbub. Our company will help you get your visa approved fast while providing you with peace of mind.
Bizhub is a one-stop shop for all your visa processing, company setup, and documents required to live or work in Dubai. We can also present our client’s success stories and testimonials upon request. Your satisfaction and success are our top priorities.
Conclusion
While the process of applying for a Family Visa and Dependent Visa may seem very complicated in Dubai, it can turn out to be quite smooth if you have the right guidance and the right kind of preparation.
After reading this article, you have now become well aware of how to apply for a Family Visa and Dependent Visa in Dubai. Always make sure to have all documents ready for eligibility and then proceed according to the steps fixed by the Dubai government.
Keeping yourself up-to-date with recent rules and regulations and availing the services of authorized centers or professionals can make things easier for one to apply. In the case of successfully procuring such visas, you will be able to reunite with loved ones and take part in numerous opportunities opened by Dubai for families and dependents.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To understand the reason, read the rejection letter carefully. Then, consult with an immigration expert for the next step. Whether you can appeal the rejection depends on the type of rejection and the country’s law. If an appeal is not possible, ensure the accuracy of all required documents and re-apply with a new application.
Yes, you can sponsor your family member by getting a freelancer's visa, but it has to be on a legal basis concerning salary and other living facilities. See a legal advisor on how to put in a successful application.
For the appeal of visa refusal in the embassy, the concerned authority will further send it to the higher authority. Attach all the required documents with the form and fill it up correctly. Wait for the final approval and keep tracking the application status from time to time. This will help in avoiding any chances of refusal.
Stepchildren require a no-objection letter from the natural parents and a special deposit by the parents. The Immigration Authority then approves a one-year resident visa for such step-children, which may further be renewed yearly.
Expatriate residents’ visas are nullified automatically, and there is no need to worry if they are living outside the country at the expiry duration. The government allows 180 days of relaxation from the expiry date to renew the residence permit. The individual requires a new entry permit to re-enter after the visa expires. Delay in approving the permit can result in heavy fines from local authorities.
Apply for a new entry permit and pay its applicable charges. Individuals must pay a request fee of AED 200. Along with that, he also needs to pay an issuance fee of AED 500.
Overstaying can cause several legal complexities and bans on future international travel. The authorities can deport the person, and serious consequences can lead to imprisonment and heavy fines.
If expatriate students can bear financial expenses, they have the right to sponsor their family members for residency in Dubai. The authorities allow them to sponsor spouses, siblings, and parents on student visas.
