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Expatriate residents, both employers and employees, may sponsor their families in the UAE provided they have a valid residency permit.

Male residents who are employed in the UAE can sponsor their immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions which include minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.

The male sponsor must also hold a profession which allows him to sponsor his family. For example, domestic helpers and certain other categories cannot sponsor their families regardless of their salary. Check with the relevant GDRFA for exceptions or more info.

 Further, if the father of the family is residing in the UAE and meets the conditions for sponsoring his children, the mother is not allowed to sponsor them.

 A resident sponsor has 60 days to apply for his dependents’ residence visa after they enter the UAE and modify their status from an entry permit holder to a resident visa holder.

Family members are issued visas for one, two or three years depending on the nature of the work and labour contract of the sponsoring member and his capacity as an employee or employer.

 In general, expatriate employees are issued residency visa for one year or two years based on their labour contract, while expatriate employers are issued residency visa for three years.

Sponsored residents except adult males who are continuing their education and sponsored parents can enjoy the same visa duration as their sponsors. For the adult males and parents, the residence visa is granted on a yearly basis regardless of the sponsor’s visa duration.

 The conditions are subject to change from time to time. Kindly check with GDRFA of the respective emirate. Below are links to the local GDRFA offices:

• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai
• Sharjah
• Ajman
• Ras Al Khaimah
• Fujairah

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