There are 3 main scenarios to be aware of when sponsoring family in UAE, and the documents needed will vary with each scenario.
If a man that wants to sponsor his wife and children for residency in the UAE (assuming that his visa & residency have been fully processed), he will have to submit the following documents:
- Original passport & Emirates ID
- Original labour contract
- Salary certificate (for employees of free zones, semi government & government companies)
- 3 month bank statement
- Bank information, including IBAN
- Ejari certificate (with sponsor’s name on rental contract)
- One passport photo (with a white background) of each dependent
- Colour passport copy of each dependent
- Fully attested marriage certificate (must be in Arabic or English)
- Fully attested birth certificate(s) (must be in Arabic or English)
- For daughters over 18, a letter signed by her father stating that she is unmarried
- For sons over 18; they can only be sponsored until 21 provided they can prove they are in full time study
- To sponsor any step children, your spouse must get a notarized & attested NOC from the other parent stating that they have no issues with their child living with your husband/wife under their sponsorship
While uncommon, it is not unheard of for a woman to sponsor both her husband & children for residency in the UAE. There are similar conditions that need to be met for the woman to be able to sponsor her husband & children:
- In addition to the above listed documents, you will need a fully attested educational certificate.
- For women working in the fields of Engineering, Medicine or Education, the income requirements are the same as for men.
- For women not working in these specific fields, their income per month must be at least DHS 10,000 (without accommodation) or DHS 9,000 (with accommodation). A special application must be made to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) as these applications are decided on a case by case basis.
- While women under their husbands/father’s sponsorship can work under that visa (an NOC from the sponsor must be provided), men cannot work under the sponsorship of their wives/mothers. They must obtain an employment visa under the sponsorship of their employer.
Besides spouses and children, many expats often leave their parents in their home countries & eventually hope to be able to bring them over to the UAE.
As with sponsoring a spouse and children, there are conditions and certain documents that need to be met & provided for sponsorship of your parents or parents in law.
The requirements are:
- A minimum monthly income of DHS 20,000 or DHS 19,000
- Original labour contract
- One passport photo of each parent
- Attested proof of your relationship (i.e. birth certificate)
- A 2-bedroom accommodation
- Both parents must be sponsored together;
- If your parents are divorced, then an attested divorce certificate must be provided
- If one of your parents is deceased, then an attested death certificate must be provided
- Proof that you are the sole provider for your parents/parents in law
While further clarification is yet to be issued, the UAE government is taking steps to ensure that all expats have increased family stability and a more positive work-life balance, as well as reaffirming the UAE as the prime destination for global talent.
Get in touch with us here to have the necessary documents attested and/or translated to help ensure that the process for sponsoring your family goes as smoothly & as quickly as possible. You can also give us a call on +971 (0)4 871 6718. We look forward to hearing from you.
