Women Empowerment in the UAE: Sponsoring Residency Permits for Husbands and Children

In a progressive step toward gender equality, the UAE has paved the way for women to sponsor their husbands and children for residency permits. This empowering move highlights the nation’s commitment to supporting women in fulfilling both their professional and personal aspirations.

For countless women striving to unite their families under one roof, this opportunity brings hope and convenience. Here’s everything you need to know about how women in the UAE can sponsor their loved ones for residency.

Family visa in UAE Who Can Sponsor and Eligibility Requirements

Under UAE law, women with a valid work permit can sponsor their husbands and children, provided they meet certain financial criteria. According to the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP), women must earn at least Dh4,000 monthly, or Dh3,000 plus accommodation, to be eligible. Falling short of this salary threshold means women cannot apply for family sponsorship.

Documents Needed for Sponsorship

To successfully apply for a residency permit for your family, you’ll need to gather and submit several essential documents:

Application Form: Fill it out online or at a registered typing center. Emirates ID applications for each family member must also accompany the residency visa application.

Passport Copies: For yourself, your husband, and your children.

Emirates ID: A copy of the sponsor’s (wife’s) UAE resident ID.

Medical Clearance: Certificates for the husband and children aged 18+.

Salary Certificate: From the sponsor’s employer.

Marriage Certificate: Notarized and legalized in your home country, and authenticated by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Birth Certificates: For children, duly attested and translated into Arabic.

NOC from Husband: If you’re sponsoring your children, a no-objection letter from the father is required.

Employment Contract: If employed, provide an attested employment contract.

Tenancy Contract & Ejari: Proof of a valid rental agreement.

Passport Photos: Three passport-sized photos of your husband and children.

Steps to Apply

Submit the Application
Visit the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai, the ICP, or your emirate’s respective immigration office. You can apply online or in person. For convenience, many opt to use Amer Centers or typing offices.

Medical Fitness Tests
Family members aged 18 or older must undergo medical tests for infectious diseases like tuberculosis. Approved clinics and hospitals across the UAE conduct these tests.

Emirates ID Registration
Once medical clearance is granted, family members can apply for their Emirates ID. This involves biometric data collection, including fingerprints and photographs.

Visa Stamping
After approvals, residency visas will be stamped on your family members’ passports.

Final Residency Permit Issuance
Your husband and children will officially become UAE residents, tied to your visa status.

Visa Fees Breakdown

The fees for family residency visas vary by emirate and specific requirements. For Dubai, the GDRFA website lists the following costs:

• Residence Permit Fee: Dh200
• Knowledge Fee: Dh10
• Innovation Fee: Dh10
• Fee Inside the Country: Dh500
• Delivery Fee: Dh20

For applicants in the UAE, the total cost per person may reach Dh3,500, while sponsoring family members outside the UAE generally costs about Dh2,500.