Family Visa Sponsorship in Dubai: Salary Requirements By Category

Who Can Sponsor Family Members in Dubai

Expatriate residents in Dubai may sponsor family members either on long‑term residence visas or on short‑term visit / entry permits. Residence visas allow eligible family members to live in Dubai for a period usually linked to the sponsor’s own residence. Visit visas, by contrast, are time‑limited and do not create long‑term residence rights. Both types are implemented in Dubai by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).

An expatriate resident may sponsor family members for residence when a minimum income condition is met, and job title (profession) is no longer a condition for family residence sponsorship. Dubai follows these federal rules, with applications processed through GDRFA or Amer centres, such as EGSH. It is important to note that income thresholds and conditions can change; you should always confirm the latest figures on GDRFA Dubai before applying.

In practice, the income threshold works as follows. If your salary is below AED 3,000 per month, you would not normally qualify to sponsor a spouse or children through this route. If your salary is between AED 3,000 and AED 4,000, you would typically need to have employer-provided accommodation or personally rented accommodation to meet the “AED 3,000 plus accommodation” rule. A salary of AED 4,000 or more can satisfy the requirement even if accommodation is not part of the salary package, subject to GDRFA assessment.

Higher Salary Thresholds: Parents, Parents-in-Law and Humanitarian Permits

When you sponsor parents or parents‑in‑law, Dubai applies higher income requirements than for a spouse and children. There is also a specific humanitarian residence permit route with different figures.

Sponsoring Parents on Standard Residence Visa (AED 20,000)

An expatriate employee generally must have a minimum monthly salary of AED 20,000 to sponsor parents on residence visas in Dubai. This usually applies when sponsoring both parents together; where only one parent is living or the parents are separated, GDRFA may require supporting documents (such as a death or divorce certificate).

Additional conditions can include valid medical insurance for the parents, a tenancy contract, and evidence that the sponsor is the primary supporter. These conditions must be confirmed with GDRFA before starting the process, as they can vary and may be updated.

Special Case: Dubai Woman Sponsoring Husband and Children

A woman resident in Dubai who is not employed in specific professions (such as an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or other medical professional) may still sponsor her husband and children if her monthly salary exceeds AED 10,000 and she obtains special approval from the Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (DNRD/GDRFA).

This is an exception that depends on GDRFA approval and may be affected by policy updates. Women considering this option should confirm current conditions with GDRFA Dubai before preparing an application.

Visit Visas For Relatives and Friends: Salary Rules for Sponsors

Besides residence visas, Dubai residents can sponsor visit visas (entry permits) for relatives and friends. GDRFA Dubai’s service for an entry permit to visit a relative or friend defines three main salary bands for the sponsor:

• First‑degree relatives (for example, parents, spouse, children): minimum monthly income AED 4,000.
• Second‑ or third‑degree relatives: minimum monthly income AED 8,000.
• Friends: minimum monthly income AED 15,000.

These visit visas are time‑limited and do not grant long‑term residence or work rights.

For example, a Dubai resident earning AED 5,000 per month will normally be able to sponsor a visit visa for a parent (first‑degree relative) but, based on the salary thresholds described above, would not meet the AED 8,000 requirement to sponsor a cousin (third‑degree relative). A resident wishing to invite a friend must meet the highest band of AED 15,000.

Preparing Your Application File: Documents and Practical Steps

Whatever the category, you will need documents that clearly show you meet the relevant salary threshold. Typically, you need to prepare:

• A salary certificate or employment contract showing your monthly income (for example, AED 3,000, 4,000, 8,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, or AED 1,000,000 annual project income for entrepreneurs, depending on your case);
• A tenancy contract, often attested, proving suitable accommodation, especially for humanitarian residence permits and entrepreneur categories;
• Proof of relationship, such as marriage certificates, birth certificates or other civil status documents, as specified by u.ae and GDRFA.

Common reasons for delay or rejection linked to salary rules include a mismatch between the income shown in official documents and actual bank transfers, or reliance on outdated thresholds found on informal websites. To reduce such risks, keep up‑to‑date copies of your employment contract or salary certificate, check issue and expiry dates on tenancy contracts, and confirm the latest requirements on GDRFA Dubai before submission.

Key Takeaways

The main salary thresholds for family sponsorship in Dubai can be summarised as follows:

• Spouse and children (family residence visa): AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation (as per u.ae).
• Parents (standard residence visa): AED 20,000 per month (u.ae, archived guidance).
• Parents (humanitarian permit): AED 10,000 per month plus suitable attested tenancy (GDRFA Dubai).
• Parents‑in‑law (humanitarian permit): AED 10,000 per month (GDRFA Dubai).
• Relatives and friends visit visas: AED 4,000 / 8,000 / 15,000 per month, depending on whether the visitor is a first‑degree relative, second‑/third‑degree relative, or friend (GDRFA Dubai).

Entrepreneur’s family residence permit: pioneering project generating AED 1,000,000 annually plus suitable housing (GDRFA Dubai).

FAQ: Family Visa Sponsorship in Dubai Salary Requirements

What Is the Minimum Salary To Sponsor Family in Dubai?

An expatriate resident can generally sponsor immediate family members on a family residence visa if they earn at least AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. This core rule is most often used for sponsoring a spouse and children. Other family categories, such as parents, have higher thresholds, so you should always check the specific rule that applies to the relative you want to sponsor.

Is an AED 4,000 Salary Enough To Sponsor a Wife and Children in Dubai?

A salary of AED 4,000 per month normally meets the income requirement to sponsor a wife and children on residence visas, provided other eligibility conditions are also satisfied. If your salary is between AED 3,000 and AED 4,000, you would typically need an employer‑provided or your own accommodation to meet the “AED 3,000 plus accommodation” rule.

Can a Woman Sponsor Her Husband and Children in Dubai and What Salary Is Needed?

Yes, in some cases. A woman who is not employed as an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or in another medical profession may still sponsor her husband and children if she earns more than AED 10,000 per month and obtains special approval from DNRD/GDRFA Dubai.

How Much Salary Is Required To Sponsor Parents in Dubai?

For a standard parents’ residence visa in Dubai, a minimum monthly salary of AED 20,000 is required. There is also a humanitarian residence permit route via GDRFA Dubai that requires a minimum monthly salary of AED 10,000 plus a suitable attested tenancy contract for sponsoring parents.

What Salary Do I Need To Sponsor My Parents‑in‑Law in Dubai?

To sponsor parents‑in‑law in Dubai under the humanitarian residence permit route, GDRFA Dubai requires a salary certificate or employment contract showing at least AED 10,000 per month. GDRFA may ask for further evidence, such as documents showing that your parents‑in‑law need your support.

What Salary Is Required To Sponsor Relatives and Friends on a Visit Visa in Dubai?

For visit visas (entry permits) sponsored by a Dubai resident, GDRFA Dubai defines three salary bands for the sponsor: AED 4,000 per month for first‑degree relatives (e.g. parents, spouse, children); AED 8,000 per month for second‑ or third‑degree relatives; AED 15,000 per month for friends. These are visit visas only and do not provide long‑term residence.

What Are the Income Requirements To Sponsor My Family as an Entrepreneur in Dubai?

If you are an entrepreneur nominated by Dubai Future Foundation, GDRFA Dubai’s service for a foreign entrepreneur’s family requires that your project is a pioneering project registered with the Ministry of Economy or a competent local authority, and that it generates at least AED 1,000,000 in annual income, with suitable housing provided for your family.

Does Job Title Still Matter for Family Visa Sponsorship in the UAE?

Job title is no longer a condition for sponsoring family members on residence visas in the UAE, including Dubai. The key factor is that the sponsor meets the minimum income requirement and other eligibility conditions (such as valid residence, medical insurance and housing).