★★★★★
Highly recommend. The team handled my parents' visa from start to finish. The calculator helped me budget before starting — zero surprises.
Free UAE Family Visa Tool
Know your exact family visa cost in under 30s.
Itemized government fees for a new visa or a renewal — no signup, no phone number, just clear answers.
Free · No signup · Itemized in under 30 seconds
visa cost estimator
Example · Spouse (new visa)
Entry permit339
Emirates ID354
Medical fitness270
Visa stamping410
Government feesAED 1,373
1 Check if you qualify
Who can you sponsor?
A family visa lets you bring your spouse, children, or parents to live in the UAE under your sponsorship. Each category has its own minimum salary set by the government.
SpouseAED 4,000/mo +
Salary AED 4,000/month (or AED 3,000 + employer accommodation). Needs an attested marriage certificate.
ChildrenAED 4,000/mo +
Sons up to 25, unmarried daughters (no age limit). Same salary threshold. Attested birth certificate required.
ParentsAED 10,000/mo +
Both sponsored together. Salary AED 10,000/month, 2-bedroom tenancy minimum, plus proof of dependency.
MaidAED 25,000/mo household
Household income AED 25,000/month. Separate visa type. See maid visa →
2 Do-it-yourself guide
The full process, step by step.
Everything you need to do it yourself — every document and stage. The brand-new application is first, the renewal process follows below.
New
New Family Visa
Documents you need Sponsor — you
Passport copy
Sponsor passport — validity not strictly checked
Emirates ID copy
Front and back, clear digital scan
Labour contract
Confirms your salary meets the threshold
Documents you need Dependent — family member
Passport copy
Minimum 6 months validity
Recent photo
Passport-size, white background
Attested marriage certificate
For a spouse — attested by issuing country & UAE MOFA
Attested birth certificate
For each child — attested & translated if needed
Start attestation early. Foreign marriage and birth certificates must be attested by your home country and UAE MOFA. This usually takes longer than the visa itself. See attestation →
1
Documentation
Gather the sponsor and dependent documents above. Foreign certificates must be attested before anything else can start.
2
Family file opening
A one-time family file is opened in the immigration system under your sponsorship. Required before any dependent can be added.
3
Entry permit
Application filed with GDRFA Dubai or ICP. Once approved, immigration issues an e-visa (electronic entry permit).
60-day deadline: the dependent must enter the UAE within 60 days of e-visa issuance, or the permit expires.
4
Arrival or change of status
Two paths, depending on where the dependent is when the e-visa is issued:
Outside the UAE
Dependent enters the UAE using the new e-visa.
Already inside
Exit and re-enter, or apply for a change of status to switch without leaving.
60 days to finish stamping from this point — steps 5, 6 and 7 must complete inside this window.
5
Medical 18+ only
Fitness test at an approved medical centre. Children under 18 are exempt.
- Medical application
- Screening at an approved centre
- Fitness report issued
6
Emirates ID
Emirates ID application plus biometrics where required.
- Emirates ID application
- Biometrics — one-time per person, skipped if given before 15+ only
7
Visa stamping
Final immigration step — the residence visa is stamped electronically.
8
Emirates ID delivery
The card is printed and delivered to your home by Emirates Post, usually within a few working days. Once you have it, the process is complete.
Total time: roughly 5–10 working days once documents (including attestation) are ready. Attestation itself can take much longer — start it as early as possible.
Already have a visa? Renew it below
Renew
Family Visa Renewal
Renew within 30 days before expiry. After a visa expires there is a grace period, but staying beyond it triggers daily overstay fines. Renewing early avoids both fines and travel issues.
Documents you need Sponsor & dependent
Sponsor Emirates ID
Front and back, clear digital copy
Dependent Emirates ID
Or current residence visa copy
Dependent passport copy
Minimum 6 months validity
Recent photo
Passport-size, white background
Attested relationship certificate
Marriage cert (spouse) or birth cert (children)
Renewal records (current expiry, dependent details) are already in the immigration system, so the list is shorter than a new visa.
1
Documentation
Collect the documents above. No new entry permit is needed since the dependent already has a residence file.
2
Medical 18+ only
A fresh medical fitness test is required at renewal, booked at the nearest approved centre.
- Medical application
- Screening at an approved centre
- New fitness report issued
3
Emirates ID renewal
Filed in parallel with the residence renewal to save time.
- Emirates ID renewal application
- Biometrics — only if not already on file 15+ only
4
Visa stamping
Insurance arranged where required. Immigration reviews the file, and the new residence visa is stamped digitally.
5
Emirates ID delivery
The renewed card is printed and delivered to your home by Emirates Post. The renewal is complete once you have it.
Total time: 3–5 working days. Renew within 30 days before expiry to avoid overstay fines.
3 What it costs
Your exact cost in under 30 seconds.
Free calculator · estimate in AED
Itemized government fees — no signup, no phone number.
Answer a few questions about who you're sponsoring and whether it's new or a renewal, and see every fee broken down clearly. Use it as many times as you like.
Featured in Gulf News, Khaleej Times & The National
4 Your choice
Do it yourself, or we handle it.
You now know everything you need. Both are honest options — pick whichever suits you.
Path A
Do it yourself
You pay only the government fees, but you handle everything.
- Apply via UAE Pass, GDRFA or ICP
- Book your own medical & biometric appointments
- Small document errors can cause rejection — you reapply
- No support if something unexpected comes up
Path B · Recommended
We handle it for you
Government fees plus a service charge. We do the typing, booking and follow-ups.
- 100% on WhatsApp — no office visits
- We pre-check documents to avoid rejection
- Medical & biometric centres booked for you
- 1,000+ visas / month — we know the edge cases
- Rider service if originals are needed
5 Real people
What customers say
Verified reviews from UAE residents who used our service.
★★★★★
5.0
284 verified reviews
· last 12 months
★★★★★
Did my wife's visa renewal entirely on WhatsApp — never visited any office. Medical and Emirates ID centres were booked closest to my apartment.
★★★★★
Used the calculator first to compare quotes — FamilyVisa.ae was the most honest about government fee vs service charge. Son's visa in 6 days.
6 Still wondering?
Frequently asked questions
Real questions from real customers. Tap to expand.
Do I need to visit your office?
No. The whole process is online. Share documents digitally; if any original is required we send a rider to your location.
Are digital copies enough?
In most cases, yes. If any original document is required at any stage, we'll tell you clearly and arrange collection through our rider service.
Can I apply from outside the UAE?
Yes. You can apply via UAE Pass from anywhere. However, some steps may still require the dependent to enter the UAE for visa completion.
What's the maximum age for my son to stay under my sponsorship?
Generally up to 25 years. Beyond that, approval depends on the case and supporting documents.
What's the maximum age for my daughter?
A daughter can remain under parent sponsorship as long as she is unmarried. If she is married, the sponsorship eligibility may change.
Are there exemptions for older children?
Yes. If you can prove the child is fully dependent on the parents, immigration may consider the application even above the normal age limit, subject to approval.
When is the immigration deposit refunded?
Usually after the dependent visa is cancelled. It's not normally processed while the visa is still active.
Can I change jobs while my dependents' visas are active?
In many cases yes, you can hold your dependents' visas during a job change so they don't need to be cancelled immediately.
Is health insurance mandatory?
For some Emirates yes, for visa issuance or renewal. For Dubai, it's generally not requested at the immigration stage. Requirements vary by Emirate.
Can I sponsor children if they study abroad?
Yes. They will need to enter the UAE to complete the visa process, then can travel back to study.
Do children studying abroad need to enter every 6 months?
Normally yes. With valid education documents, an exemption may be granted extending up to one year, subject to approval.
What if my application is rejected?
Visa approval is at immigration's discretion. If rejected, we review the documents, identify the issue, and advise on reapplication. Document inconsistencies can often be corrected before reapplying.
Do certificates need Arabic translation?
English or Arabic documents may not need translation. Other languages usually require legal Arabic translation to avoid delays.
At what age is the medical test required?
18 and above. Children below 18 generally don't require it.
At what age are Emirates ID biometrics needed?
15 and above, especially if not already registered in the system.
Can I choose the nearest medical/biometrics center?
Yes, in most cases — based on availability and your Emirate. Options depend on location, visa type, and appointment slots.
You're informed. What's next?
You've seen everything — eligibility, documents, process and cost. Take the path that fits.