Family Entry Permit UAE 2026: The First Step of the Family Residence Visa — Validity, Cost, Change of Status Inside the Country and Common Problems

The family entry permit UAE residents apply for is the first step of every family residence visa: it lets a wife, husband, child or parent enter the country — or change status if already here — and then finish the medical test, Emirates ID and residence. In Dubai the entry permit costs AED 200 plus VAT, it is usually issued in 48 hours, and after entry the family member has 60 days to complete the residence. This guide explains the entry permit step, its validity, entering versus changing status inside the UAE, and the problems that most often delay families.

📄 What is a family entry permit in the UAE?

It is an electronic permit — GDRFA calls it an entry visa for residence without work (family sponsorship) — issued in the name of the family member and linked to your file as sponsor. It is not a visit visa and not yet a residence: it is the bridge between the two. The family member flies in on it (or switches to it inside the UAE), and while it is valid you complete the medical test, Emirates ID and the residence application.

🧭 Where does the entry permit fit in the family visa process?

For the full process, see how to apply for a UAE family visa and the UAE residence visa processing time.

👪 Who can I apply for an entry permit for?

What salary do I need for a family entry permit?

The same as for the family visa: AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, in any emirate and for any job title. Partners and investors qualify through the company MOA when their own share is above AED 75,000. Details in our guide to the minimum salary for a family visa and the UAE family visa rules.

Can a woman apply for an entry permit for her husband?

Yes. A working woman with a valid residence can sponsor her husband and children. For a husband, GDRFA or ICP may ask for more documents; for children, a no-objection letter from the father can be requested.

📂 What documents are needed for the family entry permit?

Do the certificates need attestation for the entry permit?

Yes. A certificate issued abroad must be attested in the home country, by the UAE embassy there and by MOFA in the UAE, and translated into Arabic where needed. Unattested certificates are the number one reason an entry permit is returned. See our MOFA attestation guide and family visa documents checklist.

📅 How long is the family entry permit valid?

Two different clocks run, and both matter:

Can the entry permit be extended?

Usually no. A family entry permit is not extended before entry: if the family member cannot travel in time, the sponsor applies for a new one. Plan the application around a realistic travel date.

What happens if the 60 days after entry run out?

🔄 Can my family get the entry permit while inside the UAE?

Yes — this is the change of status. If your wife, husband, children or parents are already in the UAE on a visit or tourist visa, the sponsor applies for the entry permit with change of status. The visit visa is replaced by the entry permit and the family member does not need to leave. The inside-country fee is added to the cost.

Is change of status always allowed?

In most cases for a spouse, children and parents. It is decided by GDRFA or ICP; a person with an overstay or another open case may have to settle it first or leave and enter on a new permit.

For the full cost difference, see our family visa cost inside vs outside the UAE.

💰 How much does the family entry permit cost?

The entry permit is only part of the family visa cost: the medical test, Emirates ID, insurance and residence fees follow. ICP fees in the other emirates can differ; the amount shown in the system when you apply is final. See the family visa calculator.

🩺 What do I do after my family enters on the entry permit?

Check the medical with our visa medical result check and the card with the Emirates ID status check.

Can my family member leave the UAE before the residence is ready?

It is better not to. The entry permit is for one entry: leaving before the residence is issued usually ends it, and a new permit is needed to come back.

🚫 What are the most common entry permit problems?

How do I check the status of the entry permit?

On the GDRFA Dubai or ICP website or app with the application number, or see our page to check visa status in the UAE.

🕰️ Old entry permit rules vs 2026: what changed?

🤝 Entry permit services by FamilyVisa.ae

We prepare the entry permit and every step after it — online, from your phone:

📝 Quick recap

• The entry permit is step 1 of the family residence visa — applied for by the sponsor on GDRFA or ICP.
• Dubai fee: AED 200 plus VAT; inside the UAE add AED 500 plus AED 20 for the change of status.
• Enter before the permit expires; it is not extended. Then 60 days to finish the residence.
• Documents: passport, photo, salary proof, attested marriage and birth certificates, tenancy outside Dubai.
• After entry: medical test (18+), Emirates ID biometrics, 2-year residence (parents 1 year).

🔗 Related guides

• How to apply for a UAE family visa
• UAE residence visa processing time
• Family visa cost inside vs outside the UAE
• UAE family visit visa
• Family visa documents checklist
• Visa medical result check

❓ Frequently asked questions

1. What is a family entry permit in the UAE?

It is the first step of the family residence visa. The sponsor applies for an entry permit (officially an entry visa for residence without work, family sponsorship), and the family member uses it to enter the UAE, or to change status if already inside, before the medical test, Emirates ID and residence.

2. Who applies for the family entry permit?

The sponsor: the husband, wife, father or mother who holds a valid UAE residence and meets the salary rule. Dubai residents apply through GDRFA Dubai, residents of the other emirates through ICP.

3. How much does the family entry permit cost in Dubai?

GDRFA Dubai lists AED 200 plus 5% VAT when the family member is outside the UAE. If the person is already inside the country, an inside-country fee of AED 500 and two fees of AED 10 are added.

4. How long is the family entry permit valid?

The family member must enter the UAE within the validity printed on the permit, usually 60 days from the date of issue. Entry permits cannot be extended; if it expires before entry, a new permit is needed.

5. How long after entry must the residence be completed?

Within 60 days of entering the UAE on the entry permit. In that time the medical test (for 18 and over), Emirates ID biometrics and the residence application must be done.

6. What happens if the 60 days after entry pass?

The person becomes an overstayer and a fine of AED 50 a day applies until the status is fixed. Start the medical test and Emirates ID in the first weeks to avoid this.

7. How long does it take to get the entry permit?

Usually about 48 hours once the application is complete. Missing attestation or a wrong document can add days.

8. Can my wife get the entry permit while she is in the UAE on a visit visa?

Yes. The sponsor applies for the entry permit with a change of status, so she does not need to leave the country. The inside-country fee is added.

9. Is change of status always possible inside the UAE?

In most cases for a wife, husband, children and parents on a visit or tourist visa. It is decided by GDRFA or ICP, and some cases, such as certain overstays, may require leaving the country.

10. What documents are needed for the family entry permit?

A photo and passport copy (valid at least 6 months) of the family member, the sponsor's labour contract or salary certificate, the attested marriage certificate for a spouse and the attested birth certificate for children. Tenancy is needed outside Dubai.

11. Do marriage and birth certificates need attestation for the entry permit?

Yes. Certificates issued outside the UAE must be attested in the home country, by the UAE embassy there and by MOFA in the UAE, and translated into Arabic where needed.

12. What salary do I need for the family entry permit?

AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation written in the MOHRE salary certificate, for a wife, husband and children. Parents need AED 10,000, a refundable deposit of AED 5,000 and a two-bedroom home.

13. Can I apply for my son's entry permit if he is over 25?

No, sons can be sponsored up to 25. A son with special needs is the exception. Daughters can be sponsored at any age while unmarried.

14. Can the family member work on the entry permit?

No. The entry permit and the family residence are for residence without work. To work, the family member needs a work permit from MOHRE or an employer visa.

15. Can the family member travel out and back on the entry permit?

No. The entry permit is for one entry. If the person leaves before the residence is issued, the permit usually ends and a new one is needed.

16. How do I check the status of the entry permit?

On the GDRFA Dubai or ICP website or app with the application number, or through the email sent when the permit is issued.

17. What if the name on the entry permit is wrong?

Do not travel on it. A spelling that does not match the passport can stop the person at the airport. Ask for a correction or a new permit before travelling.

18. Is a tenancy contract needed for the entry permit?

In Dubai, no tenancy contract is needed for a wife and children. In the other emirates a tenancy contract is required. For parents a two-bedroom home is needed.

19. Is the entry permit refundable if my family does not travel?

Usually not. Government fees are generally not refunded once the permit is issued, so apply when the travel date is fairly certain.

20. What happens after the entry permit?

After entry or change of status: the medical fitness test for family members aged 18 and over, health insurance where required, Emirates ID biometrics and the residence application. The family visa is then issued for 2 years.

21. Is there a residence sticker in the passport now?

No. Residence stickers were replaced by the Emirates ID, which is now the proof of residence. The entry permit itself is an electronic document sent by email.

22. Can a woman apply for an entry permit for her husband?

Yes, a working woman with a valid residence can sponsor her husband and children. For a husband the authority may ask for more documents, and the decision is with GDRFA or ICP.

Last reviewed 15 October 2026. Rules and fees are set by GDRFA Dubai and ICP and can change; the fees quoted are the amounts FamilyVisa.ae pays on 15 October 2026, and the amount shown in the GDRFA or ICP system when you apply is the final reference. Every application is decided by the immigration authorities. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Main official sources: GDRFA Dubai — entry visa for residence without work (family sponsorship), GDRFA Dubai, ICP. FamilyVisa.ae is operated by 800 DOCS LLC SOC, a DET-licensed private visa services company in Dubai — not a government office.