UAE Family Visa Documents Checklist 2026: Documents Required for a Spouse, Children and Parents in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Every Emirate

The family visa documents for the UAE fit on one page: passports and photos for everyone, the sponsor's Emirates ID and salary proof, an attested marriage certificate for a wife or husband, attested birth certificates for children and a medical test for every family member aged 18 and over. Parents need more: a salary of AED 10,000, a AED 5,000 refundable deposit and a two-bedroom home. This checklist goes family member by family member, shows which papers need attestation and Arabic translation, what changes between emirates, and the documents most often sent back. For who qualifies, see our UAE family visa rules.

🧑‍💼 What documents does the sponsor need for a family visa?

Whoever you sponsor, the file starts with your own documents:

What documents does an investor or partner need?

Instead of a salary certificate, a partner or investor shows the company documents: the trade licence, the establishment card and the company MOA showing the partner's own share above AED 75,000. Property owners sponsor through the property investor visa. See our investor and partner family visa guide.

Does my salary certificate need to show accommodation?

Only if your salary is below AED 4,000. With AED 3,000 plus accommodation, the accommodation must appear in the MOHRE salary certificate — a separate letter from the employer is usually not enough. Below AED 4,000, an exception is sometimes possible by combining the husband's and wife's salaries; the authority decides.

📋 Which documents does each family member need?

The overview below is the core of the checklist. Every document issued outside the UAE must be attested; documents in a language other than Arabic or English need a legal Arabic translation.

💍 What documents are required for a wife or husband visa?

Details, fees and timelines are in our spouse visa guide.

Can a woman sponsor her husband, and are extra documents needed?

Yes, a working woman with a valid residence can sponsor her husband and children. For a husband, GDRFA or ICP may ask for more — for example additional income proof — and decides each case.

👧 What documents are required for a child's family visa?

What extra documents are needed for a son over 18?

A son can stay on the family visa up to 25. From 18 he takes the medical test like an adult. Check the age at each renewal: a son who turns 25 needs his own visa. See the son visa guide and the daughter visa guide.

What documents does a baby born in the UAE need?

A UAE birth certificate (issued by the health authority), the baby's passport from your embassy and a photo. The UAE certificate needs no embassy step. Read our birth certificate in Dubai guide and the newborn visa page.

Is the other parent's consent needed for a child's visa?

Usually not when the parents are married and the father sponsors. When the mother sponsors, or the parents are divorced or separated, the authority may ask for the other parent's no-objection letter or the custody order. See family visa after divorce.

👵 What documents are required for a parents visa?

Parents have the longest checklist. The visa is issued for 1 year and renewed every year with the same documents.

Full conditions in our parents visa guide.

🧩 What documents do siblings, in-laws and stepchildren need?

These are special cases, approved case by case for a 1-year visa, and they need a lot of documents: proof that the person depends on you, that no other guardian exists, custody or court papers for stepchildren, and the consent of the other parent where relevant — all attested. Read sponsoring siblings and stepchildren and adopted children before you collect papers.

🖋️ Which family visa documents need attestation and Arabic translation?

Every certificate issued outside the UAE that proves the relationship — marriage and birth certificates, custody orders — must be attested in this order: the issuing country (notary, civil registry or foreign ministry), the UAE Embassy in that country, then MOFA in the UAE. MOFA charges AED 150 per personal document; the embassy and home-country fees vary. Many UAE embassies now accept one application for both their own and the MOFA attestation — see our MOFA attestation guide.

Is an apostille enough for a UAE family visa?

No. The UAE is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not accepted; the UAE Embassy and MOFA steps are still needed.

Our attestation service and legal translation service cover every country.

🏙️ Are the documents required for family visa in Dubai and Abu Dhabi different?

The core list is the same everywhere; two documents change:

More in our guides to the family visa in Abu Dhabi, Ejari for a family visa and family visa health insurance.

🪜 When is each document used during the application?

Step by step: how to apply for a UAE family visa and the family entry permit.

🔄 What are the family visa renewal documents?

Renewal needs the same documents: valid passports, an updated salary certificate, the tenancy contract where required, health insurance and a new medical test for family members aged 18 and over. Keep the attested originals — they are part of your family file. Fees and steps: family visa renewal cost.

🚫 Which documents are most often rejected?

More reasons in family visa rejection reasons.

🕰️ Old document rules vs 2026: what changed?

✅ Printable checklist: what should I tick off before applying?

Print this page or save it as a PDF from your browser, and tick each line:

🤝 Family visa document services by FamilyVisa.ae

FamilyVisa.ae checks your documents and handles the application online:

📝 Quick recap

• Sponsor: passport, Emirates ID, salary certificate (AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 + accommodation).
• Spouse: attested marriage certificate. Children: attested birth certificates.
• Parents: your attested birth certificate, AED 10,000 salary, AED 5,000 deposit, two-bedroom tenancy, insurance.
• Documents from abroad: home country, UAE Embassy, MOFA; Arabic translation if needed. No apostille.
• Dubai: no tenancy contract for wife and children; other emirates: tenancy required.
• Medical test for everyone 18 and over; renewal needs the same documents.

🔗 Related guides

• UAE family visa rules 2026
• Marriage certificate attestation
• Birth certificate attestation
• Salary certificate for a family visa
• MOFA attestation in the UAE
• Family visa cost: inside vs outside the UAE

❓ Frequently asked questions

1. What documents are required for a UAE family visa?

The sponsor's passport, residence and Emirates ID, a salary certificate or labour contract showing AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 plus accommodation), each family member's passport and photo, an attested marriage certificate for a spouse, attested birth certificates for children, and a medical test in the UAE for everyone aged 18 and over. Outside Dubai a tenancy contract is also needed.

2. Which document required for family visa in UAE is most often missing?

The attested marriage or birth certificate. A certificate attested only in the home country is not enough: it also needs the UAE Embassy and MOFA attestation, and an Arabic translation if it is not in Arabic or English.

3. What are the documents required for family visa in Dubai?

The same core list as everywhere: sponsor's passport, Emirates ID and salary certificate, family members' passports and photos, attested marriage and birth certificates, and the medical test from 18. In Dubai no tenancy contract is needed for a wife, husband or children; parents need a two-bedroom home.

4. What are the documents required for family visa in Abu Dhabi?

The same list as Dubai plus a registered tenancy contract (Tawtheeq) for every family visa and health insurance for each family member before the residence is issued.

5. What documents do I need to sponsor my wife?

Her passport copy and photo, your attested marriage certificate with an Arabic translation if needed, your passport, residence, Emirates ID and salary certificate, her current UAE visa if she is in the country, and her medical test after the entry permit.

6. What documents do I need to sponsor my husband?

The same list as for a wife. GDRFA or ICP may ask a woman sponsoring her husband for more, for example additional income proof, and decides each case.

7. What documents do I need for my children's visa?

Each child's passport and photo, an attested birth certificate showing both parents' names as in their passports, usually the parents' attested marriage certificate, and the medical test for children aged 18 and over.

8. What documents do I need for my parents' visa?

Your own attested birth certificate to prove the relationship, a salary of AED 10,000 a month, an AED 5,000 refundable deposit, a tenancy contract for a two-bedroom home, health insurance, the parents' passports and photos, and their medical test. The visa is issued for 1 year.

9. Do marriage and birth certificates need attestation for a family visa?

Yes, when they were issued outside the UAE: in the home country, by the UAE Embassy there, then by MOFA in the UAE. MOFA charges AED 150 per personal document; the embassy and home-country fees vary by country.

10. Is an apostille accepted for a UAE family visa?

No. The UAE is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so the UAE Embassy and MOFA attestation are still required.

11. Do I need an Arabic translation of my certificates?

Only when the certificate is not in Arabic or English. The translation should be done by a licensed legal translator.

12. Do UAE-issued certificates need embassy attestation?

No. A marriage or birth certificate issued in the UAE needs no UAE Embassy step; MOFA attests it directly where required.

13. Is a tenancy contract required for a family visa?

In Dubai, not for a wife, husband or children. In Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates, yes, for every family visa. Parents need a two-bedroom home in every emirate.

14. What salary must the salary certificate show?

At least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. The accommodation must be written in the MOHRE salary certificate itself. Parents need AED 10,000.

15. Who needs a medical test for a family visa?

Every family member aged 18 and over, taken in the UAE after the entry permit is issued. Younger children do not take the test.

16. What are the family visa renewal documents?

The same documents as the first application: valid passports, an updated salary certificate, a tenancy contract where required, health insurance and a new medical test for family members aged 18 and over.

17. What are the family visa requirements besides documents?

A valid UAE residence for the sponsor, a salary of AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 plus accommodation), sons up to 25 and unmarried daughters, and for parents AED 10,000, an AED 5,000 deposit and a two-bedroom home. Full details are in our UAE family visa rules guide.

18. What if the name on my certificate differs from my passport?

Fix it before attestation. A corrected or reissued certificate is a new document and needs its own attestation, so check every name and date first.

19. What documents do I need to sponsor a brother, sister or stepchild?

These are special cases with a 1-year visa, approved case by case. Expect proof of dependency, proof that no other guardian exists, custody or court papers and the other parent's consent where relevant, all attested.

20. How long does it take to prepare family visa documents?

The attestation of certificates from abroad takes the longest: from about 2 weeks to 3 months, depending on the country. Start it before the visa application.

Last reviewed 15 October 2026. Rules and fees are set by GDRFA Dubai, ICP and MOFA and can change; the salary, deposit and MOFA figures are those applied on 15 October 2026, and the amount shown in the 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: u.ae — residence visa for family members, MOFA — attestation FAQs, ICP. FamilyVisa.ae is operated by 800 DOCS LLC SOC, a DET-licensed private visa services company in Dubai — not a government office.