Son Visa in Dubai and the UAE (2026): Age Limit, Sponsorship Rules, Exemption After 25, Documents, Process and Cost

A son visa in Dubai is the family residence visa a UAE resident parent sponsors for his or her son. Under the current UAE rules you can sponsor your son up to the age of 25, with a minimum salary of AED 4,000 a month (or AED 3,000 plus accommodation from your employer), and beyond 25 only with an exemption from GDRFA Dubai for a son who is still dependent on you — a student, a person of determination or a son with a medical condition. This guide explains the age limit, the exemption after 25, the documents, the step-by-step procedure for a son outside or inside the country, the medical and Emirates ID steps, and exactly what a son visa costs when you apply yourself online, or through an Amer centre.

👨‍👦 Can I sponsor my son in Dubai?

Yes. Any expatriate resident of the UAE — father or mother — with a valid residence visa and a salary of at least AED 4,000 a month (or AED 3,000 plus accommodation provided by the employer) can sponsor a son who is under 25. Your job title no longer matters: since the 2022 visa reforms, employees can sponsor their families regardless of their profession. A UAE residence visa for your son is a dependent residence visa under your family file, with the same validity as your own residence (normally 2 years for employees).

📏 What is the age limit for a son visa in the UAE?

The age limit is 25. Under the Executive Regulation of the UAE entry and residence law (Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022, in force since October 2022), a resident may sponsor his or her "children who have not reached 25" and "unmarried daughters". GDRFA Dubai's own service page puts it simply: "up to 25 years old, a resident may sponsor his male children". The same source adds that children of determination (with special needs) can be sponsored regardless of age.

Can I sponsor my son after 18 in Dubai?

Yes. Turning 18 does not end the sponsorship. What changes at 18 is the procedure: your son now needs a medical fitness test (blood test and chest X-ray) for every new visa and every renewal, and the government fees are those of an adult — AED 273 more than a child's visa for the normal medical test. He stays on your family file as a dependent until the day he turns 25.

Can I sponsor my son after 25 in the UAE?

Only with an exemption. At 25 the standard family visa can no longer be issued or renewed. Your son then needs either his own residence visa — an employment visa, a student visa, a Golden Visa or a Green visa — or an exemption as a dependent son, explained next.

🧾 Son visa exemption: can I sponsor my son after 25 if he is still dependent on me?

Yes, in specific situations — and only with GDRFA approval. GDRFA Dubai handles sons aged 25 and above under its residence permit for humanitarian cases service. Every request is reviewed by a committee case by case; if it is approved, your son receives a one-year renewable residence permit under your sponsorship, and a refundable financial guarantee of AED 5,000 per request (up to AED 15,000 in total) is paid. GDRFA quotes 14 days for the decision. The exemption is never automatic: it depends on the documents and on the committee's decision.

Who may qualify for a son visa exemption?

What documents are required for the exemption?

How do I apply for a son visa exemption in Dubai?

📂 What documents are required for a son visa in Dubai?

For a standard son visa (under 25), GDRFA Dubai asks for these documents. Everything can be submitted as clear photos or scans:

Our required documents guide shows the photo and scan standards GDRFA and ICP accept.

🪜 How do I apply for my son's residence visa in Dubai? Step by step

There are three ways to process a son visa, and the government steps are the same in all three:

The procedure from entry permit to Emirates ID

How long does a son visa take in Dubai?

Outside or inside the UAE: what changes?

The standard case is a son who is outside the UAE: the entry permit is issued, he enters on the e-visa within 60 days and completes the medical, Emirates ID and visa steps here. If your son is already inside the UAE — on a visit visa, a cancelled residence or another sponsor's visa — the entry permit is issued inside the country and a change of status replaces the entry (or he exits and re-enters on the new e-visa). The steps after that are identical; the inside-country entry permit and the status change cost more — see the cost section.

💰 How much does a new son visa cost in Dubai?

Government fees for a new son visa are AED 1,103 for a son under 18 and AED 1,376 for a son aged 18 or above when he is outside the UAE, plus a one-time family file opening fee of AED 203 for first-time sponsors. If your son is already inside the UAE, add AED 1,280 for the inside-country entry permit and the change of status. Through an Amer centre you pay the government fees plus the centre's charges on each item. The tables compare both.

How much does a son visa cost below 18?

How much does a son visa cost above 18?

How much more does it cost if my son is already inside the UAE?

AED 1,280 more in government fees (AED 1,291 through an Amer centre): the inside-country entry permit costs AED 989 instead of AED 339, and the change of status adds AED 630.

What else can be added to the bill?

Government and Amer centre figures are taken from the FamilyVisa.ae Family Visa Calculator (sponsor on a regular 2-year employment visa, normal medical), checked 13 October 2026. The live calculator is the final reference; investor and partner sponsors pay slightly different entry-permit and status-change fees — see our family visa guide for investors and partners.

Is applying online cheaper than going to an Amer centre?

Yes. Doing it yourself through GDRFA with UAE Pass saves the Amer charges: AED 229 for a son under 18 and AED 276 for a son aged 18 or above applying from outside the UAE, plus AED 50 on the family file. What you give up is the typist who checks the file and resubmits it if something is rejected.

🔁 Son visa renewal: validity, steps and cost

A son's residence visa is valid for the same period as the sponsor's — normally 2 years for employees, investors and partners, and up to 10 years for the children of Golden Visa holders. Renewal is simpler than a new visa: there is no entry permit and no change of status.

How do I renew my son's visa in Dubai?

How much does a son visa renewal cost?

Full details in our family visa renewal guide. Two birthdays matter at renewal: a son who has turned 18 since the last visa now needs the medical test, and a son who has turned 25 cannot be renewed on the standard family visa — he needs the exemption or his own visa.

👩 Can a mother sponsor her son in Dubai?

Yes. A resident mother can sponsor her children under the same rules as a father — a salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, and the attested birth certificate. A no-objection letter from the father is not required when the mother sponsors; if the parents are divorced, GDRFA may ask for the custody documents, and a widowed mother submits the father's death certificate. The children can be on the mother's file even while the father holds his own residence visa.

🎓 My son studies abroad: does he lose his UAE residence visa?

The 180-day rule applies to students too. A UAE residence visa lapses when its holder stays outside the country for more than 180 days, whether or not he is studying at a university abroad. Your son therefore either returns to the UAE at least once every 180 days, or you apply to GDRFA for an exemption with the university's enrolment letter. The exemption covers one 180-day period at a time, so it has to be applied for again before each period ends.

💼 Can my son work in the UAE while he is on my sponsorship?

Yes, with a relative work permit. A son on a family visa does not have to move to an employment visa to take a job. The employer applies to MOHRE for a work permit for dependents sponsored by family members — known as the relative work permit (government fees AED 50 for the application and AED 250 for the permit, valid two years; the employee must be 18 or older). He stays under your sponsorship, and the employer does not need a quota for him. Free zone companies issue the equivalent free-zone work permit.

🤝 Son visa services in Dubai by FamilyVisa.ae

FamilyVisa.ae handles the complete son visa for you — online, from your phone, at the official government rates:

📝 Quick recap

• A UAE resident parent can sponsor a son up to the age of 25 with a salary of AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 plus accommodation).
• Under 18: no medical test. From 18: medical test at every issue and renewal. Emirates ID biometrics from 15.
• After 25: only with a GDRFA exemption — students, sons of determination and medically dependent sons; 1-year permit, AED 5,000 refundable guarantee, committee decision.
• Entry permit → e-visa (60 days to enter or change status) → within 60 days: medical, Emirates ID application, biometrics, visa issuance → Emirates ID delivered.
• Government fees from outside the UAE: AED 1,103 (under 18) and AED 1,376 (18+); inside the UAE add AED 1,280; family file AED 203 once.
• Renewal every 2 years without an entry permit: AED 764 (under 18) or AED 1,037 (18+).
• Dubai: no tenancy contract or insurance condition for a son's visa; other emirates require both.

🔗 Related guides

• Daughter visa in Dubai: no age limit while unmarried
• Spouse visa in the UAE: sponsoring a wife or husband
• Parents visa in Dubai: salary, deposit and cost
• Family visa cost: inside vs outside the country
• Family visa renewal cost in Dubai
• How to apply for a UAE family visa
• MOFA attestation: documents, fees and timelines
• Newborn visa in the UAE

❓ Frequently asked questions

1. Can I sponsor my son in Dubai?

Yes. A UAE resident father or mother with a salary of at least AED 4,000 a month (or AED 3,000 plus employer accommodation) can sponsor a son under 25 on a dependent residence visa. In Dubai no tenancy contract or insurance policy is needed to issue a son's visa.

2. What is the age limit for a son visa in the UAE?

25. Under Cabinet Resolution 65 of 2022, a resident may sponsor sons who have not reached 25 (and unmarried daughters with no age limit). Sons of determination can be sponsored regardless of age. After 25 a son needs his own visa or a GDRFA exemption.

3. Can I sponsor my son after 25 in the UAE?

Only with an exemption. GDRFA Dubai reviews sons aged 25 and above under its residence permit for humanitarian cases: students with proof of continuing studies or a graduation certificate, and dependent sons with a disability or medical condition. If approved, the permit is valid for one year, renewable, with a refundable AED 5,000 guarantee.

4. Is there an age exemption for a dependent son?

Yes, but it is decided case by case by GDRFA's committee. Sons of determination have no age limit under the law. Students and sons with a serious medical condition can be approved with attested proof of study or recent medical reports. It is never automatic.

5. Can I sponsor my disabled son after 25?

Yes. Children with special needs can be sponsored regardless of age. Submit a people-of-determination card or recent medical reports confirming the disability with the GDRFA application; reports issued abroad must be attested and translated into Arabic.

6. Can I sponsor my autistic son in Dubai after the normal age limit?

Yes, as a son of determination or under the humanitarian route. Provide a people-of-determination card or recent medical reports from a government or accredited hospital confirming the diagnosis and his dependency on you. GDRFA decides each request on its merits.

7. Can parents sponsor a son who cannot support himself because of a medical condition?

Yes, through GDRFA Dubai's residence permit for humanitarian cases. Recent medical reports showing the condition and the dependency are required, the committee decides case by case, and an approved permit is valid for one year at a time with a refundable AED 5,000 guarantee.

8. How can I apply for a son visa exemption?

Submit a residence permit for humanitarian cases request to GDRFA Dubai — online with UAE Pass, at an Amer centre or through FamilyVisa.ae — with the sponsor's salary certificate or contract, the son's passport, the attested birth certificate and the proof of study or medical reports. GDRFA quotes 14 days for the committee's decision.

9. Does my son need a medical test for his visa?

Only from the age of 18. Sons aged 18 and above take a medical fitness test (blood test and chest X-ray) for every new visa and renewal: AED 273 for the normal test or AED 703 for VIP. Sons under 18 are exempt.

10. At what age does my son need Emirates ID biometrics?

From 15. Fingerprints and a photo are taken at an ICP centre or approved typing centre once a child has completed 15 years. Younger children get their Emirates ID on the application alone.

11. How much does a son visa cost in Dubai?

Government fees from outside the UAE are AED 1,103 for a son under 18 (entry permit AED 339, Emirates ID AED 354, visa issuance AED 410) and AED 1,376 for a son aged 18 or above (including the AED 273 medical test). If he is already inside the UAE, add AED 1,280 for the inside-country entry permit and the change of status. First-time sponsors also pay AED 203 to open the family file.

12. How much does a son visa cost below 18?

AED 1,103 in government fees when applying from outside the UAE, or AED 2,383 when the son is already inside the country. Through an Amer centre the totals are AED 1,332 and AED 2,623. No medical test is needed under 18.

13. How much does a son visa cost above 18?

AED 1,376 in government fees from outside the UAE (including the AED 273 normal medical test), or AED 2,656 inside the country. Through an Amer centre: AED 1,652 and AED 2,943.

14. How much does it cost to apply for a son visa myself online?

Only the government fees: AED 1,103 (under 18) or AED 1,376 (18 and above) from outside the UAE, plus AED 203 once for the family file. You apply through GDRFA Dubai with UAE Pass and pay no extra charges.

15. How much does Amer charge for a son visa?

Amer centres add their charges to each government item. The calculator shows AED 1,332 for a son under 18 and AED 1,652 for a son 18 or above from outside the UAE (AED 2,623 and AED 2,943 inside), compared with AED 1,103 and AED 1,376 in pure government fees.

16. What is the difference between DIY and Amer for a son visa?

About AED 229 to AED 287 per visa plus AED 50 on the family file. Applying yourself through GDRFA with UAE Pass costs only the government fees; an Amer centre adds its typing charges on each item.

17. Is applying online cheaper than applying through Amer?

Yes. The government fees are the same, so you save the Amer charges — AED 229 for a son under 18 and AED 276 for a son 18 or above applying from outside the UAE. You then handle the follow-up, medical and biometrics bookings yourself.

18. What documents are required for a son visa?

Your son's passport copy and photo, his attested birth certificate (with a legal Arabic translation if needed), your passport, visa and Emirates ID, your salary certificate or labour contract, his current UAE visa if he is here, and the medical fitness result for sons aged 18 and above.

19. Does my son's birth certificate need attestation?

Yes, if it was issued outside the UAE: attestation in the issuing country, by the UAE Embassy there and by UAE MOFA, plus a legal Arabic translation if it is not in Arabic or English. It is the slowest step — one week to three months depending on the country — so start it first.

20. How long does a son visa take in Dubai?

GDRFA Dubai usually issues the entry permit within about 48 hours. Your son then has 60 days to enter or change status and 60 days after that to complete the medical, Emirates ID, biometrics and visa issuance. With a complete file the whole process typically takes 5 to 10 working days.

21. Can my son change from a visit visa to a residence visa without leaving the UAE?

Yes. Apply for the entry permit inside the country (AED 989) and then a change of status (AED 630) within 60 days, before the visit visa expires. Alternatively he can exit and re-enter on the new e-visa without paying the status-change fee.

22. How long is a son visa valid and how is it renewed?

The same period as the sponsor's residence — normally 2 years. Renewal needs no entry permit: medical test (18+), Emirates ID renewal and residence renewal, AED 764 for a son under 18 or AED 1,037 for a son 18 and above in government fees.

23. What happens to my son's visa when he turns 25?

The standard family visa cannot be issued or renewed after 25. Before his birthday, either apply for a GDRFA exemption (student, person of determination or medical dependency) or move him to his own visa — employment, student, Golden or Green visa.

24. Can a mother sponsor her son in Dubai?

Yes, under the same salary rule as a father. A no-objection letter from the father is not required; in divorce cases custody documents may be requested, and a widowed mother submits the death certificate.

25. Can my son work while on my sponsorship?

Yes. His employer applies to MOHRE for a relative work permit (work permit for dependents sponsored by family members): AED 50 application and AED 250 issuance, valid two years, for dependents aged 18 or older. He stays on your family visa.

26. Can my son stay on my visa while he studies abroad?

Only if he returns within 180 days or gets an exemption. A residence visa lapses after more than 180 days outside the UAE, even for university students. Apply to GDRFA for an exemption with the university's enrolment letter; it covers 180 days at a time and must be applied for again before each period ends.

27. Do I need a tenancy contract or health insurance for my son's visa?

Not in Dubai: GDRFA does not require a tenancy contract or an insurance policy to issue a child's visa (Dubai's health insurance law still expects residents to be covered). In the other emirates an attested tenancy contract and a medical insurance policy are required.

28. Is a son visa cheaper from outside the UAE?

Yes, by AED 1,280 per person: the entry permit costs AED 339 instead of AED 989 and there is no AED 630 change-of-status fee. Government fees are AED 1,103 (under 18) or AED 1,376 (18+) from outside, against AED 2,383 and AED 2,656 inside.

29. What is the grace period after my son's visa expires or is cancelled?

GDRFA Dubai states 60 days for family residence permits (other categories have 30 to 180 days). After the grace period the overstay fine is AED 50 per day. Renew within the 30 days before expiry to avoid it.

Last reviewed 13 October 2026. Rules and fees are set by GDRFA Dubai, ICP and MOHRE and can change; the government fees quoted were checked in our calculator on 13 October 2026, and the live Family Visa Calculator is the final reference. Approval of 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, GDRFA Dubai — residence permit for family members, GDRFA Dubai — residence permit for humanitarian cases, ICP — issuing a residency permit, MOHRE — work permits for dependents sponsored by family members. FamilyVisa.ae is operated by 800 DOCS LLC SOC, a DET-licensed private visa services company in Dubai — not a government office.