UAE Family Visit Visa 2026: How Residents Sponsor Parents, Wife, Children, Siblings and Relatives — Salary, Cost, Documents and Extension

A UAE family visit visa lets a resident bring parents, a wife or husband, children, siblings and other relatives to the UAE for 30, 60 or 90 days. The sponsor needs a valid residence and a monthly salary of AED 4,000 for close family, AED 8,000 for siblings and other relatives, or AED 15,000 for friends. In Dubai the visa fee starts at AED 200, plus a refundable deposit, and the visa is usually ready in about 48 hours. This guide explains who you can invite, the sponsor requirements, documents, cost, duration, extending the visa and switching to a residence visa.

✈️ What is a UAE family visit visa?

It is a short-stay visa that you, as a UAE resident, apply for on behalf of a relative. You are the sponsor: you apply online, pay the fees and the deposit, and you are responsible for the visitor leaving on time. It is different from a tourist visa (sponsored by an airline, hotel or travel agent) and from a family residence visa (a 2-year residence with an Emirates ID).

👪 Who can I invite on a family visit visa?

Almost any relative — the difference is the salary you need. GDRFA Dubai groups visitors into three tiers:

Can I invite my siblings on a visit visa?

Yes. A brother or sister can visit on a visa sponsored by you. In Dubai siblings fall in the second tier, so you need a monthly salary of at least AED 8,000 and proof that you share parents (both birth certificates usually show it). For a long-term stay, see our guide on sponsoring siblings in the UAE.

Can I bring my parents on a visit visa?

Yes — parents are first-degree relatives, so AED 4,000 is enough for a visit. This is much lower than the AED 10,000 needed for a parents residence visa. Many families bring parents on a visit first and decide later; see our parents visa guide.

💼 What are the sponsor requirements for a family visit visa?

Is there a salary requirement for a family visit visa?

Yes. The salary is checked against the visitor's tier. A sponsor earning AED 5,000 can bring parents or children but not a brother; a sponsor earning AED 9,000 can bring both. The amount counted is the salary shown in your official salary certificate or contract. See also our article on the minimum salary for a family visa.

📂 What documents are needed for a family visit visa?

Do relationship documents need attestation for a visit visa?

The relationship must be proven, and certificates issued abroad are normally expected to be attested (home country, UAE embassy, MOFA). If your marriage or birth certificate is already attested for your residence file, use the same copy. Need it done? See our MOFA attestation guide or attestation service.

📝 How do I apply for a family visit visa in Dubai or Abu Dhabi?

How do I apply for a family visit visa in Abu Dhabi?

Residents with an Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah or Umm Al Quwain residence apply through ICP — on the ICP smart services website, the UAEICP app or at a typing centre. The salary tiers announced by ICP are the same; the fees in the ICP system can differ slightly from Dubai.

💰 How much does a family visit visa cost?

These are the family visit visa Dubai fees listed on the GDRFA service pages, before 5% VAT. The total shown in the system when you apply is final.

Is the visit visa deposit refundable?

Yes. The deposit is refunded once the visitor has left the UAE on time (or changed to a residence visa). It is usually refunded to the card or account used for payment. If the visitor overstays, the fine can be taken from the deposit.

For tourist visa prices and a full comparison, see our UAE visit visa cost guide.

📅 How long can my family stay on a visit visa?

Is there a grace period after the visit visa expires?

⏳ Can a family visit visa be extended?

Yes, from inside the UAE, before the visa expires. The sponsor applies on the GDRFA or ICP channels; the extension is approved by the authority, not automatically. GDRFA lists an extension fee plus inside-country charges, and the total stay on visit visas is capped — so plan the dates rather than counting on repeated extensions.

🔄 Can a visit visa be changed to a family residence visa?

Yes, for the relatives you can sponsor for residence. A wife, husband or children on a visit visa can change status to a family residence visa without leaving the UAE, if you meet the family visa rules. The visitor stays in the country while the entry permit, medical test and Emirates ID are done.

Changing status inside the country costs more than applying from abroad — see family visa cost inside vs outside, the entry permit for family members and how to apply for a UAE family visa.

🕰️ Old visit visa rules vs 2026: what changed?

🚫 What are the most common family visit visa mistakes?

🤝 Family visit visa services by FamilyVisa.ae

We apply for your family's visit visa and handle the follow-up steps — online, from your phone:

📝 Quick recap

• Salary: AED 4,000 for parents, spouse and children; AED 8,000 for siblings and other relatives; AED 15,000 for friends.
• Visa: 30, 60 or 90 days, single or multiple entry; enter within 60 days of issue; usually 48 hours.
• GDRFA Dubai fees: AED 200–AED 400 single, AED 300–AED 700 multiple, plus VAT, insurance and a refundable deposit.
• No grace period: AED 50 a day from the day after expiry.
• Wife, husband, children and parents can switch to a residence visa inside the UAE; siblings only as special cases.

🔗 Related guides

• UAE visit visa extension
• UAE visit visa cost
• Parents visa in Dubai
• Sponsoring siblings in the UAE
• UAE family visa rules 2026
• Visa grace period in the UAE

❓ Frequently asked questions

1. What is a UAE family visit visa?

It is a visit visa that a UAE resident applies for to bring a relative to the UAE for a short stay. The resident is the sponsor, and the visa is issued for 30, 60 or 90 days, as single entry or multiple entry.

2. Who can I invite on a family visit visa?

Parents, a wife or husband and children (first-degree relatives), and also siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts and cousins (second- and third-degree relatives). Friends can be invited too, with a higher salary requirement.

3. Is there a salary requirement for a family visit visa?

Yes. GDRFA Dubai applies a minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000 for parents, spouse and children, AED 8,000 for siblings, grandparents and other second- or third-degree relatives, and AED 15,000 for friends.

4. Can I invite my siblings on a visit visa?

Yes. Brothers and sisters can visit on a visit visa sponsored by you. In Dubai they are treated as second-degree relatives, so the sponsor's salary must be at least AED 8,000 a month, and you need proof that you are siblings.

5. How much does a family visit visa cost in Dubai?

GDRFA Dubai lists AED 200 for 30 days, AED 300 for 60 days and AED 400 for 90 days single entry, plus 5% VAT, health insurance from AED 40 and a refundable deposit of AED 1,000. The amount shown in the system when you apply is final.

6. How much is the multiple-entry family visit visa?

GDRFA Dubai lists AED 300 for 30 days, AED 500 for 60 days and AED 700 for 90 days, plus VAT, insurance and a refundable guarantee of AED 2,000.

7. Is the deposit refundable?

Yes. The deposit of AED 1,000 (single entry) or AED 2,000 (multiple entry) is refunded after the visitor leaves the UAE on time. Small collection and refund fees are not refunded.

8. How long does the family visit visa take?

Usually about 48 hours once the application is complete and the documents are clear. Missing relationship proof is the most common cause of delay.

9. How long can my family stay on a visit visa?

30, 60 or 90 days from the date of entry, depending on the visa you choose. The visitor must enter the UAE within 60 days of the visa being issued.

10. Can a family visit visa be extended?

Yes, an extension can be requested from inside the UAE before the visa expires. Approval is decided by GDRFA or ICP, and the extension fee and inside-country charges are shown in the system when you apply.

11. Is there a grace period after a visit visa expires?

No. There is no grace period on visit visas now. The overstay fine is AED 50 a day from the day after expiry.

12. What happens if my relative overstays the visit visa?

A fine of AED 50 a day is charged from the day after expiry. When leaving, the fine is paid together with an exit pass of about AED 450 at the airport. Overstaying can also affect future visa applications.

13. Can my wife switch from a visit visa to a family residence visa?

Yes. A wife, husband or children who are in the UAE on a visit visa can usually change status to a family residence visa without leaving the country, if the sponsor meets the family visa rules.

14. Can my parents switch from a visit visa to a residence visa?

Yes, if you meet the parents visa rules: a salary of AED 10,000, a refundable deposit of AED 5,000 and a two-bedroom home. The parents' residence visa is issued for 1 year.

15. Can my brother or sister get a residence visa after the visit?

Only as a special case. Siblings are not covered by the normal family residence rules; the authority decides case by case, asks for many documents and issues a 1-year visa if approved.

16. What documents do I need for a family visit visa?

The visitor's passport copy (valid for at least 6 months) and photo, the sponsor's residence, Emirates ID and salary certificate or labour contract, and proof of the relationship, such as an attested marriage or birth certificate.

17. Do I need attested certificates for a visit visa?

Relationship proof is required, and GDRFA lists the marriage contract and birth certificate. Certificates issued abroad are normally accepted when attested; for parents, your own birth certificate shows the link.

18. Can I sponsor a visit visa if I live outside Dubai?

Yes. Residents of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates apply through ICP. The salary levels announced by ICP follow the same three tiers; the fees in the ICP system can differ slightly from Dubai.

19. Can a woman sponsor a visit visa for her parents?

Yes. A working woman with a valid UAE residence can sponsor a visit visa for her parents or other relatives, as long as she meets the salary requirement for that relative.

20. Can I sponsor my in-laws on a visit visa?

Usually yes, with proof of the relationship through your marriage certificate and your spouse's birth certificate. The salary tier applied is decided by GDRFA or ICP, so check before you apply.

21. Can a visit visa holder work in the UAE?

No. A visit visa does not allow work. To work, the person needs an employment visa and work permit from an employer.

22. Can I apply for a family visit visa while my relative is already in the UAE?

In some cases yes, but GDRFA charges an extra inside-country fee of AED 500 plus small fees. It is usually simpler to apply while the visitor is still abroad.

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 — visit visa for a relative or friend (one entry), GDRFA Dubai — multi-entry visa for a relative or friend, ICP smart services. FamilyVisa.ae is operated by 800 DOCS LLC SOC, a DET-licensed private visa services company in Dubai — not a government office.