How to sponsor your family in the UAE: eligibility, attestation and step-by-step process (2026 guide)

# Key takeaways

• The commonly cited threshold for sponsoring a spouse and children is a monthly salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus company-provided accommodation. Rules change, so confirm the current requirement with ICP or GDRFA before you apply.
• Marriage and birth certificates issued abroad normally need attestation in the home country and by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, plus a legal Arabic translation where required.
• Family members outside the UAE come in on an entry permit; those already in the UAE on a visit visa can often apply for a change of status instead of leaving.
• After entry, each dependant completes a medical test (where required), biometrics and receives residence linked to the Emirates ID.
• Sponsoring parents is possible but has stricter criteria; confirm them directly with the authority.

Sponsoring your family in the UAE means applying, as the resident sponsor, for residence visas for your spouse, children and in some cases parents, backed by proof of income, suitable accommodation and attested family documents. The process runs through ICP for Ajman and Sharjah residents and through GDRFA Dubai for Dubai residents. It is manageable yourself if you are organised, and the attestation stage is usually the part that takes longest, so start there. Everything below reflects how the process commonly works; the authority's current rules always take precedence.

# Are you eligible to sponsor?

Eligibility is assessed on the sponsor, not the family member. The main factors are:

• Income. The widely quoted figure is AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 where your employer provides accommodation. These figures have changed before and can differ by case, so treat them as a starting point and confirm with ICP or GDRFA.
• Accommodation. A registered tenancy contract in your name (or employer accommodation suitable for a family). Shared flats usually do not qualify.
• Your own residence. It must be valid, and the family's residence is generally linked to its validity.

Under current rules as widely reported, sons can be sponsored up to age 25 and unmarried daughters without an age limit, with separate provisions for children with disabilities. Confirm your case before applying.

# Step 1: attest your marriage and birth certificates

This is where most families lose time. A certificate issued outside the UAE usually needs:

1. Attestation in the issuing country (typically the relevant ministry, then its foreign affairs ministry).
2. Attestation by the UAE embassy in that country, or the equivalent route the country uses.
3. Attestation by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mofa.gov.ae) once in the UAE.
4. A legal translation into Arabic by an MOJ-licensed translator, where the document is not already in Arabic.

Servia coordinates attestation for AED 249 per document, with MOFA, embassy and courier fees at cost, and arranges legal translation from AED 60 per page through MOJ-licensed translators. Nothing here is legal advice; if your documents involve a disputed marriage, name change or custody question, speak to a lawyer first.

# Step 2: entry permit or change of status

Newborns are commonly required to have residence applied for within a set period after birth, often cited as 120 days; check the current period with ICP.

# Step 3: medical, Emirates ID and residence issuance

Adult dependants generally need a medical fitness test: at DHA-approved centres in Dubai, and at Emirates Health Services centres in Ajman and Sharjah. Children below a certain age are usually exempt. Health insurance must also be in place where the emirate requires it; Dubai does for all residents.

The residence and Emirates ID are then applied for together. ICP may ask each family member to attend biometrics, after which the cards are delivered by courier.

# What it costs

For a spouse and two children, Servia's sponsorship service fee would be AED 499 + 299 + 299, including VAT and before any government fees. You can do every step yourself on the ICP or GDRFA channels; Servia is for families who want each document checked, submitted and tracked for them, through authorised typing centres and licensed PRO partners.

# Sponsoring parents

Parents can be sponsored, but the bar is higher: a higher income requirement, suitable accommodation, often proof that you are the parents' main support, and in some cases additional conditions or deposits. Criteria differ between emirates and change over time, so confirm directly with ICP or GDRFA before you start the attestation process for parents.

In Ajman, Servia assists families in Al Nuaimiya, Al Rashidiya and Al Jurf, with optional doorstep pickup.

# FAQ

Can a working mother sponsor her husband and children?

In many cases, yes, subject to meeting the income and accommodation conditions that apply to her. Additional criteria may apply when a woman sponsors her husband, so check the current rules with ICP or GDRFA for your circumstances.

My child was born in the UAE. Do I still need attestation?

A UAE-issued birth certificate does not go through foreign attestation, but it must be issued and registered before you can apply for the child's residence. You will need the child's passport from your embassy too, so start that as soon as the birth certificate is ready.

Can I sponsor my family if I rent a room in a shared flat?

Usually not. Authorities generally expect a tenancy contract in the sponsor's name, or employer-provided family accommodation. If you are planning to bring family over, sort the housing before you apply.

How are my family's documents protected when I use Servia?

Copies are handled only as needed for the application, shared only with the typing centre or licensed PRO partner submitting it, and processed in line with the UAE PDPL. Originals collected by our doorstep service are returned on the next trip.

Ready to start? Send your documents via the typing and visa services page. If your employer needs help with your own visa, point them to PRO services.