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Reviewed January 2024
Applicants who have been living in the UAE for a while and want to bring their children into the country can sponsor a residence visa for their children. It is usually the father who can sponsor their children into the UAE. However, in some cases, the mother might be required to sponsor their child’s children visa in the UAE.
Here is everything you need to know about the Dubai and UAE children visa, its prerequisites, requirements, documents required and more.
Table of Contents
Dubai & UAE children’s visa general requirements
Generally speaking, fathers are considered the head of the family in the UAE, and only they can sponsor their child’s visa in the UAE. However, a mother also can sponsor the child in certain cases.
The duration of the children’s visa will be equivalent to the visa of the sponsor parent. The parent will get 60 days to apply for the child’s visa in the UAE after they arrive in the country under an entry permit.
A child doesn’t need to clear a medical fitness examination to get a UAE residency.
Please note that the conditions are subject to change from time to time. Make sure to check with GDRFA or the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship for the latest information.
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UAE & Dubai children visa age limit
According to the latest reforms, parents can sponsor their sons up to the age of 25. There is no age limit for unmarried daughters.
If a child is a university or college student, they cannot be sponsored by parents for UAE residency unless they hold a valid certificate that proves they are below 25 (earlier 18) or unmarried.
If the child is under 14 years old, they won’t need to provide their fingerprints at EIDA Center for Emirates ID issuance.
Dubai & UAE children visa requirements for parent(s)
The parent sponsoring their children to Dubai must meet the following eligibility criteria to be able to sponsor the children’s visa in Dubai.
If the sponsor of the child is a married mother living with her husband (sponsored by her), a single mother or a divorced mother
- The sponsoring parent’s monthly salary must be at least AED 3,000 (USD 817) along with accommodation or AED 4,000 (USD 1089). However, a salary of AED 5,000 (USD 1361) monthly makes the process of opening a corporate account in most UAE banks a lot easier, which is one of the prerequisites of entering into a long-term residential tenancy contract.
- If the sponsor is a woman who sponsors her full family, her salary should not be less than AED 10,000 (USD 2722)
The mother will additionally need to prepare the following:
- Valid UAE employment contract
- The marriage certificate of the sponsor, duly attested
- In case the sponsor is a single or divorced mother, the husband’s NOC (No Objection Certificate) translated into Arabic (if not already in Arabic), must be duly attested.
- Divorced mothers are required to present their child’s custody verdict to a court or legal papers (duly attested and translated into Arabic at the time of submission) proving that they have their child’s custody.
- In case the sponsor is a married mother living with her spouse, their husband’s employment contract if he is working in the UAE, must be submitted.
- The sponsor mother must have a tenancy agreement in her name registered under the EJARI system of RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority).
- Mother’s university degree, duly attested in the home country and the UAE. Please note that mothers who are doctors, nurses, engineers and teachers are exempted from this requirement.
- Mother’s UAE bank statements for the last 3 months. Please note that mothers who are doctors, nurses, engineers and teachers are again exempted from this requirement.
- A security deposit of AED 2,500 (USD 680) per child to be sponsored (in specific cases), which is refundable after the visa cancellation
- Stepchildren can also be sponsored by an expatriate parent for the UAE residency (subject to GDRFA’s conditions), provided the sponsor is able to deposit the specified warranty amount for each child and present a written no-objection certificate from the biological parent. Their residence visas bear one-year renewable validity
If the sponsor of the child is a married or divorced father
The following are some of the sponsorship requirements for married fathers or single or divorced fathers:
- A genuine employment contract from his company in the UAE
- He must meet the criteria for minimum salary to sponsor the child visa in Dubai, that is, AED 4000 (USD 1089) or AED 3000 (USD 817), including accommodation
- Child’s birth certificate, attested by the UAE embassy abroad and MOFA in the UAE
- The father’s marriage certificate, duly attested
- Divorced fathers are required to present their child’s legal custody papers (duly attested and translated into Arabic at the time of submission)
- A tenancy contract attested via the EJARI system of RERA
- The father’s university degree, duly attested in both the home country and host country
- The father’s UAE bank statements for the last 3 months
- A refundable security deposit of AED 2,500 (USD 680) for each child (if applicable)
- Stepchildren can also be sponsored by an expatriate parent for the UAE residency (subject to GDRFA’s conditions), provided the sponsor is able to deposit the specified warranty amount for each child and present a written no-objection certificate from the biological parent. Their residence visas bear one-year renewable validity
Salary requirements for sponsoring parents
The minimum salary required to sponsor children depends on the type and category of the sponsor:
- male residents who are employed in the UAE can sponsor their children provided they have a minimum salary of AED 4,000 (USD 1,089.02) or AED 3,000 (USD 816.76) plus accommodation.
- in Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her children if she holds a residence permit stating that she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any other profession related to the medical sector and if her monthly salary is not less than AED 10,000 (USD 2,722.54) or AED 8,000 (USD 2,178.04) plus accommodation.
- in Dubai, if a woman is not employed in one of these categories, she may still get approval to sponsor her children if her monthly salary is more than AED 10,000 (USD 2,722.54) and with special permission from the DNRD.
Moreover, UAE ex-pats who want to sponsor five family members, including children, must have a minimum monthly salary of AED 10,000. Similarly, those who want to sponsor six family members, including children, must have a minimum monthly salary of AED 15,000.
The director-general will be reviewing applications of ex-pats who wish to bring in more than six family members.
Dubai & UAE children required visa documents
The following is a list of documents required to sponsor a child visa in UAE:
- Sponsor’s Emirates ID (Original)
- Scanned colour copy of the passport and Residence visa page of the sponsor with at least a minimum of 6 months validity.
- Labour contract issued by MOHRE provided the sponsor works in the private sector.
- Sponsor’s salary Slip or certificate provided the sponsor works in a free zone or government sector.
- Copy of the Company’s trade licence provided the sponsor is a partner or Investor visa holder.
- Photocopies of Registered Tenancy Contract or the EJARI or title deed or proof of property ownership, whichever is applicable
- If the sponsor owns the house, the recent electricity bill (DEWA) must be submitted.
- Colour-scanned passport copies of the child, which are valid for 6 months at least.
- Child’s birth certificate (duly attested and translated into Arabic)
- One latest passport-size photo of the child against a white background and in line with the UAE visa standards
- Emirates ID Application Form (at the time of visa stamping/renewal)
- Health insurance card or certificate (at the time of visa stamping/renewal)
- Sponsor’s bank account IBAN Number.
Dubai & UAE children visa application process
The process of obtaining a child visa in UAE is pretty straightforward, and sponsors may apply for their children’s children visa in Dubai either through a licenced typing centre such as Amer or online.
To apply for your child’s visa, follow the steps given below:
- Fill out the visa application form at the nearest typing centre.
- Submit all the required documents to the nearest General Department for Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA).
- Apply to change the status of the visa from “Temporary Residence visa” to “Permanent Residence visa”.
- You can now apply for the Emirates ID of your child at the Typing centre.
- You will be notified through SMS and a call once the Emirates ID is ready to be delivered or collected. You may choose to either collect the ID by yourself or pay the courier charges for the doorstep delivery.
Please note that you can also apply through a registered visa service agent to make the process more smooth and easy.
Dubai & UAE children visa cost
The fees for sponsoring a children’s visa in UAE will be as follows:
- Application fee – AED 360 (USD 98)
- Family Personal File Opening: AED 255 (USD 69)
- Entry Permit:
- If the child is inside the UAE – AED 1,170 (USD 318)
- If the child is outside the country – AED 492 (USD 134)
- In-country Change of Status: AED 690 (USD 188)
- Warranty Deposit (if applicable): AED 2,500 (USD 680) per child
Please note that the fees and charges vary slightly from service provider to service provider. Make sure to consult the service provider to know the exact cost of the UAE and Dubai children’s visas.
Five-year residency for children of Emirati mothers
The UAE has started issuing five-year residency visas for children of Emirati women married to foreign nationals, whose validity was previously three years.
This directive will improve the lives of many and is widely regarded as a progressive step towards improving the rights of the children of Emirati mothers born to foreign fathers, granting them the same benefits as other citizens in healthcare and education.
