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Updated February 2024
Depending on the purpose of your visit, the government of UAE issues several types of visas, as well as entry permits for visitors who want to travel to the UAE for a shorter period of time. Recently, the UAE has introduced new types of entry visas, a part of which is the entry permit for visiting friends and relatives in the UAE.
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Read on as Wego unveils everything you need to know about the UAE family entry permit, its application process, validity, documents required and more.
Table of Contents
UAE family visit visa rules
Recently, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security has implemented a new policy where foreign expats wishing to sponsor five relatives on a residence visa must have a higher minimum monthly salary.
The director-general will review applications of expats wanting to bring in more than six relatives and one of the requirements is for the sponsor to earn a higher salary of at least AED 15,000 a month. The sponsors must also have adequate housing.
Furthermore, this policy is being applied to more than 15 types of visas, such as tourist entry visas, golden and green residencies, entry permits for truck drivers through land ports, those covering neighboring countries, workers on cruise ships and such, and entry permits to visit friends or relatives, among others.
Golden Visa holders can now sponsor their parents for a 10-year residency, with no deposit required if they present a certification as sole caregiver. The system also allows for easier sponsorship of spouses and children, as well as a five-year residency for first-degree relatives.
UAE family visit visa requirements
The UAE entry permit to visit relatives or friends will require a sponsor or a host. Moreover, it is mandatory to submit the following documents to apply for the entry permit:
- UAE Visa Application Form
- photocopy of the Passport, valid for at least six (6) months, of the family member/s being sponsored.
- coloured passport-size pictures of the family member/s being sponsored
- relationship proof from the Embassy (if not mentioned on the passport)
- proof of residency of the sponsored, such as the details of hotel bookings
- copy of the flight ticket
- a disease-free certificate
- consanguinity proof or certificate if you’re sponsoring your blood relatives (birth certificate or marriage certificate)
UAE family visit visa validity
According to the UAE new visa rules, the validity period of an entry permit to visit friends and relatives in the UAE is 90 days (3 months) from their date of issuance. They can now also be renewed for similar periods.
How to apply for the UAE family visit visa?
Before applying for the visa, you can check here if you need an entry permit, or you might get a visa on arrival. The UAE entry permit to visit friends and relatives in the UAE can be applied for both online and offline.
Applying online
GDRFA – Dubai website
You can apply online for a visa through the websites of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) Dubai.
GDRFA of Dubai provides one more website Amer.ae, through which Dubai nationals and residents can apply for entry permits and residence visas for their families. Visitors can apply for an extension of visas on arrival.
Mobile apps
You can apply for a UAE entry permit and residence visa through the following:
For more information, please contact, The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security, or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai.
Authorised travel agencies
Authorised travel agencies now offer a convenient solution for families traveling to the UAE. The family group visa application allows parents and their children to apply for visas as a group through these authorized agencies. This initiative extends exemptions from visa fees to children under 18 when accompanied by their parents. This exclusive offer is accessible through approved travel agencies within and outside the UAE. It’s available when applying for tourist visas through these agencies.
Getting in touch with a travel agency is hassle-free, as most agencies in the UAE accept document submissions online, via email, or WhatsApp. You only need to provide clear passport copies and-sized photos, which the agency will use for a collective visa application on your family’s behalf. This approach is convenient and cost-effective for families, as children under 18 won’t incur visa fees. However, it’s worth noting that the travel agency may charge a service fee for handling the visa processing.
Applying offline
Typing centres
The offline visa application can be processed through licensed typing centres where the visa application is typed and processed through the GDRFA of the respective emirate. Upon approval, the sponsor will receive a message about the approval and the original entry permit.
Amer centres
Dubai Government stipulates that all entry permit and visa transactions must be carried out through its Amer centres.
UAE family visit visa cost
The cost of obtaining a family visit visa for the UAE can vary significantly depending on various factors. Multiple sources online indicate that the price range for a family visit visa can span from AED 300 to AED 3,000 or even more, depending on the specific circumstances and the type of visa being applied for.
Furthermore, if you choose to apply for a family visit visa through an authorised travel agency, children under the age of 18 are exempt from paying the visa fee.
