MARIO E.G.S.H
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New family residence visa (inside country)

First-time sponsorship of a spouse or child who is already in the UAE on another visa: entry permit, status change and stamping. For renewals use the family residence renewal service.

Start this request processing: 10 days

How it works

  1. 1

    Documents

    You

  2. 2

    Reviewed by MARIO E.G.S.H AI

    MARIO E.G.S.H AI

  3. 3

    Submitted at GDRFA

    Runner at GDRFA

  4. 4

    Medical & biometrics

    You

  5. 5

    Visa issued

    GDRFA

Documents required

  • Passport of the family member (copy)

    copyValid at least 6 months

  • Recent colour photo, white background (family member)

    copy

  • Sponsor's passport copy with valid UAE residence / Emirates ID

    copySponsor's residence must be valid

  • Sponsor's employment (labour) contract showing the salary

    copyOnly if: For employed sponsors

  • Salary certificate

    in some casesoriginalOnly if: GDRFA lists it for government, semi-government and free-zone employeesRecent (staff to confirm accepted age, often within 1 month)

  • Partnership contract / partners' appendix of the licence

    in some casescopyOnly if: If the sponsor is a partner/investor (GDRFA: partner's share at least AED 48,000)

  • Marriage certificate, attested

    originalattestedlegal Arabic translationOnly if: For a spouse; also usually asked when sponsoring children

  • Birth certificate of each child, attested

    in some casesoriginalattestedlegal Arabic translationOnly if: When sponsoring children

  • Father's no-objection letter

    in some casesoriginalOnly if: When the mother (wife) is the sponsor of the children

  • Tenancy contract registered in Ejari, or title deed of the sponsor's home in Dubai

    copyValid; suitable for the family size

  • Current visit/entry visa of the family member (copy)

    copyMust not be expired when the status change is applied

  • Health insurance of the family member

    copyOnly if: Needed when the residence is issued or renewed: Dubai's health insurance law obliges the sponsor to produce a health insurance policy for the persons he sponsors (Law No. 11 of 2013, Article 11)

  • Copy of the national identity card (Afghan, Iranian or Iraqi nationals)

    in some casescopyOnly if: ICP lists it for nationals of Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq; the GDRFA Dubai page does not mention it, so staff confirm in the system

Conditions, time and validity

  • The sponsor must hold a valid UAE residence permit (Dubai-issued for GDRFA Dubai).
  • Who can be sponsored: spouse, sons up to 25 years, unmarried daughters of any age, and children with special needs of any age.
  • Suitable housing and proof of kinship are required; the family must live with the sponsor.
  • Family members aged 18 and over must pass the medical fitness test.
Processing time
GDRFA lists 48 hours for the entry permit and 48 hours for the residence permit; add the medical test (regular service about 24 working hours) and Emirates ID (ICP lists about 5 days). Roughly 1-2 weeks in total if documents are complete; this total is an estimate.
Validity of the result
GDRFA gives family members a residence for the same period as the sponsor's residence; the entry permit allows 60 days from entry to complete the residence.
Where it is applied for
GDRFA Dubai smart services (website/app with UAE Pass), Amer service centres, GDRFA customer happiness centres.

Steps at the authority

  1. Client sends the documents (passports, photos, attested certificates, Ejari, salary proof).
  2. Centre types and submits the family entry permit with in-country status change to GDRFA Dubai.
  3. GDRFA approves the entry permit and the status change.
  4. Family member (18+) does the medical fitness test at a DHA centre; Emirates ID biometrics if called.
  5. Centre applies for the residence permit and Emirates ID together (one application).
  6. Residence is issued electronically; the Emirates ID card is delivered by courier.

Tips that save you a trip

  • Apply well before the visit visa expires; the status change is only possible while the person is legally in the UAE.
  • Attest Iranian (or other foreign) marriage and birth certificates in the home country and at the UAE embassy before travelling; MOFA attestation and legal Arabic translation can then be done in Dubai.
  • Photo: recent, colour, white background, no glasses or shadows.

Common reasons for rejection or delay

  • Salary below AED 4,000 without accommodation, or salary not shown in the labour contract / salary certificate.
  • Marriage or birth certificate not fully attested (home country + UAE embassy + UAE MOFA) or not translated.
  • No valid Ejari or tenancy in another person's name.
  • Son over 25, or a typing mismatch between passport and application (name spelling, passport number).
  • Visit visa already expired (overstay fines must be paid first).

Questions and answers

Can a mother sponsor her children?

Yes. GDRFA allows a foreign resident, male or female, to sponsor family members; when the wife is the sponsor of the children, a no-objection letter from the father is asked. The salary rule for a woman sponsoring her husband is checked by our staff.

Can I sponsor my son who is 26?

Not under the normal family route (sons under 25). GDRFA's residence for humanitarian cases covers children aged 25 and over with certified proof that they are still studying (in or outside the UAE) or a certified university graduation certificate; certificates from abroad must be attested by the UAE embassy and MOFA. The page gives no salary figure for this category; if approved, GDRFA asks a financial guarantee of AED 5,000 per request (at most AED 15,000), and the residence is for one year, renewable.

Checked by the MARIO E.G.S.H team on 2026-10-08. Rules can change at any time; our consultant confirms the details for your case.

Official sources

Eligibility

  • What is the sponsor's monthly salary (AED)?

    GDRFA requires a salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, to sponsor a spouse and children.

  • Is the salary AED 4,000 or more, or does the employer provide accommodation?

    With a salary between AED 3,000 and 3,999 the sponsor also needs accommodation to qualify.

Legal basis

Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021 on Entry and Residence of Foreigners; Cabinet Resolution No. 65 of 2022 (executive regulations)

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