Sponsoring your family in the UAE has two separate hurdles: an income threshold you must clear to be eligible, and a set of one-off government fees you pay per dependent. They are easy to confuse, so this guide keeps them apart — the salary rule that decides whether you can sponsor, and the fee schedule that decides how much it costs — and then adds mandatory health insurance and the refundable deposit into one all-in number. All figures match our Family Visa Calculator, which computes your total from the same government fee schedule. Dubai is used as the default worked example; the fees are the same in every emirate.
The Salary You Need to Sponsor Family
The income requirement is set nationally by the ICP under the Executive Regulation of Federal Law No. 29 of 2021 — it does not change by emirate:
| Sponsor situation | Minimum salary (AED/month) |
|---|---|
| With employer-provided accommodation | 3,000 |
| Without accommodation | 4,000 |
| Sponsoring parents (separate, stricter route) | ~20,000 + conditions |
For a spouse and children the threshold is AED 4,000, dropping to AED 3,000 when your employer provides housing. Sponsoring parents is a different application altogether: it typically requires proof that both parents are dependent on you, a much higher income (commonly cited around AED 20,000/month), and often a refundable deposit and comprehensive insurance for each parent. Our calculator models the spouse-and-children route, not the parent route.
Per-Dependent Government Fees (2026)
Every dependent you sponsor incurs the same core government charges. These are the fees our calculator totals — uniform nationwide:
| Fee component | Per dependent (AED) | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|
| Entry permit | 100 | No |
| Medical fitness test (18+) | 320 | No |
| Emirates ID (2-year) | 270 | No |
| Status change (if already inside the UAE) | 500 | No |
| Processing fees subtotal | 1,190 | No |
| Security deposit (per dependent) | 2,000 | Yes — refundable |
| Total up front, per dependent | 3,190 | 2,000 refundable |
The status change applies when the person is already inside the UAE on another visa (for example a visit visa) and switches status in-country; someone entering on the new entry permit from abroad may not pay it. The medical fitness test is required for anyone aged 18 and over. The security deposit is a refundable guarantee returned when the visa is cancelled correctly — so of the AED 3,190 per dependent, only AED 1,190 is a genuine (non-refundable) cost.
Worked Example: A Family of Three in Dubai
Take a resident earning AED 15,000/month with employer accommodation, sponsoring a spouse and two children — three dependents. They clear the AED 3,000-with-accommodation threshold comfortably, so the cost is purely the fee schedule × 3:
| Line | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Entry permits (3 × 100) | 300 |
| Medical tests (3 × 320) | 960 |
| Emirates IDs (3 × 270) | 810 |
| Status changes (3 × 500) | 1,500 |
| Non-refundable fees subtotal | 3,570 |
| Refundable deposits (3 × 2,000) | 6,000 |
| Total up front | 9,570 |
So a family of three costs AED 9,570 up front, of which AED 3,570 is genuine fees and AED 6,000 is a refundable deposit you get back on correct cancellation. This is exactly what the Family Visa Calculator returns for these inputs.
Mandatory Health Insurance — the Cost That Isn’t a Government Fee
Valid health insurance is a legal condition of the residence visa for every sponsored dependent, and the sponsor is responsible for providing it. It is not part of the government fee total above — it is a separate annual premium that varies widely by age, coverage tier and emirate. A basic DHA-compliant plan for a healthy dependent can start in the low thousands of dirhams per year and rises steeply for older parents or richer coverage. Always price insurance per family member on top of the visa fees, because it recurs every year while the fees are largely one-off per two-year cycle.
Step-by-Step: What the Fees Buy You
The fees map onto the actual process, in order:
- Entry permit — authorises the dependent to enter (or remain and change status). Often issued within a few working days once documents are attested.
- Status change — converts an in-country visit/other status to residence without leaving the UAE.
- Medical fitness test — required for dependents aged 18+; children under 18 are usually exempt.
- Emirates ID — the mandatory national ID card, issued for the 2-year visa cycle.
- Visa stamping — the residence visa is linked to the sponsor’s own visa and is commonly issued for two years, renewable while you keep meeting the salary and insurance conditions.
Documents you will typically need: your passport and residence visa, an attested marriage certificate (for a spouse), attested birth certificates (for children), a salary certificate or labour contract, a tenancy contract (Ejari) or proof of accommodation, and passport photos.
When You’re Below the Threshold
If your salary is between AED 3,000 and AED 3,999, you can still qualify when your employer provides accommodation — a housing allowance written into your contract often does the job. Below AED 3,000, the practical options are a salary increase, adding a documented housing allowance, or waiting until you meet the requirement. The calculator shows exactly where you stand against the current thresholds so you know how far off you are before you spend on attestation or medicals.
Quick Reference
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Sponsor salary (spouse + children) | AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 with accommodation |
| Non-refundable fees per dependent | ~AED 1,190 |
| Refundable deposit per dependent | AED 2,000 |
| Total up front per dependent | AED 3,190 (AED 1,190 net) |
| Family of three (Dubai example) | AED 9,570 (AED 3,570 net + AED 6,000 refundable) |
| Health insurance | Mandatory, separate annual premium per dependent |
| Residence-visa validity | 2 years, renewable |
| Data sources | u.ae, ICP, GDRFA (2026) |
| Last verified | August 2026 |
| Expert reviewer | Varun Punjabi |
Frequently Asked Questions
What salary do I need to sponsor my family in the UAE?
To sponsor a spouse and children you need a minimum salary of AED 4,000/month, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided accommodation. It is a national ICP rule — the same in every emirate. Sponsoring parents requires a much higher income (commonly cited around AED 20,000) and extra conditions.
How much does it cost to sponsor one family member?
Budget about AED 1,190 in non-refundable government fees per dependent — entry permit (AED 100), medical test (AED 320), Emirates ID (AED 270) and status change (AED 500) — plus a refundable AED 2,000 deposit, for AED 3,190 up front. Health insurance is a separate annual cost.
How much does it cost to sponsor a family of three in Dubai?
About AED 9,570 up front for three dependents — AED 3,570 in genuine (non-refundable) fees plus AED 6,000 in refundable deposits you get back on correct cancellation. The fees are identical in every emirate; only the salary threshold is a national rule.
Is the security deposit refundable?
Yes. The AED 2,000 per-dependent deposit is refundable and returned when the residence visa is cancelled correctly. That is why our calculator flags it separately from the non-refundable processing fees.
Do I need health insurance to sponsor my family?
Yes — valid health insurance is a legal condition of the residence visa for each dependent, and the sponsor must provide it. It is not part of the government fee total; budget the annual premium per family member on top of the one-off visa fees.
How long is a UAE family visa valid?
Family residence visas are commonly issued for two years, linked to the sponsor's own visa, and are renewable as long as you keep meeting the salary and insurance conditions.