The UAE government has announced some landmark changes to its visa rules and MyBayut is here to tell you all about it. On Sunday, 31 March 2019, the UAE Cabinet announced that it has amended the family sponsorship policy for expats in the UAE to open up the opportunity of issuing family visas to more expats. Following the new UAE family visa rules, the government also announced that residents will be able to sponsor their sons who are 18 years old. Read on to find out about the new UAE visa rules for families and sons, that was recently updated for residents living in the UAE.
NEW UAE VISA RULES
UPDATED UAE FAMILY VISA RULES
The new UAE family visa rules state that the educational background or profession will no longer be a condition on the basis of which family visas will be handed out.
Instead, the income of the residents looking to sponsor their family visas will be considered. So whether or not you are a manager or a degree holder, you will be allowed to sponsor family members as long as you have the financial means and a valid visa to do so. Before taking the plunge, make sure to check your UAE visa status to know whether you are liable to sponsor your loved ones.
Issuing family visas in Dubai or any other emirate will now be open to a larger bracket of expats in varying professions.
Before the amendment of the UAE family sponsorship policy, male residents were required to hold any profession apart from domestic helpers or similar categories. From now on, any male residents who are employed in the UAE can sponsor their immediate family members, such as wife and children with just a minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.
For female residents looking to sponsor their families, the conditions are slightly different. For a woman to sponsor her family, she must hold a residence permit that states she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any holds other profession related to the medical sector. She must also earn a monthly salary not less than AED 10,000 or AED 8,000 plus accommodation. Women who are not employed in these categories can still get approval to sponsor the family if her monthly salary is more than AED 10,000 and special permission from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (DNRD).
UPDATED RESIDENCY VISA RULES FOR CHILDREN SPONSORED BY PARENTS
Along with updating the family sponsorship visa, an amendment has been made to the residency visas for 18-year-old sons sponsored by their parents.
Under the new rules, expats can apply for a renewable one-year residence visa for their sons from either the date of completion of the boys’ secondary education or upon reaching the age of 18 years. This new rule is also applicable to those who have just graduated from university, whether inside the UAE or abroad. An added bonus for this type of visa is that parents will not have to place bank deposits which used to amount to AED 5,000. The new visa will cost just AED 100 for first time issuing and renewal.
Previously, expat residents could only sponsor their sons up to the age of 18 after which they would need to be sponsored by a student visa on providing the proof that he is studying in the UAE.
The visa rules remain unchanged for daughters. There is no age limit on how long parents can sponsor their daughters; they can be sponsored until they are married.
HOW IS THE NEW UAE FAMILY SPONSORSHIP RULES BENEFICIAL FOR EXPATS?
The UAE Government is constantly working towards making the country a place that anyone across the world can call home. Last year we saw announcements such as the new retirement law and the 10-year residency visas build a foundation for various professionals to see the UAE as a long-term option. However, relocating for work can be a challenging task, especially if you have to do it alone. The new UAE family sponsorship policy will make it easier for expats to move here. So whether it be relocating to Dubai from India or any other country, we can expect to see workers from all professions move to the UAE to settle down. Even for existing expats, the new family sponsorship policy will preserve their interest in working and living in the city.
WILL THE NEW FAMILY VISA RULES IN THE UAE HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE UAE PROPERTY MARKET?
Last year’s law changes, paired with this new UAE family sponsorship policy will most likely boost the number of property transactions in the city as more people see the UAE as a long term solution. As we can see from Bayut’s recently released H1 property prices reports for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the real estate market in the UAE has great opportunities both tenants and investors.
Overall, the new UAE family visa rules and regulations have been well received. It has great potential to contribute to the stability of the UAE’s economy while also building a cohesive environment for individuals to start a family in the UAE.
That’s all we have on the new family visa rules in the UAE. The purpose of amending the UAE visa policies is to attract more skilled workers to the region along with promoting a healthy living environment for the existing workers in the country. This change in the UAE family sponsorship policy and the residency via for dependent sons also bolsters the country’s position as a thriving, cosmopolitan space with a multitude of equal growth opportunities for skilled professionals.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this blog about the new UAE family visa rules and found it informative enough. If there are any other laws or rules and regulations you’d like to know more about, send us an email of social@bayut.com and we will try to get the information to you. Until then, if you’d like to read other articles on the other UAE’s laws, check out the Rules and Regulations section of our blog.
For other insights into life in the UAE, be sure you are subscribed to MyBayut, the best property blog in the region.
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if you are family visa holder you can allowed to searching job in uae tnx
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to us.
If you are sponsored by a family member, you are allowed to look for jobs. However, once you find employment, you will either need to move to the company’s sponsorship or get a labour card confirming your employment status. Kindly note that it is illegal to work in the UAE while you are visiting the city.
Hope this helps and have a great day!
Can a women with manager position sponsor her non working husband and kids?
Hey! As per the UAE Government website, a woman in Dubai can sponsor her family members, if she is employed as an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any other profession related to the medical sector with a monthly salary of AED 10k. Women also need the get special permission from the Department of Naturalisation and Residency Dubai (DNRD) to sponsor their family in Dubai.
For more information on the process, we suggest you contact the UAE Government on 8005111.
I want to sponsor my husband in UAE I have all the documents required with required attestion also my salary 10K per month but due to some issue I could nt open the bank account now I only have 2 months bank account statement but I have salary certificate so will the visa get approved please help..?
Hi, we would recommend calling on 800-5111 or sending an email to gdrfa@dnrd.ae. They would be able to provide accurate information on this matter. Thank you.
Is tendency is compulsory to apply for my wife visa..
As per the UAE government website, here are the documents you will need to submit to sponsor your wife
Required documents to sponsor wife and children include:
– online application or through a registered typing office
– passport copies of the wife and children
– photos of the wife and children
– medical clearance certificate for the wife and children above 18
– copy of the husband’s employment contract or company contract
– salary certificate from the employer stating the employee’s monthly salary
– legalised marriage certificate
– registered tenancy contract
– latest utility bill.
Hope this helps!
I am a teacher. My current salary is 8k I am living with my eldest son in 2Bhk. My son is unmarried and working in different company in Dubai. The house rental contract is in his name. Can I sponsor my other two children for residency visa. Can I use same rental contract for visa application. Please guide. Thanks
Hi! As per the rules stipulated by the UAE Government, the sponsor must have a registered tenancy contract under their name. For more information on the process, we suggest you contact the UAE Government on 8005111.
Hi i m working in dubai my salary is 3500
In labour but my salary is 4000 every month credited in my account.
And i would like to bring my wife and my 2 kids .one is 6 year son and my daughter 2 years. I want to know how much total expence for them . Pls let me know asap.
Thanks.
Hello! To find out the exact cost of the visa, you can visit any of the Amer centres in Dubai or call them on 800-5111.
Me & my wife both are working in Abudhabi before 23 month my daughter was born in Abudhabi now she is in my country we want to bring her here bt both of us has lower salary me has 2000 & my wife has 2200 . Could you please advice me how we can sponsored visa for our baby girl.
Hi, the UAE Government states that the sponsor must hold a minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation to sponsor their children. We would recommend calling on 800-5111 or emailing gdrfa@dnrd.ae regarding your situation. They may be able to provide a solution.
Good luck!
We dont have marriage certificate and both names are already in our passports , please advise its enough to apply for family visa
Hi, thank you for reaching out to us. As per the UAE Government rules, expat resident must prove an existing marital relationship by submitting an authenticated marriage certificate in Arabic or duly translated into Arabic by a certified translator. For any more information, we would recommend contacting 800-5111 or sending an email to gdrfa@dnrd.ae.
Good luck!
Can a domestic worker, employed by private household also benefit from this new UAE family rule if salary is 3000 plus accommodation.
Yes. As of March 2019, profession is no longer a condition for an expatriate worker to be able to sponsor his family visas. As long as the sponsor maintains the ‘income criteria’, which is a minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, they can sponsor their family.
My daughter and son in law are UAE residents together earning 20000AED in a 3 bed apartment. Can they sponsor me for a residency visa ? I am over 60 and have a possible job offer in the UAE as a mental health professional.
Hello, thank you for contacting Bayut.
According to the UAE Government, the sponsor must independently hold a minimum salary of AED 20,000 or a monthly pay of AED 19,000 plus a two-bedroom accommodation to sponsor their family. Other criteria the sponsor has to meet include the following:
– An expatriate employee must sponsor both parents together, he cannot sponsor only one of his parents. If one of the parents has passed away or if the parents are divorced, the sponsor has to show the related official documents as justification.
– The sponsor must provide proof that he is their sole support and that there is no one to take care of them back home.
– Obtain a medical insurance policy for parents with the minimum coverage stipulated for each, to be renewed each year.
For more information, you can visit our blog on family sponsorship in the UAE or call the GDRFA on 800-5111 or email gdrfa@dnrd.ae.
Good luck!