How to Apply for a Residence Visa in Dubai
Dubai is a hub for expatriates, offering excellent opportunities for families to live and thrive together. If you’re planning to bring your family to Dubai, securing a family visa is essential. This guide provides a comprehensive, updated overview of the family visa application process in Dubai for 2025. It also highlights the importance of marriage and birth certificate attestation for UAE visa approval, with a focus on the services offered by Benchmark Attestation Services.
What is a Dubai family visa?
A family visa in Dubai allows expatriates to sponsor their immediate family members, such as spouses, children, and parents, to reside legally in the UAE. The residence visa is typically valid for 1 or 2 years, depending on the sponsor’s visa type and employment contract.
Eligibility criteria for sponsoring family members
To sponsor your family for a Dubai visa, you must meet specific criteria:
- Minimum Salary Requirement: AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.
- Valid Residency Visa: Sponsors must hold a valid UAE residence visa.
- Marriage Certificate: A legally attested marriage certificate is mandatory to sponsor a spouse.
- Birth Certificates: Attested birth certificates are required for sponsoring children.
- Parents' Sponsorship: This requires a higher salary threshold and proof of sole sponsorship.
Required Documents for a Residence Visa Application
Here’s a checklist of the essential documents:
- Sponsor’s original passport and Emirates ID.
- Copies of family members’ passports.
- There are recent passport-sized photos of family members on a white background.
- Employees in the private sector can obtain a salary certificate or employment contract.
- The sponsor's name appears on the Ejari tenancy contract.
- Attested marriage certificate for spouse sponsorship.
- Attested birth certificates for child sponsorship.
- Immigration Establishment Card (for company-sponsored individuals).
Step-by-Step Process for Applying for a Residence Visa in Dubai
1. Document Attestation
Marriage Certificate Attestation: This guarantees the legal recognition of your marriage certificate in the UAE. The process involves:
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your home country will certify it.
- Obtain an attestation from the UAE Embassy in your home country.
- Final attestation by the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC).
Birth certificate attestation: It is essential for child sponsorship. The process is similar to that of attestation on a marriage certificate.
Benchmark Attestation Services streamlines this procedure, guaranteeing the timely and accurate attestation of your documents.
2. Medical Fitness Test
All family members over 18 years must undergo a medical fitness test at a Dubai Health Authority (DHA)-approved medical center. The test includes screenings for communicable diseases.
3. The Emirates ID Application
Submit an Emirates ID application for each family member at an authorized typing center or online through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP).
4. Visa applications and access
Complete the visa application form through the GDRFA's Dubai portal (the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs) or an authorized typing center. Upload the required documents, pay the applicable fees, and access the approved visa through the UAEICP app instead of traditional passport stamping.
Costs Involved in a Dubai Family Visa
The cost of a family visa depends on several factors, such as visa duration and processing speed. Typical fees include:
- Entry permit issuance: AED 1,170 (approx.).
- The cost of the medical fitness test ranges from AED 320 (regular) to AED 740 (urgent).
- Emirates ID fees range from AED 370 (1 year) to AED 1,070 (3 years).
- Visa stamping fees: AED 500 to AED 700.
Attestation of marriage and birth certificates holds significant importance.
Why is Attestation Necessary?
The process of attestation verifies the authenticity of your documents, guaranteeing their legal recognition in the UAE. Without attested certificates, your visa application may face delays or rejection.
How Benchmark Attestation Services Can Help
The Benchmark Attestation Service specializes in document attestation and offers the following services:
- End-to-End: We provide end-to-end support, from document collection to final attestation.
- Quick Processing: Fast and reliable services to meet urgent deadlines.
- Transparent Communication: Regular updates on your document’s status.
- Affordable Pricing: Competitive rates without hidden charges.
FAQs About Dubai Family Visa
1.Can a wife sponsor her husband in Dubai?
2.How long does it take to process a family visa?
3.What happens if the family visa expires?
Is it possible to sponsor parents under a family visa?
Yes, but it requires a higher salary threshold (AED 20,000 or more) and proof of sole sponsorship responsibility.
Why Choose Benchmark Attestation Services for Your Dubai Visa Needs?
- Expert Guidance: Professional advice on the latest visa regulations.
- Prompt Services: Ensuring that all documents meet UAE standards is crucial for document perfection.
- Express Solutions: On-time delivery of attested certificates.
- Customer Support: A dedicated team to assist at every step.
Securing a family visa in Dubai involves multiple steps, from document attestation to visa stamping. By partnering with Benchmark Attestation Services, you can streamline this complex process and bring your loved ones to Dubai with ease. Reach out to us immediately to initiate your family visa application.
Get in touch now for our Family visa services in Dubai! Call our landline at +971 4 396 1284 or our hotline at +971 50 474 1340.