Expats in the UAE can now sponsor their family members, including extended family, due to flexible visa rules. Employees with valid residence visas can sponsor families regardless of job titles, as long as they earn a minimum salary of Dh4,000 or Dh3,000 with accommodation. This information was shared on the official UAE government website.
Upon entry, expats have 60 days to apply for their dependents’ residence visas, with certain conditions to meet. Medical fitness is required, and dependents above 18 must pass a fitness test. Muslim expats, in some cases, may sponsor two wives by meeting Federal Authority terms.
To sponsor a wife, the expat resident needs a valid Arabic marriage certificate. Sons can be sponsored until 25, while daughters have no age limit if unmarried. Special needs children have no age restrictions. Moreover, stepchildren can be sponsored with a deposit and a no objection certificate from the biological parent, as per GDRFA rules.
Parents must apply for a baby’s visa within 120 days of birth to avoid fines. Dependents’ visas are linked to the sponsor’s visa, so cancellation of the sponsor’s visa leads to cancellation of dependents’ visas. Dependents have a six-month grace period for a new residence permit. It is essential to comply with these regulations to avoid fines, as stated by the government.
