Dubai Parent Visa: Rules, costs and application process explained
A step-by-step guide to sponsoring your parents
Dubai residents can bring their parents to live with them through a UAE residence visa sponsorship. The process, however, involves meeting strict eligibility requirements, preparing attested documents, and paying the necessary fees.
Applicants must follow the procedures outlined by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) – Dubai, with certain rules varying depending on whether the sponsor holds a standard two-year visa or a ten-year visa.
This guide details the salary threshold, accommodation rules, application documents, and step-by-step process, helping residents navigate the sponsorship smoothly.
What are the requirements?
Typing centres and GDRFA-Dubai confirm that sponsors must earn at least Dh10,000 per month and provide a valid Ejari rental contract for a two- or three-bedroom apartment. A Dh5,000 refundable security deposit is also required.
If both parents are not present, the sponsor must submit attested proof such as a death certificate, divorce papers, or other valid documentation from the UAE Embassy in the home country and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). For two-year visa holders, an affidavit of dependency must be attested by MOFA in the UAE and translated into Arabic.
Sponsors cannot apply for both parents and parents-in-law under the same name. Parent visas are generally valid for one year.
How to apply?
Sponsor documents typically include:
- Valid Emirates ID, passport, and Dubai residence visa copy
- Employment contract and attested salary certificate
- Three months’ bank statement
- Birth certificate proving relationship (attested and translated into Arabic)
- Affidavit from consulate confirming responsibility for parents
- NOC from employer (for free zone workers)
Parent documents include:
- Valid passport and recent photo with white background
- Proof of medical insurance in the UAE
- Applicants may visit an Amer Centre or registered typing centre to open a sponsorship file. If the parents are already in the UAE, the sponsor must apply for a ‘Change of Status’ from their visit visa before completing the process.
Medical test
All parents must pass a medical fitness test at a Dubai Health Authority-approved Medical Fitness Centre. Standard results are issued within 24 hours, while VIP options provide results within six hours or 30 minutes, depending on the fee paid. Dubai has 21 medical fitness centres, and results are sent directly to the relevant authority.
Once the medical test is cleared, parents must register fingerprints for Emirates ID at an ICP Customer Happiness Centre. Processing of the Emirates ID and residence visa approval usually takes about one week, with updates sent via SMS or email.
Fees in Dubai:
- File opening: Dh200
- Residence permit: Dh200
- Change of status: Dh500
- Knowledge fee: Dh10
- Innovation fee: Dh10
Emirates ID:
- E-services: Dh28
- ICP fee: Dh22
- Smart services: Dh100
- Card issuance: Dh100
Medical fitness test:
- Standard (24 hrs): Dh250
- VIP (6 hrs): Dh430
- VIP (30 mins): Dh700
Residents should contact GDRFA-Dubai’s toll-free number 8005111 or visit an Amer Centre for assistance. The full list of centres is available at: www.gdrfad.gov.ae.