Last updated: 28 September 2026
The UAE family visa cost is the number that decides whether bringing your family over is realistic this year or next. The visa fee itself is rarely the problem — it is the medical tests, Emirates ID, insurance and the refundable deposit stacked on top that catch people out. This guide breaks the whole bill down, line by line, so you can budget honestly before you commit.
What makes up the UAE family visa cost
Think of it as five separate bills that arrive at different times, not one payment:
- Entry permit — allows your dependant to enter or to begin status change from inside the country.
- Status change — only if they are already in the UAE on a visit visa and are switching without flying out.
- Medical fitness test — required for dependants aged 18 and over; there is a normal tier and a faster, dearer tier.
- Emirates ID — priced by the visa duration you choose, typically one, two or three years.
- Visa stamping — the final step that puts residency on the passport or the file.
Those five lines are what the government charges. Here is how they add up per dependant, using the same figures as our family visa sponsorship guide — indicative planning bands, not a quote, and worth confirming against ICP on the day you apply:
| Line item | Typical cost (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Government fees — entry permit, status change, medical, Emirates ID, stamping | 1,100–1,500 | Per dependant, two-year residence visa |
| Typing centre or PRO service charge | 200–400 | Per dependant — the one line that is genuinely negotiable |
| Health insurance, basic dependant cover | 320–500 | Per person per year, mandatory before the visa completes; rises sharply with age |
| Attestation of marriage and birth certificates | Varies | Far cheaper done in Pakistan before you need it |
| Refundable security deposit | Varies | Required on some applications; returned on a proper exit |
The headline number most people want: for a family of four — you, your spouse and two children — a realistic first-year total is around AED 6,000–9,000 once attestation, insurance and government fees are all counted. That is the figure to save toward, not the visa fee on its own.
Two things shift that materially. Sponsoring parents rather than a spouse pushes insurance up sharply and usually adds a deposit. And a three-year visa costs more on the day than a one-year, but less per year, because you are not repeating medicals and Emirates ID sooner than you need to.
On top of those sit two costs people routinely forget: health insurance, which is mandatory and must be in place before the visa completes, and a refundable security deposit that some applications require and that is returned when the dependant leaves or changes status properly.
The costs people forget to budget for
Insurance is the big one. A dependant cannot be covered by your employer’s policy by default, so you are usually buying a separate plan. Basic plans are affordable; comprehensive family cover is not, and premiums climb sharply with age — which is exactly why sponsoring parents costs far more than sponsoring a spouse.
The other overlooked line is attestation. Your marriage certificate and your children’s birth certificates must be attested before they are accepted. Doing that in Pakistan before you need it is cheap and slow. Doing it after your application has already stalled means couriering documents both ways and paying for speed. Get it done early — our Pakistani embassy in UAE guide covers where and how.
Finally, budget for time off work. Medical tests and Emirates ID biometrics are in-person appointments during working hours.
When each bill actually lands
Knowing the total is only half of it. These bills arrive in sequence, over roughly four to eight weeks, and the order matters because you cannot pay your way past a step that is not ready yet.
- Before you start — attestation of the marriage certificate and birth certificates. This is the step that quietly decides your timeline, because nothing else can proceed without it and it is the one part that happens back home.
- Week one — entry permit, and the status-change fee if your family is already in the country on a visit visa.
- Once they are in — the medical fitness test for anyone aged 18 or over, and health insurance, which has to be active before the visa can complete.
- Final stretch — Emirates ID biometrics, then visa stamping. Both are in-person and both are during working hours.
The practical consequence is a cash-flow one. You are not paying AED 6,000–9,000 in a single transaction; you are paying it in four or five instalments over a month or two, at moments you do not fully control. If your family is already here on a visit visa, that clock matters twice over — overstaying while you wait for a step carries its own daily fine.
What drives the UAE family visa cost up or down
Four choices move the total more than anything else:
- Visa duration. A three-year visa costs more up front than a one-year but is cheaper per year and saves you repeating the whole process.
- Who you are sponsoring. Spouse and children are the standard path. Parents are treated as a special case with higher thresholds, pricier insurance and often a deposit.
- Inside or outside the country. Status change from within the UAE avoids a flight but adds its own fee; entering on a fresh permit avoids that fee but costs a ticket.
- Emirate and typing centre. Service charges at typing centres and PRO agents vary, and those margins are negotiable in a way government fees are not.
Salary and housing requirements
Cost is only half the question — you also have to qualify. Sponsorship requires a minimum salary, and authorities look at whether your accommodation genuinely suits a family, which usually means a tenancy contract in your name rather than a shared room — our renting in Dubai guide and average rent in Abu Dhabi tables show what that actually costs. A studio will rarely support a family sponsorship however good your salary is.
| Who you are sponsoring | Minimum monthly salary |
|---|---|
| Spouse and children | AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 with employer-provided accommodation |
| Parents (Dubai) | AED 20,000, or AED 19,000 with accommodation |
Thresholds vary by emirate and are revised periodically, so treat these as the shape of the requirement rather than a guarantee. The gap between the two rows is the single biggest reason the UAE family visa cost for parents lands in a different league from sponsoring a spouse.
Thresholds and the exact documents are set by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP), with general guidance on the UAE government portal. Confirm the current figures there before you budget — they are revised periodically. Our full family visa in UAE sponsorship guide walks through the eligibility side in detail.
How to keep the bill down
Attest documents in Pakistan before you move. Choose the visa duration deliberately rather than defaulting to the shortest. Compare insurance properly instead of accepting the first quote from the typing centre — this is the single largest variable line. And if money is tight in the first months, consider bringing family on a UAE visit visa first while you get the housing and salary side settled.
One more: check that your salary certificate reflects the basic-plus-allowance structure the authorities want to see. A package that looks fine to you can read as below-threshold on paper. The same basic-versus-allowance split matters for your end of service gratuity, so it is worth understanding once.
Frequently asked questions
Is the security deposit refundable? Yes, where one is required it is returned once the dependant exits or moves to another status correctly. It is a cash-flow cost, not a permanent one — but you still need the money available up front.
Can I sponsor my wife on a low salary? There is a minimum threshold and it is applied to your documented salary, not your total household income. If you are close to the line, confirm with ICP before paying any typing-centre fees.
Do children need the medical test? The medical fitness test applies from age 18. Younger children are normally exempt, but they still need attested birth certificates.
Is a one-year or three-year visa cheaper? Three years costs more on the day but less per year, and it spares you repeating medicals and Emirates ID sooner than necessary. If you plan to stay, the longer visa is usually the better value.
Why is sponsoring parents so much more expensive? Higher salary thresholds, a deposit in most cases, and health insurance priced for older applicants — the insurance is typically the biggest single difference.
