How Family & Dependent Visa Sponsorship Works in the Northern Emirates
1. Check Sponsor Eligibility
The sponsor must hold a valid UAE residence visa and must be either:
- A salaried employee, or
- An investor/business owner
If the sponsor is an investor, a security deposit may be required as part of the sponsorship process. Salaried employees are generally not required to provide a security deposit.
2. Provide Proof of Employment or Investment
For Investors:
The sponsor must provide valid company documents, including the trade licence/company licence, as applicable.
For Salaried Employees:
The sponsor must provide a valid salary certificate or equivalent employment documentation.
For employees working for a Free Zone or Mainland company, the applicable employment contract or equivalent employment document must be provided.
3. Confirm the Relationship
The dependent must have an eligible relationship with the sponsor, such as a spouse, child, or other permitted dependent.
4. Provide Valid Proof of Relationship
Valid documentary proof of the relationship must be provided.
If the marriage or birth took place outside the UAE, the relevant marriage certificate or birth certificate must be properly attested by the UAE Embassy/Consulate in the country where the document was issued, followed by MOFA (UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs) attestation in the UAE.
5. Obtain Valid Health Insurance
Valid UAE health insurance is mandatory for the dependent.
The insurance policy must also be properly linked to the ICP system, where applicable. Without the required insurance linkage in the system, the residence visa application may not proceed or be completed.
6. Submit the Residence Visa Application
Once the required documents are ready, the dependent’s residence visa application is submitted through the relevant immigration authority, such as ICP for the Northern Emirates.
If the dependent is already inside the UAE, the applicable status-change procedure may be completed.
7. Medical Fitness Examination & Biometrics
A medical fitness examination is required only for dependents who fall within the applicable age requirement. Children below the applicable medical examination age are not required to undergo the medical fitness test.
Biometrics are not required for every applicant. The requirement depends on the applicant’s age and whether biometric information has already been captured in the relevant government system. Applicants who are exempt under the applicable rules will not need to complete a new biometric procedure.
8. Emirates ID Application
The dependent’s Emirates ID application is processed as part of the residence visa procedure, with biometrics completed where required.
9. Residence Visa Issuance
Once all requirements are successfully completed and the application is approved, the dependent’s UAE residence status is issued or updated.