Individuals must first obtain a residence visa within the UAE before they can sponsor family members. A work visa sponsored by an employer or a self-sponsored visa such as a Green Visa, Investor Visa, or Golden Visa may be available.

After obtaining a visa, individuals can sponsor their family members, but certain requirements must be met. Nine key considerations are listed below:

- Expatriate residents must possess a valid residence permit/visa to sponsor their families in the UAE.

- Sponsors must have a minimum salary of Dh4,000 or Dh3,000 plus accommodation, with no specific professional requirement for expatriate workers to sponsor family visas.

- Family members above 18 must undergo and pass medical fitness tests at approved health centers in the UAE. Those with dormant or inactive pulmonary tuberculosis are considered fit, with a one-year Health Fitness Certificate for Residence.

- Resident sponsors have 60 days to apply for dependents’ residence visas after their entry under an entry permit, while visas for babies born in the UAE must be applied for within 120 days of birth.

- To sponsor parents, both must be sponsored together, and official documents are required in cases of divorce or the death of a parent.

- When sponsoring parents, the residence visa is granted annually, regardless of the sponsor’s visa duration, with adherence to the salary requirement.

- Unmarried daughters can be sponsored by an expatriate resident with no age restrictions.

- Sons can be sponsored until the age of 25, or with no age restrictions if they are Persons of Determination.

- Stepchildren can be sponsored with conditions set by the emirate’s immigration department, including a deposit for each child and a no-objection certificate from the biological parent.

For sponsoring a wife and children, you will need an application form, passport copies, photos, medical clearance certificates for those who are over 18, your sponsor's employment contract, salary certificate, attested marriage certificate, and a registered rental agreement.

The cancellation of the family's residence permits is dependent on the visa of the sponsoring family member. After the sponsor's visa expires or is canceled, dependents have a six-month grace period to obtain a new residence permit. Failure to renew or cancel dependents' visas may result in fines for the sponsor.