2 Year Family Visa UAE Cost | Latest Fees, Rules, and Updates

Bringing your family over to the UAE is an exciting milestone, but figuring out the actual expenses can feel like solving a puzzle with all the different government fees, typing charges, and insurance costs.

To make it simple, let’s look at the actual breakdown of what you will pay to secure a standard 2-year family visa.

How much does the entire process cost from start to finish?

The basic government charge for the visa is not a lot, but you need to factor in the entire administrative process. The 2 Year Family Visa UAE Cost, on average, is between AED 4,500 and AED 6,500 for every family member.
The total depends on two basic factors: the Emirate where the visa is issued (Dubai visa can be more expensive than Sharjah or Abu Dhabi visa) and the family member’s presence in or outside of UAE.

What are you actually paying for regarding the 2 Year Family Visa UAE Cost?

The total amount is split across several mandatory steps. If you are handling the application yourself through online government portals or Amer centers, here is where your money goes:

• Sponsor File Registration: Around AED 200 – AED 250. This is a one-time fee to open your sponsorship file with immigration. You do not need to pay this again for subsequent dependents.
• Entry Permit: AED 350 to AED 600 if your family is currently outside the UAE. If they are already inside the country on a tourist or canceled visa, you will pay an additional AED 500 to AED 750 for a “Status Change” so they do not have to leave the country.
• Medical Fitness Test: AED 300 to AED 500 (only required for dependents aged 18 and older).
• Emirates ID (2-Year Validity): Around AED 270 to AED 370. This is calculated based on the duration of the visa.
• Visa Stamping / Residence Issuance: AED 500 to AED 750.
• Mandatory Health Insurance: Starts from AED 700 per year for a basic essential plan, but can go higher depending on age and coverage. Remember, you need to budget for this annually, even though the visa lasts for two years.

Do you meet the minimum requirements to manage the 2 Year Family Visa UAE Cost?

You should ensure that your monthly income reaches the official legal limits before paying any fees:

• Sponsoring a Spouse or Children: Minimum salary of AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 if the employer provides accommodation. Note: In some Emirates, the immigration authorities may require higher salary requirements, usually AED 10,000, when a wife is sponsoring her husband.
• Sponsoring Parents: Must have a minimum salary of AED 20,000 and be able to present evidence of appropriate accommodation (such as a 2-bedroom rent agreement).

What paperwork do you need to prepare?

Missing an attestation is the number one reason applications get delayed or rejected, which can lead to overstay fines. Make sure you have these ready:

• Passport copies and digital photos of your dependents (with at least 6 months of validity left).
• Your original attested marriage certificate (for your spouse) and birth certificates (for your children). These must be stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in your home country and within the UAE.
• Your registered tenancy contract (such as an Ejari in Dubai).
• Your official salary certificate or labor contract to prove your income.

Once you submit the entry permit, the remaining steps, the medical test, Emirates ID biometrics, and final residency approval, generally take between 7 to 15 working days to fully complete.

What is the final takeaway regarding the 2 Year Family Visa UAE Cost?

Once you get your numbers and paperwork in order, navigating the family visa application process is entirely manageable. Having a basic understanding of the initial steps can help you stay on top of your documents’ timeline and budget, even if you’re using a platform such as Arnifi to handle the attestation process. Knowing the basics helps maintain control over your documents’ timeline and budget, even when relying on a platform like Arnifi for documents attestation, particularly when dealing with complex documents or specific GDRFA/ICP portals. When you compare your monthly income with the official limits and have your certificates stamped every month, then you are in good company.

FAQs

1. Can I sponsor my family if my job title is “labor”?

Yes. The UAE removed profession barriers. You only need a minimum salary of AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 with company housing) and valid accommodation proof.

2. What if my family is already in the UAE on a tourist visa?

They do not need to leave. Apply for their entry permit while they are here, then pay a Status Change fee (AED 500 – AED 750) to switch their visa type.

3. How old can my children be for me to sponsor them?

Unmarried daughters can be sponsored at any age, and sons up to age 25 if they are full-time students. Children with special needs have no age limits.

4. Is health insurance optional for dependents?

No, it is strictly mandatory. You must buy a compliant insurance policy for every dependent to get the visa stamped. Basic plans start around AED 635 annually.

5. Why do family visa applications get rejected most often?

Usually due to missing document attestations (marriage or birth certificates lacking a MOFA stamp) or failing to meet the minimum salary requirement.