You can sponsor your mother and father for UAE residence if you meet the salary threshold, have suitable accommodation, and provide attested proof of the relationship. Unlike sponsoring a spouse, parents are sponsored together as a package — you generally cannot sponsor just one parent unless the other has passed away or your parents are divorced, with documents to prove it. Applications for Dubai are handled through Amer and GDRFA; for other emirates, through ICP.
Quick facts
- Salary threshold: Commonly a minimum monthly salary of around AED 20,000 (or AED 19,000 plus accommodation) for parents — confirm the current requirement with Amer/GDRFA, as thresholds are set by policy and can change
- Time needed: Typically 2–4 weeks including attestation, entry permit, medical and Emirates ID
- Where it happens: Amer centres (Dubai) or ICP service centres, plus medical fitness centres
- Insurance: Mandatory health insurance for each parent for the full visa period
- Visa length: Usually 1 year, renewable annually
Step by step: sponsor your parents for residence
- Check your eligibility first. Confirm your salary on your labour contract or salary certificate meets the parents’ threshold, and that your tenancy (Ejari) is in your name and large enough for the family size.
- Attest the relationship documents. Your birth certificate (showing your parents’ names) and, where relevant, your parents’ marriage certificate must be attested by your home country authorities, the UAE embassy there, and MOFA in the UAE, with legal Arabic translation if required.
- Apply for entry permits. Submit the application at an Amer centre or via GDRFA/ICP with passports, photos, your Emirates ID, salary certificate, Ejari and attested certificates. Pay the permit and file-opening fees.
- Parents enter or change status. If your parents are outside the UAE, they travel in on the entry permit. If they are already here on visit visas, apply for the inside-country status change at the same time to avoid an exit.
- Medical fitness test. Each parent attends a government medical fitness centre for the standard screening (blood test and chest X-ray).
- Buy health insurance. Arrange a policy for each parent that meets Dubai (DHA) or the relevant emirate’s requirements and covers the full visa year.
- Emirates ID and residence issuance. Complete Emirates ID applications and biometrics at an ICP centre; the residence is then issued electronically and linked to the ID.
Documents needed
Gather: your passport, Emirates ID and labour contract or salary certificate from your employer; a recent bank statement (often three to six months) if requested; your Ejari tenancy contract; your parents’ passports (six months’ validity) and photos; your attested birth certificate; and, where applicable, a parent’s death certificate or divorce papers (also attested) if you are sponsoring only one parent. A No Objection or dependency letter and an affidavit of support may be requested in some cases. Amer staff will give you a case-specific checklist — ask for it before paying for attestations, because attestation is the slowest and most expensive part to redo.
Costs in AED
Budget for entry permits and status change fees per parent, medical tests (typically around AED 300–700 each), Emirates ID fees per year, Amer/typing service fees, and attestation and translation costs in your home country and the UAE. The biggest variable is health insurance: basic plans for older parents cost noticeably more than for younger residents, typically from around AED 1,500 to several thousand dirhams per parent per year depending on age and cover — get quotes early. There may also be a refundable deposit for parents’ sponsorship in some cases; Amer will confirm if it applies to your file. Overall, most families budget roughly AED 8,000–15,000 for both parents for the first year excluding premium insurance — treat this as an estimate and confirm current government fees on the official portal.
Common mistakes
Applying for only one parent without the required proof is the most common refusal. Second is a salary that looks sufficient in total pay but falls short on the contract’s stated basic figure the officer uses — check which figure counts before applying. Third, letting your parents’ visit visas expire while attestation drags on; start attestation weeks early or bring them in only when the permits are nearly ready. Finally, buying the cheapest insurance that does not meet the emirate’s mandatory cover requirements will stall the residence issuance at the final step.
FAQ
Can I sponsor my parents if I earn less than the threshold?
Generally no — the salary rule for parents is applied strictly. Some cases are considered on humanitarian grounds by GDRFA, but you should not rely on an exception. An Amer centre can tell you if your file qualifies.
Can my parents work on a residence visa I sponsor?
No. A family residence visa does not include the right to work. A parent who wants employment needs their own work permit and employment visa through an employer.
How long can my parents stay each year, and is the visa renewable?
Parents’ residence is usually issued for one year and renewed annually while you still meet the salary, accommodation and insurance conditions. Note the rule about long absences: staying outside the UAE for more than six months can lapse a residence visa, with limited exceptions.
