You renew your family’s residence visas in Dubai through GDRFA / an Amer centre or the ICP portal, in this order: renew your own visa and Emirates ID first if they expire at the same time, then complete medical tests for dependants over 18, renew health insurance, and submit each dependant’s renewal before their visa expiry — not just before the grace period ends.
Quick facts
- Who does it: You as sponsor, via Amer centres, the GDRFA Dubai portal/app, or ICP smart services
- Cost: Typically around AED 400-700 per dependant in government fees plus medical and insurance — check the official portal for current fees
- Time needed: 3-7 working days per person if documents are ready; medical results usually 1-2 days
- Grace period: Dependant residence visas generally have a grace period after expiry (commonly up to 6 months for many categories, but it varies) — confirm yours on ICP and never rely on it as your plan
- Start: Begin 30-60 days before expiry
Renewal, step by step
- Check every expiry date. List your passport, Emirates ID and visa dates plus each dependant’s. Visas are now issued digitally and linked to the Emirates ID — check unified numbers and expiry dates on the ICP app or UAE PASS.
- Renew your own status first if needed. Your dependants’ visas sit under your sponsorship. If your visa or Emirates ID expires before theirs, renew yours first so theirs can be processed.
- Renew health insurance for each dependant. Health insurance is mandatory in Dubai. Buy or renew a policy for every family member — the insurer uploads it to the system, and renewal will block without it. Basic plans for dependants typically start around AED 650-750 per year.
- Book medical fitness tests for adults. Every dependant aged 18+ needs a medical fitness test (blood test and chest X-ray) at a DHA medical fitness centre. Book via the DHA app or website; salary-category and VIP centres give faster results.
- Submit the renewal applications. Apply per person via Amer, GDRFA or ICP: complete the form, attach the documents below, pay the fees, and submit. Children under 18 skip the medical; children under 15 generally skip biometrics too.
- Complete Emirates ID renewal. Each renewal triggers an Emirates ID application through ICP. Adults may need a biometrics visit if requested — you will get an SMS appointment. The new ID is delivered by courier or collected from an Emirates Post office.
- Verify the new visas. Download each dependant’s digital residence permit from ICP and confirm the new expiry dates. Save copies with your tenancy and school records.
Documents needed
For each dependant: passport valid for at least 6 months, recent photo with white background, current Emirates ID, and medical fitness certificate (18+). As sponsor you will need your own passport, visa and Emirates ID, your attested tenancy contract (Ejari), a recent DEWA bill, your labour contract or salary certificate, and — if not already on file — the attested marriage certificate for your spouse and attested birth certificates for children. If a document was accepted for the original visa it is usually on file, but Amer may ask to see originals again, so keep the attested set at home.
Costs in AED
Budget per dependant, as a guide: residence renewal fees typically around AED 200-300, Emirates ID renewal around AED 100 per year of validity, medical fitness test typically around AED 300-350 standard (express services cost more — typically around AED 700+), plus typing/Amer service fees. Health insurance is the biggest variable: from roughly AED 650 for a basic dependant plan to several thousand for enhanced cover. Prices change, so treat these as estimates and confirm the total in the Amer centre or portal before you pay.
Common mistakes
Waiting for the grace period is the costliest habit — schools, banks and clinics all ask for valid IDs, and if you need to travel, an expired visa complicates everything; fines can also apply once any applicable grace period ends. Other regular problems: letting a child’s passport expire mid-process (renew the passport first — you will need a visa transfer), insurance that starts after the application date, a lapsed Ejari because your tenancy renewal was never registered, and assuming a newborn or a newly arrived parent is covered by the same renewal — they need their own new entry permit process. Finally, renew in the right emirate: a Dubai-issued family visa is renewed through GDRFA Dubai channels, not another emirate’s.
FAQ
What happens if the grace period runs out?
Overstay fines start accruing — typically around AED 50 per day — and the visa may need to be handled as a new application rather than a renewal. Check the exact fine on ICP and act immediately; the longer the gap, the more expensive and complicated it becomes.
Can my family travel while renewal is in progress?
It is safer not to. Once the new residence is issued and the Emirates ID application is in process, travel is usually possible, but leaving mid-renewal can interrupt the application. Ask the Amer centre to confirm your dependant’s status before booking any trip.
Does my child need a medical test?
No — the medical fitness test applies only to residents aged 18 and over. Children renew with passport, photo, insurance and your sponsor documents, and younger children usually do not need to attend for biometrics either.
