UAE Family Visa Sponsorship from a Free Zone Company in 2026

UAE family visa sponsorship is one of the most attractive perks of free zone residency — but in 2026, the requirements have tightened. Here's exactly what you need to sponsor your spouse and children.

Minimum salary requirement

To sponsor a spouse: AED 4,000/month on contract, OR AED 3,000/month + employer-provided accommodation. To sponsor children: same minimum thresholds apply. For Investor Visa holders (no salary contract), the company's annual revenue and bank balance are evaluated instead — generally, AED 100,000+ in account demonstrates capacity.

Documents you need

• Original marriage certificate (attested by UAE embassy in country of origin AND by UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
• Original children's birth certificates (same attestation).
• Passport copies of all dependents (6+ months validity).
• Sponsor's Emirates ID and salary certificate (or company audit/bank statement for Investor Visa).
• Tenancy contract (Ejari in Dubai) or accommodation letter.
• Health insurance for each dependent (mandatory; AED 1,500–4,000/year/person).

Costs

• Spouse residence visa: AED 1,500–3,000 (zone application fee) + AED 700 medical + AED 270 Emirates ID.
• Each child visa: AED 1,500–2,500 application + AED 700 medical + AED 270 Emirates ID.
• Document attestation: AED 500–2,000 per document depending on country.
• Total for spouse + 2 children: AED 8,000–15,000 in Year 1.

Common rejection reasons

Marriage certificate not attested in country of origin (most common). Salary certificate dated more than 30 days old. No tenancy agreement. Health insurance not active before visa stamping. Spouse's passport about to expire.

Timeline

Once documents are ready: 2–4 weeks per dependent. Marriage certificate attestation alone can take 3–6 weeks if not pre-attested. Plan accordingly.