One of the biggest benefits of setting up a UAE free zone company is the ability to sponsor your family for residency. Your spouse, children, and in some cases parents can live with you in the UAE — all tied to your investor visa. But there are salary thresholds, document requirements, and costs that catch many business owners off guard.
Here's everything you need to know about sponsoring dependents as a free zone business owner in 2026.
Who Can You Sponsor?
As a UAE resident visa holder (through your free zone company), you can sponsor:
Spouse
- Wife: No salary requirement for male sponsors
- Husband: Female sponsors can sponsor husbands, but some emirates have additional documentation requirements
- Must provide attested marriage certificate
Children
- Sons: Up to age 18 (or 21 if enrolled in a UAE-accredited university)
- Daughters: Up to age 18 (or 21 if enrolled in a UAE-accredited university, can be extended until marriage)
- Stepchildren: Can be sponsored with legal documentation
- Children of determination: No age limit
Parents
- Can be sponsored on a 1-year renewable visa
- Requires a minimum salary of AED 20,000/month or AED 19,000 + accommodation
- Must provide proof of relationship (attested birth certificate)
- Health insurance is mandatory and more expensive for elderly parents
Domestic Help
- Housemaids, nannies, and drivers can be sponsored
- Requires minimum salary of AED 6,000/month or ownership of a property
- Separate visa category with its own fees
Salary Requirements for Family Sponsorship
This is the most important requirement and the one most commonly misunderstood by free zone business owners.
Minimum Salary Thresholds
| Sponsor Type | Minimum Salary (AED/month) | With Company Accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsoring spouse | 4,000 | 3,000 |
| Sponsoring children | 4,000 | 3,000 |
| Sponsoring parents | 20,000 | 19,000 |
| Sponsoring domestic help | 6,000 | N/A |
How Business Owners Meet Salary Requirements
As a free zone business owner, you're both the employer and employee. You set your own salary through your company. Here's how it works:
- Issue yourself an employment contract through your free zone company with a salary of at least AED 4,000/month
- Pay yourself through WPS (Wage Protection System) to create a documented salary record
- Obtain a salary certificate from your free zone authority confirming your monthly income
Some free zones issue a salary certificate based on what you declare during setup, without requiring WPS payments. Others are stricter. Check with your specific free zone authority.
Alternatively, you can provide a tenancy contract (Ejari in Dubai) showing you have accommodation, which reduces the minimum salary to AED 3,000/month.
Cost Breakdown per Dependent
Sponsoring each family member involves several fees:
Standard Costs
| Component | Cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Entry permit | 1,100–1,500 |
| Medical fitness test | 300–500 |
| Emirates ID application | 370 |
| Visa stamping (residence) | 500–700 |
| Health insurance (mandatory) | 650–4,000 |
| Total per dependent | 2,920–7,070 |
The wide range is mostly due to health insurance. A basic plan for a healthy adult costs around AED 650/year. Comprehensive family plans with dental and maternity coverage run AED 3,000–6,000 per person.
Additional Costs for Specific Dependents
| Dependent Type | Extra Costs (AED) |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Marriage certificate attestation: 500–1,500 |
| Children | Birth certificate attestation: 500–1,000 |
| Parents | Higher health insurance: 3,000–8,000/year |
| From outside UAE | Document attestation at UAE embassy: 500–2,000 |
Total Cost Example: Family of Four
Here's what it costs to sponsor a spouse and two children (assuming you already have your own investor visa):
| Item | Cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Entry permits (3 persons) | 3,300–4,500 |
| Medical tests (3 persons) | 900–1,500 |
| Emirates ID (3 persons) | 1,110 |
| Visa stamping (3 persons) | 1,500–2,100 |
| Health insurance (3 persons, basic) | 1,950–3,600 |
| Document attestation | 1,000–2,500 |
| Total for 3 dependents | 9,760–15,310 |
Add this to your own visa costs and company setup. For a family moving to the UAE through a Shams free zone company:
- Company license: AED 5,750
- Your investor visa: ~AED 3,000
- 3 dependent visas: ~AED 10,000–15,000
- Total family relocation: AED 18,750–23,750
Through DMCC:
- Company license: AED 15,000
- Office space: AED 6,500
- Your investor visa: ~AED 4,500
- 3 dependent visas: ~AED 10,000–15,000
- Total family relocation: AED 36,000–41,000
Step-by-Step Sponsorship Process
Step 1: Ensure Eligibility
Before applying, confirm:
- Your residence visa is valid (not expired or about to expire)
- You meet the salary threshold (AED 4,000/month or AED 3,000 with accommodation)
- You have an Ejari-registered tenancy contract (required in Dubai)
- All documents are attested and translated (if not in Arabic or English)
Step 2: Gather Documents
For spouse sponsorship:
- Sponsor's passport and visa copy
- Sponsor's Emirates ID
- Sponsor's salary certificate or employment contract
- Spouse's passport (6+ months validity)
- Attested marriage certificate
- Ejari tenancy contract
- Recent passport-size photographs
For children:
- All of the above, plus
- Attested birth certificates
- If over 18: university enrollment letter from a UAE-accredited institution
Step 3: Apply for Entry Permit (3–5 days)
Submit the application through GDRFA smart services (online) or through a typing center. The entry permit is valid for 60 days and allows the dependent to enter the UAE.
If the dependent is already in the UAE on a visit visa, apply for a status change instead.
Step 4: Medical Fitness Test (Same day)
Each dependent over 18 must complete:
- Blood test for communicable diseases
- Chest X-ray for tuberculosis
Children under 18 are generally exempt from the medical test. Cost: approximately AED 320 per person.
Step 5: Emirates ID Biometrics (Same day)
All dependents, including children, must register for Emirates ID. Visit an ICP center for fingerprints and photographs. Cost: approximately AED 370 per person.
Step 6: Visa Stamping (1–3 days)
Digital since 2026 — the residency status is linked to the dependent's Emirates ID. No physical passport sticker required.
Document Attestation: The Hidden Headache
Document attestation is the most time-consuming part of family sponsorship. Every document from outside the UAE must be:
- Notarized in the country of origin
- Attested by the foreign affairs ministry of the country of origin
- Attested by the UAE embassy in the country of origin
- Attested by UAE MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) after arrival in the UAE
For Hague Convention countries, an Apostille replaces steps 2 and 3, which simplifies the process significantly.
Common Documents Requiring Attestation
| Document | Required For | Attestation Cost (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage certificate | Spouse visa | 500–1,500 |
| Birth certificate | Child visa | 500–1,000 |
| Divorce decree | If previously married | 500–1,500 |
| Education certificates | Some visa categories | 500–1,000 |
Pro tip: Get all documents attested before moving to the UAE. Doing it afterward requires sending documents back to your home country, which adds weeks to the process.
Health Insurance Options for Families
Health insurance is mandatory for all visa holders. Here's what to expect:
Dubai
DHA (Dubai Health Authority) mandates minimum coverage. Plans start at:
- Individual: AED 650/year (basic)
- Family of 4: AED 2,600–4,000/year (basic)
- Comprehensive family: AED 8,000–15,000/year
Abu Dhabi
Daman plans are required:
- Thiqa (for nationals) or Enhanced plans
- Individual: AED 900–1,500/year
- Family plans are generally 10–15% more expensive than Dubai
Northern Emirates (Sharjah, RAK, Ajman)
More flexibility in provider choice:
- Basic plans from AED 600/year
- Family of 4: AED 2,400–3,500/year (basic)
If you're set up in Shams (Sharjah) or RAKEZ (RAK), health insurance is cheaper than Dubai-based free zones.
Spouse Work Permit
As of 2026, spouses sponsored under a family visa can work in the UAE without changing their visa status. They need to:
- Obtain a work permit from MOHRE or the relevant free zone
- The employer processes the work permit (not a new visa)
- Cost: AED 500–1,000 for the work permit
This is a significant change from previous rules where spouses needed their own employment visa. Now, your spouse can maintain dependent status on your visa while working for another company.
Sponsoring Parents: The High Bar
Sponsoring parents is possible but expensive:
- Minimum salary: AED 20,000/month (AED 19,000 + accommodation)
- Visa validity: 1 year (vs. 2 years for spouse and children)
- Health insurance: AED 3,000–8,000/year for elderly parents (premiums increase with age)
- Renewable: Must re-apply each year
For most new business owners, the AED 20,000/month salary requirement is the barrier. Alternative: parents can visit on tourist visas (90 days, renewable) while you build your business to the point where sponsorship is feasible.
Renewal and Ongoing Costs
Family visa renewals happen every 2 years, aligned with your investor visa:
| Component | Renewal Cost/Person (AED) |
|---|---|
| Visa renewal | 500–1,000 |
| Medical re-test | 320 |
| Emirates ID renewal | 370 |
| Health insurance (annual) | 650–4,000 |
| Total per dependent | 1,840–5,690 |
For a family of 4 (you + 3 dependents), annual ongoing costs are:
- Health insurance: AED 2,600–16,000/year
- Visa renewal (every 2 years): ~AED 3,600–6,000
- License renewal: AED 4,800–14,200/year depending on free zone
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Not meeting the salary requirement. You must show AED 4,000/month through WPS or a salary certificate. Set this up before applying.
2. Unattested documents. A marriage certificate that isn't attested through the proper channels will be rejected. Start the attestation process early.
3. Expired tenancy contract. Your Ejari must be current. Expired tenancy contracts result in application rejection.
4. Applying too late. If your own visa expires soon, renew it first before sponsoring dependents.
5. Underestimating health insurance costs. A family of 4 on a comprehensive plan can cost AED 12,000–20,000/year. Budget for this.
Next Steps
- Confirm your salary setup — ensure you're paying yourself at least AED 4,000/month through WPS or have a salary certificate
- Get documents attested — marriage certificate and birth certificates, ideally before moving to the UAE
- Register your tenancy contract (Ejari in Dubai) to prove accommodation
- Arrange health insurance for all family members
- Apply through GDRFA smart services or a typing center
- Compare free zone costs if you haven't set up your company yet — factor in the total family relocation cost, not just the license
Sponsoring your family is a natural next step after setting up your free zone company. With proper preparation — especially document attestation and salary documentation — the process takes 2–3 weeks per dependent.
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