Along with living and running a business in the UAE, the business owner can sponsor visas for others. It can be anyone, such as family members and domestic workers.

Many sponsors are confused about the dependent visa application process. But, the best thing is that applying for a dependent visa is the same as a personal visa. There are only a few specific requirements that the sponsors have to meet. These include satisfying minimum salary requirements, which demonstrate their ability to support their dependents.

Who can sponsor a dependent visa?

Currently, a male ex-pat working or operating a business in the UAE can sponsor his family members only if he fulfills the minimum salary requirement. The minimum salary requirement is AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 along with accommodation. The eligibility criteria for female sponsors, however, vary across different emirates in the UAE.

In the past, only certain professions were eligible for visa sponsorship in the UAE. However, the government changed this policy in 2019 and now any foreign worker who meets the income criteria can bring their family members to the country and sponsor their residence visas, regardless of their profession.

The Dependent Visa Application Process

The four main stages of the UAE visa application process are:

Entry permit

The visa process starts with the entry permit application. It is a temporary visa that allows access for up to 60 days in the UAE. It’s said that the final visa is received within these days. The applicant can enter the UAE through this entry permit and apply for the full visa, but can neither leave nor re-enter the UAE without getting the residency visa.

Status change

To activate the entry permit, which is referred to as a status change, there are three ways available.

Firstly, the applicant can choose to go for an in-country status change by sending their passport to UAE immigration services, which will stamp and activate the visa.

Secondly, an applicant out of the country during visa processing can activate the entry permit. This is possible through an out-of-country status change. The applicant needs to present the passport and entry permit to immigration officials at the UAE airport. The officials will stamp and activate the entry permit.

Lastly, a border run can be undertaken to activate the entry permit, which involves leaving the UAE by land and then re-entering, where the visa is presented to an immigration official who will stamp and activate it.

Medical test

After activating the entry permit, applicants are required to undergo a medical test that follows a set of standards.

The medical test includes a blood test and an X-ray. The applicants will be eligible for an Emirates ID card if they pass the medical test. The application process may require them to provide biometric information like fingerprints and an eye scan, which they may need to submit at an immigration center.

Visa stamping

The last step is to obtain and stamp the residence visa. To accomplish this, the applicants must submit their passport to immigration. The visa will then be affixed and stamped in the passport before it is returned. This process typically takes approximately two weeks.

The visa process seems straightforward, but it isn’t. So, we advise you to seek help from experienced professionals.