Dubai: Can you transfer a family residence visa from one sponsor to another in the UAE if you have a family residence visa? The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs of Dubai (GDRFA) announced on its social media account the procedure needed to transfer the residence permit for a sponsored family.
The UAE government offers smart services that enable this process to be completed online and through immigration offices across the country. Here is everything you need to know about transferring your family visa to a new sponsor.
Required documents
To apply for a change in sponsorship of a family visa, you must submit the following documents:
- The sponsor’s tenancy agreement or deed of ownership.
- Photo of a sponsored person with a white background.
- The Emirates ID application form.
- Request for sponsorship transfer.
- Certificate of medical fitness.
- Copy of the passport of the person being sponsored.
- A copy of the new sponsor’s employment contract.
It is possible to complete the application process online, through the GDRFA website – smart.gdrfa.gov.ae – or in person at an Amer center.
Follow these steps if you are completing the process online:
- Submit the necessary documents
- Verify that the documents have been uploaded correctly.
- Make the payment
- Submit the request
- The request status will be sent to you via text message.
Step 1: Apply for approval by filling out the form
First, you need to fill out the application form, which can be found here:
https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/new-services?id=CS04.SUB05.SEG03
or by visiting an Amer centre https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/customer-happiness-centers.
It will then be submitted to GDRFA. You can move to the second step after the authority approves your application request.
Applicants don’t have to pay a change of status fee.
Step 2: Apply for medical fitness test
In order to take the medical fitness test, you will need to bring the documents for the sponsorship transfer to the Authority (DHA) medical fitness center closest to your home once it has been approved.
Important note: Medical fitness centers operated by Dubai Health Authority often operate longer hours. Contact the center that is most convenient for you.
Charges:
The regular application is Dh320 (the medical test results arrive within five working days)
In urgent situations, D410 (where the medical test results come in within 48 hours)
VIP – Dh750 (with medical test results in four hours)
Your registered email address will be notified once the medical test results are in.
The Dubai Health Authority can be contacted at 800 342 if you have any questions about medical testing
Step 3: Get the Emirates ID
Take the Emirates ID application, which was filled out at the Amer centre, to a Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship center.
Here are the documents you should bring:
- Emirates ID applications for family members
- Your Emirates ID card
- A photograph of your family
Charges
Dh270 for two year
Dh370 for three years
Step 4: Get the health insurance
Health insurance is a requirement in Dubai and all family members should get at least a basic insurance policy for health care – called the Essential Benefits Plan in Dubai.
Step 5: Get the visa stamped
The last step is to have your passport stamped with your visa. You’ll need the following documents to apply at the Amer center:
- The Medical Fitness Report
- The Emirates ID application
- Original passports of family members
- Health insurance documents
- A copy of the original UAE ID of the sponsor
Charges
Regular – Dh460 (It takes three to four working days to receive the passport with the stamped visa)
– Urgent – Dh560 (Same day stamping, the sponsor needs to go to Immigration)