If you’ve recently relocated to the UAE, you may be learning about the country’s residency and visa requirements. Whether you’ve relocated to the UAE for a new job or to start a business, you’ll need to make sure that all of your documentation is in order, and you may also need to apply for a visa for your family.
Any ex-pat who desires to stay in the UAE for an extended period of time needs a resident visa. If you’re applying for a visa for a family member, you’ll be referred to as the ‘sponsor,’ and the person being sponsored as a ‘dependent,’ or ‘sponsored.’
So, here’s everything you need to know about sponsoring your wife in Dubai.
Get your documents in place
You must first have your marriage certificate attested by your home country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE Embassy in your home country, and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC).
If a husband decides to apply for his wife’s entry permit or residency visa, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai has issued the following list of documents that he must submit:
- A current white-background personal photograph of your wife.
- a copy of the sponsor’s passport and residency visa (valid).
- A copy of your wife’s passport that is valid for at least six months.
- Marriage contract attested.
- If the husband’s nationality differs from the wife’s, a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the husband’s consulate is required.
- Salary certificate, job contract, or partnership contract (depending on the sponsor’s business), as long as his monthly income does not fall below Dh4,000.
- A tenancy agreement or a title deed.
Where does one need to go?
You can apply for the visa once you have all of your documentation in order:
- By visiting an Amer center.
- By visiting a licensed typing center.
- Online, through DubaiNow.
Visa application process
You must complete these steps whether you go to an Amer Centre or a typing center:
1. Open a sponsor file
You must first supply your information as a sponsor in order for a file to be created in the immigration system. A ‘sponsor file’ is what this is called.
2. Apply for an entry permit
After that, you’ll need to apply for your wife’s immigration permit. Your wife will be allowed to travel to the UAE to finish the visa application procedure using that entrance permission.
3. ‘Change of status’ if the wife is in the UAE
If your wife is already in the UAE, you will need to file for an entry permit first, followed by a ‘change of status’ application.
Medical Fitness test
After completing the visa application procedure, you must visit a Dubai Health Authority (DHA) Medical Fitness Centre to undergo a medical fitness test.
The following is a list of all DHA-operated medical fitness centers:
– Al Karama Medical Fitness Center – Location
– Bur Dubai Medical Fitness Center – Location
– Al Muhaisnah Medical Fitness Center – Location
– Al Quoz Mall Medical Fitness Center – Location
– Al Yalayis Medical Fitness Center – Location
– Al Nahda Occupational Health Screening & Medical Fitness Center – Location
– Al Garhoud Medical Fitness Center – Location
– Smart Salem Center, City Walk – Location
– Al Rashidiya Medical Fitness Center – Location
– Jebel Ali Health Center – Location
– Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority – Location
– Dubai International Financial Center – Location
– Zabeel Medical Fitness Center – Location
– AXS medical Fitness Center, Dubai Knowledge Park – Location
– Emirates Medical Fitness Center, Dubai Health Care City – Location
– Al Lusaily Medical Fitness Center – Location
– Dubai Land Department Medical Fitness Center, Baniyas Rd, Near Etisalat Building, Deira – Location
You’ll need to do a few tests, including a blood test and a chest X-ray, after you arrive at the medical fitness center. After you’ve completed the task, you’ll receive the results within 24 hours. You can also apply for an Express or VIP service if you need them sooner.
Apply for Emirates ID
The next step is to apply for your wife’s Emirates ID, which will need you to submit your fingerprint biometric to a Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP) center. The following is a list of ICP customer satisfaction centers in Dubai:
Al Baraha Customer Happiness Office – Location
Al Yalayis Customer Happiness Center – Location
Al Nahda Happiness Center – Location
Hatta Customer Happiness Office – Location
General Directorate of Residency And Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, Al Jafiliya – Location
Al Barsha Customer Happiness Center – Location
Al Rashidiya Customer Happiness Center – Location
Al Ghazal Customer Happiness Center – Location
The Emirates ID will be delivered to an Emirates Post outlet near you once you have finished the application process. To obtain the ID, you must provide the reference number sent to your registered cellphone number through SMS.
Apply for health insurance
In Dubai, health insurance is required, and family members must purchase at least a minimum health plan, known as the Essential Benefits Plan in Dubai. You can apply for health insurance online with any of the major health insurance companies. If you apply through a typing center, they can also apply for health insurance coverage on your behalf. Depending on your budget and healthcare needs, you can choose between a basic plan, a comprehensive plan, or an extended benefits plan.
Get the visa stamped on the passport
The stamping of the visa is the final stage in this process. The ICP recently stated that visas will no longer be stamped on passports, with the Emirates ID serving as the primary form of identification.
Residents of Dubai, however, may still need to get their visas stamped for the time being, as Gulf News previously reported. If this is the case with your application, your passport will be collected for visa stamping and returned to you in four working days. The prices shown below include courier fees.
Once your visa is stamped and you receive your Emirates ID, you will have finished the documentation required to become a Dubai resident.
How much will it cost?
Here is a breakdown of the charges you will need to pay at each step:
– File opening charge – Dh269
– Entry permit – Dh500 (if the wife is outside the UAE) or Dh1,180 (if the wife is inside the UAE)
– Change of status – Dh675
– Medical fitness test – Dh320 (general)
– Emirates ID – Dh170 for 1 year, Dh270 for two years, Dh370 for three years
– Visa stamping – Dh500
– Health insurance – Depends on the coverage and benefits you apply for.
You’ll also have to pay their service costs or typing expenses if you apply for the visa through a typing centre. The price varies depending on the service provider.