Want your parents to visit for a month, or host a friend from back home? In Dubai, whether you can sponsor their visit visa comes down mostly to one number: your monthly salary. The thresholds, per the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), depend on how closely you are related.
The salary thresholds
- AED 4,000 per month — first-degree relatives: parents, spouse and children
- AED 8,000 per month — second- and third-degree relatives: siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins
- AED 15,000 per month — friends and anyone not related to you
These are visit visa thresholds, and they are far lower than what residence sponsorship requires — if you are looking to move family here permanently, our family residence sponsorship guide covers that separate track.
Wondering how your pay stacks up more broadly? See our guide to the average salary in Dubai.
Visa options and fees
Single-entry visit visas come in three lengths:
- 30 days — AED 200
- 60 days — AED 300
- 90 days — AED 400
On top of the visa fee, GDRFA collects a refundable security deposit of AED 1,000 per visitor, returned after the visitor leaves within their permitted stay.
What the sponsor needs
- A valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID
- Proof of income when requested: a salary certificate, an attested labour contract, or company ownership documents if you run a business
- Proof of relationship for family: attested birth or marriage certificates
What the visitor needs
- Passport copy and a passport-sized photograph
- Proof of accommodation — a hotel booking or your tenancy contract
- Return flight ticket
- Health insurance where applicable
Apply through GDRFA Dubai's online channels, available around the clock, or at an authorised AMER centre during business hours. Keep an eye on the exit date: overstays attract daily fines, covered in our overstay fines guide.
Key takeaway
AED 4,000 sponsors parents, spouse and children; AED 8,000 covers siblings and extended family; AED 15,000 lets you host friends. Budget AED 200–400 for the visa plus a refundable AED 1,000 deposit, and have attested relationship documents ready before you apply.
FAQ
Can I sponsor my parents on a AED 5,000 salary?
Yes. Parents are first-degree relatives, so the AED 4,000 threshold applies. You will need your salary certificate or attested labour contract as proof.
How much salary do I need to sponsor a friend's visit?
AED 15,000 per month. Non-relatives carry the highest threshold, and the same fees and deposit apply.
Is the AED 1,000 deposit really refunded?
Yes, it is a financial guarantee refunded after the visitor departs within their permitted stay. Keep the payment receipt and apply for the refund through the same channel.
Can the visit visa be extended?
Visit visas can typically be renewed or the visitor can exit and re-enter on a new visa. Rules change, so check current GDRFA guidance before the visa expires rather than after.
