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To get a children visa in Dubai, a resident parent earning AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation, can sponsor sons under 25, unmarried daughters of any age and children with special needs of any age. GDRFA charges AED 200 plus 5% VAT for the entry permit and AED 200 plus small charges for the residence. Each step takes 48 hours. Older sons, stepchildren and adopted children need the humanitarian route.
Which of your children qualify
The standard family visa covers more than people expect for daughters, and less than they expect for sons.
| Child | Route | Extra papers GDRFA or ICP asks for |
|---|---|---|
| Son under 25 | Standard family visa | Attested birth certificate |
| Son 25 or over | Humanitarian case | Certified proof of continued studies, or a certified graduation certificate |
| Unmarried daughter, any age | Standard family visa | Attested birth certificate |
| Child with special needs, any age | Standard family visa | Special needs documents |
| Stepchild | Humanitarian case | Father's no objection letter, or guardianship document if he has died |
| Adopted child | Humanitarian case | Court adoption certificate with orphanage details, travel no objection |
| Ward under guardianship | Humanitarian case | Court guardianship certificate, attested |
Sons turning 25
GDRFA's entry permit page puts it plainly: up to 25 years old, a resident may sponsor his male children. After that the son either gets his own visa, through a job for example, or you apply on humanitarian grounds. For that GDRFA wants certified proof that he is still studying, or his certified university graduation certificate. If the certificate was issued abroad, it must be attested by the UAE embassy in that country and by MOFA in the UAE.
Stepchildren
Your spouse's children from an earlier marriage are not on the standard list. The humanitarian file asks for a copy of the parent's residence, a salary certificate or contract, attested birth certificates, 3 months of bank statements for both spouses and an attested tenancy contract. The father's no objection letter must be attested if it was issued outside the UAE. If the father has died, a guardianship document replaces it.
Adopted children and wards
For an adopted child, GDRFA asks for the court adoption certificate from the same country, with the orphanage details, plus a no objection statement from that country for the child to travel. For a ward, it is the court guardianship certificate from the country where it was granted. Both files also need the attested birth certificate, salary proof, attested tenancy and 3 months of bank statements.
Humanitarian requests are reviewed by a committee case by case. The permit is valid for one year and its renewal goes back to the committee.
Government fees per child
| Fee | GDRFA Dubai |
|---|---|
| Entry permit, child outside the UAE | AED 200 + 5% VAT |
| Child already inside the UAE | AED 500 + AED 10 + AED 10 |
| Residence permit | AED 200 + AED 10 + AED 10 + AED 20 delivery |
| Each year over two years | + AED 100 |
| Emirates ID | AED 100 per year + AED 100 smart service |
| Medical test, age 18 and over | AED 270 standard, 24 hours |
| Humanitarian financial guarantee | AED 5,000 per request, AED 15,000 in total at most |
Source: GDRFA family entry permit, family residence and humanitarian cases pages, ICP Emirates ID page, Dubai Administrative Resolution No. 66 on medical fitness charges, checked .
If you hold a residence from another emirate, the file goes to ICP instead: AED 100 application, AED 100 per year and AED 100 smart service. Every child also needs valid health insurance, and ICP lists it for both issuance and renewal. MOFA charges AED 150 per personal document for its attestation step.
What Dubai agencies charge
Published cost guides from 2 Dubai firms put a child's first 2-year residence at about AED 2,000 to AED 5,000 all-in, with insurance and Emirates ID inside that figure (checked ). A child under 18 skips the medical, so the low end is more realistic for young children.
Documents checklist
- Child's passport, valid at least 6 months, and a recent colour photo on a white background.
- Birth certificate, attested by the UAE embassy and MOFA if issued abroad.
- Certified marriage contract of the parents.
- Your passport, residence and employment contract or salary certificate.
- Tenancy contract and a water or electricity bill.
- Valid health insurance for the child.
- Father's no objection letter, if the mother sponsors.
- For humanitarian cases: proof of study, adoption or guardianship papers, and 3 months of bank statements.
Step by step
- Confirm you meet the family visa salary requirement and have suitable housing.
- Attest anything issued abroad before the child travels.
- Apply for the entry permit. If the child is already in the UAE on a visit visa, a status change inside the country avoids a trip out.
- After entry, book the medical if the child is 18 or over.
- File the residence and Emirates ID within 60 days of entry.
Processing time
GDRFA lists 48 hours for the entry permit and another 48 hours for the residence. ICP lists 2 days. Humanitarian cases take 14 days at GDRFA because the committee reviews them. The slow part is usually the attestation abroad, which no UAE page puts a time on.
Why child visa applications get stuck
- Son already 25. A standard application is refused. Use the humanitarian route with study proof.
- Daughter already married. Only unmarried daughters are on the standard list, at any age.
- Unattested certificates. A birth certificate from abroad without the embassy and MOFA stamps stops the file.
- Missing father's consent. Mothers sponsoring and stepchildren both need it.
- Sponsor's visa about to expire. Your child's permit cannot outlast yours. Renew first.
How it works with us
Tell us how many children you are sponsoring, their ages, and whether any are stepchildren, adopted or over 25. Send passport copies and your residence on WhatsApp or through the form on this page. A visa adviser sorts each child into the right route and lists the papers that still need attesting. You get one total price for the whole family, confirmed on WhatsApp before you pay. The team files the entry permits, books medicals for the older children and follows the humanitarian committee where needed. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service, not GDRFA or ICP. The authorities approve or refuse each child.
If a child's application is refused, GDRFA and ICP do not refund the government fees. Before you pay, the adviser tells you in writing which part of our total, if any, you get back.
Tips
- Plan for a son's 25th birthday before it arrives. Keep his enrolment letter current.
- A baby born here follows a different deadline. See the newborn visa in Dubai page.
- Children only coming for a holiday need a visit visa, covered on our Dubai visa for children page.
- Sponsoring parents as well? The parents visa also goes through the humanitarian committee.
- When your own visa is renewed, the children follow. The family visa renewal page has the fees.
Official sources
- GDRFA family entry permit: sons up to 25, father's no objection, fees, 60 days to finish.
- GDRFA family residence: residence fees, photo, medical over 18, 48 hours.
- GDRFA humanitarian cases: sons over 25, stepchildren, adopted children, wards, guarantee, 14 days.
- ICP family residency: children with special needs, insurance, ICP fees.
- u.ae family residence: who can be sponsored, salary rule.
All checked .
