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A family visit visa lets a UAE resident sponsor a relative or friend for 30, 60 or 90 days. You, the host, apply and pay a refundable guarantee of AED 1,000 for single entry. The salary you need runs from AED 4,000 a month for parents, spouse or children up to AED 15,000 for a friend on ICP's rules. GDRFA states 48 hours to process.
This is the visit visa, not the family residence visa. Your relative stays as a guest and leaves before the visa ends.
Who you can sponsor, and the salary for each
ICP sorts visitors into four groups and sets a monthly salary for each. Emirates, when it arranges the visa for its passengers, uses its own table with different figures. Do not mix them up: the tier you need depends on the route.
| Visitor | ICP degree | ICP salary | Emirates salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father, mother, spouse, son, daughter | 1st | AED 4,000 | AED 4,000 (spouse, children, parents) |
| Siblings, grandparents, grandchildren | 2nd | AED 8,000 | AED 5,500 (siblings) |
| Uncle, aunt, cousins | 3rd | AED 8,000 | AED 10,000 (other relatives) |
| Brothers and sisters-in-law | not listed separately | not stated | AED 7,000 |
| Friend | Friend | AED 15,000 | AED 10,000 |
Source: ICP visa issuance service page and the Emirates UAE visa page, checked .
The gap matters most for siblings and friends. A sponsor who earns more than AED 5,500 but less than AED 8,000 a month meets the Emirates figure for a brother, not the ICP one. ICP also asks that your sponsor file is active, so an expired or cancelled residence blocks the application.
Fees for a relative or friend visit visa
ICP
| Item | Single entry | Multiple entry |
|---|---|---|
| Application | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Issuance | AED 100 per month | AED 200 per month |
| Smart services | AED 100 | AED 100 |
| Guarantee (refundable) | AED 1,000 | AED 2,000 |
| Guarantee deposit fee | AED 20 | AED 20 |
GDRFA Dubai
| Stay | Single entry | Multiple entry | Medical insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days | AED 200 | AED 300 | AED 40 |
| 60 days | AED 300 | AED 500 | AED 60 |
| 90 days | AED 400 | AED 700 | AED 90 |
GDRFA fees are plus 5% VAT. The security deposit is AED 1,000 for single entry or AED 2,000 for multiple entry, plus an AED 20 deposit service fee and an AED 40 collection and refund fee. If the visitor is already inside the UAE, add AED 500, AED 10 and AED 10.
Source: ICP and GDRFA service pages, checked .
What Dubai agencies charge
We did not find enough published agency prices for relative-sponsored visit visas to show a fair range. Agencies mostly price the tourist visa, which works differently and has no deposit.
Getting the guarantee back
ICP refunds the guarantee once the visa is cancelled or the visitor has left the UAE, as long as there are no residency violations. You request it through ICP smart services, and the refund service costs AED 25. If an absconding circular was ever filed, it has to be lifted first. Overstay fines run at AED 50 a day and are taken before any refund, so book the return flight inside the visa dates.
Documents checklist
From the visitor
- Passport scan, at least 6 months valid
- Photo on a white background
- National ID copy, if they hold an Iraqi, Iranian or Afghan passport
From you, the sponsor
- Your passport and UAE residence details
- Proof of the relationship, such as a birth or marriage certificate
- Proof of salary that meets the tier
- A short reason for the visit
- Health insurance valid in the UAE, or the GDRFA insurance fee
Emirates also asks for a birth certificate copy for minors, in Arabic or English.
Processing time and entry window
GDRFA states 48 hours and ICP states 2 days once the file is complete. Your relative has 60 days from issue to enter. If the trip slips, ICP can extend that entry window once for AED 50. A missing document left unsent for 30 days cancels the request.
Extending the stay
Extensions are allowed. ICP charges AED 100 application plus AED 500 extension, and GDRFA lists AED 600 plus 5% VAT. The limit is where the official pages disagree: ICP's issuance page says 120 days in total, while ICP's and GDRFA's extension pages say 180 days for relative visits. More on extending a Dubai visa.
Common refusal reasons
- Salary below the tier for that relationship, often siblings or friends.
- The sponsor's own residence close to expiry or the file not active.
- No proof of the relationship, or a document in another language without a translation.
- A previous overstay or violation on the visitor's record.
- A dark or shadowed photo.
How it works with us
Tell us on WhatsApp, or in the form on this page, who you want to bring and roughly what you earn. A visa adviser checks the relationship degree and your salary against the route that suits you, ICP, GDRFA or the airline, before anything is filed. You get one total price before you pay, with the refundable guarantee shown on its own line. The team files the application, chases any missing paper and sends you the e-visa for your relative. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service, and ICP or GDRFA decides each visa.
If the visa is refused, the government fees stay with the authorities. Before you pay, your adviser confirms in writing which part of our total, if any, is returned.
Related pages
Bringing a child too? Read Dubai visa for children. For longer stays see the 90-day Dubai visa, and if plans change, visit visa cancellation and the UAE overstay fine.
Official sources
- ICP visa issuance: fees, guarantee, salary tiers, degrees, entry window, refund condition.
- GDRFA single-entry relative or friend visa: fees, deposit, insurance.
- GDRFA multiple-entry relative or friend visa: multiple-entry fees.
- ICP visa extension: extension fees and limits.
- ICP refund of fees for approved applications: guarantee refund.
- Emirates UAE visa information: airline salary table.
Checked . Check the ICP or GDRFA page before you pay.
