A UAE Golden Visa holder can sponsor their spouse and their children regardless of the children’s age, and their parents too. Family members get residency linked to yours, so they do not need an employer or a separate sponsor. The main work is in the paperwork: attested marriage and birth certificates, health insurance for everyone, and the right order of steps. Rules and fees in this guide were checked against official sources in October 2026.
Who you can sponsor on a Golden Visa
ICP’s Golden Residency guide says holders can get residence permits for their spouse and children regardless of the children’s age, as well as for their parents. That is the biggest difference from a regular residence visa, where sons can normally be sponsored only until they turn 25. If you want to sponsor a married child, confirm the position with ICP or GDRFA first, because the rules are written with dependent children in mind.
| Family member | Can a Golden Visa holder sponsor them? | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Yes | Attested marriage certificate |
| Children (sons and daughters) | Yes, regardless of age | Attested birth certificates; confirm for married children |
| Newborn born in the UAE | Yes | Complete the residency within 120 days of birth |
| Parents | Yes | Proof that you support them; confirm documents with ICP or GDRFA |
| Domestic workers | Yes, no cap on the number | Follow ICP’s domestic worker rules |
Sponsoring your parents on a Golden Visa
Parent sponsorship is where most families have questions. The right to sponsor parents is now official: ICP’s Golden Residency guide lists parents alongside spouses and children, and the Dubai Land Department publishes a separate fee for a 10-year parents residence permit on the Dubai property route (see the costs table below).
What ICP does not publish is a separate list of documents for parents. For regular residents, sponsoring parents usually comes with a minimum income requirement and a security deposit for each parent. In November 2022, shortly after the expanded Golden Visa rules took effect, Khaleej Times reported that an ICP customer care agent confirmed the usual salary threshold and deposit did not apply to Golden Visa holders. Instead, applicants were asked for a document issued by their home country’s consulate stating that they are the sole caretaker of their parents.
Because those document details come from news reports rather than a published ICP rule, treat them as the starting point and confirm the current requirements with ICP or GDRFA before you apply. In particular, ask:
- which document your consulate needs to issue to prove you support your parents
- whether each parent needs a separate application and medical test
- what health insurance cover is accepted for older parents
ICP requires valid health insurance for the holder’s family members, and cover for parents in their sixties and seventies can cost much more than cover for younger family members, so get quotes early.
Documents you will need
Most family applications are delayed by documents rather than eligibility. Prepare these before you start:
- Your own documents: your Golden Visa residence details and a valid Emirates ID, plus your passport.
- Passports and photos for every family member, with photos that meet ICP’s specifications.
- Attested marriage certificate for your spouse.
- Attested birth certificates for each child.
- Proof of support for parents, such as the consulate document described above.
- Health insurance for every family member you sponsor.
Documents issued outside the UAE must go through the full attestation chain: the issuing country’s foreign ministry, then the UAE embassy or consulate in that country, then the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An apostille alone is not enough, because the UAE is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Our guides for Pakistani applicants and for Golden Visa holders from India walk through each country’s attestation steps.
How much it costs to sponsor family
There is no single family fee across the UAE. The Dubai Land Department publishes the clearest breakdown for families of investors on the Dubai property route:
| Fee item (Dubai property route, DLD) | AED |
|---|---|
| Family residence permit (10 years) | 5,774.50 |
| Parents residence permit (10 years) | 5,774.50 |
| Opening the family file | 318.75 |
| Each additional sponsored person | 100 |
| UAE MOFA attestation, per personal document | 150 |
On top of these come medical tests, Emirates ID fees for each family member, health insurance and attestation costs in your home country. Other emirates and other routes use ICP’s fees, which differ. For the main applicant’s own fees and the full picture by route, see our breakdown of Golden Visa costs for 2026.
How to apply for your family, step by step
- Complete your own Golden Visa first. Your residency and Emirates ID need to be active before you can add dependants.
- Attest every foreign document. Marriage and birth certificates go through the full attestation chain described above.
- Arrange health insurance for each family member you plan to sponsor.
- Submit the family application through ICP’s smart services or the UAE PASS app, through GDRFA Dubai or an Amer centre in Dubai, or through the Dubai Land Department if you are on the Dubai property route.
- Get entry permits for family members outside the UAE, so they can travel in to complete the process.
- Complete medical tests and Emirates ID biometrics in the UAE for each family member who needs them.
- Receive the residence permits. You can track progress with your application number, as explained in our guide to checking GDRFA application status.
What happens to your family if your situation changes
- If the main holder dies: sponsored family members can stay in the UAE until the end of their own residence permits, according to ICP’s Golden Residency guide. This gives the family time to arrange their affairs.
- If your Golden Visa is cancelled or not renewed: your family’s residency is linked to yours, so their permits are affected too. ICP grants a 180-day grace period after a Golden Residence permit is cancelled or expires, for the holder and their family members. Confirm the grace period that applies to your family with ICP or GDRFA before you cancel anything.
- If you have a baby in the UAE: complete the newborn’s residency within 120 days of birth. After that, fines are charged for each day of delay.
These protections are part of what makes the Golden Visa worth it for families. Our article on the main Golden Visa benefits covers the rest.
Common mistakes that delay family applications
- Unattested or partly attested certificates. A marriage certificate without the UAE embassy and UAE MOFA stamps will be sent back.
- Name differences across documents. Spellings or name order that differ between passports, marriage certificates and birth certificates cause queries, especially where the father’s name is used as a surname.
- Applying before your own Emirates ID is active. Dependants cannot be added to a file that is not complete.
- Assuming parents follow the children’s rules. Parent sponsorship has its own conditions, so confirm them before you book flights.
- Missing health insurance. Every sponsored person needs cover.
- Leaving newborn registration too late. Complete the newborn’s residency within 120 days of birth to avoid daily fines.
FAQ
Can a Golden Visa holder sponsor their parents?
Yes. ICP’s Golden Residency guide lists parents among the family members a holder can get residence permits for. ICP does not publish separate document rules for parents. Reports since November 2022 say the usual salary threshold and deposit do not apply, and that a consulate document showing you support your parents is needed instead. Confirm the current requirements with ICP or GDRFA before applying.
Can I sponsor my son after he turns 25?
Yes. The UAE Cabinet’s regulations allow Golden Visa holders to sponsor their children regardless of age. If your son is married, confirm with ICP or GDRFA first.
Do my family members get the same visa length as me?
Family residency is linked to yours. Confirm the term your family members will receive when you apply, as it depends on your own permit.
How much does it cost to add my family?
On the Dubai property route, the Dubai Land Department lists AED 5,774.50 for a 10-year family permit (the same for a 10-year parents permit), AED 318.75 to open the family file and AED 100 for each additional person. Medical tests, Emirates ID, insurance and attestation cost extra.
Can my spouse work on a family residence permit?
Your spouse can live in the UAE on your sponsorship. To take a job, they will need the right work permit, which their employer arranges.
Can I apply for my family from outside the UAE?
You can start the process from abroad, and family members outside the UAE can get entry permits to travel in. Medical tests and Emirates ID biometrics happen in the UAE.
Talk to us on WhatsApp. Tell us who you want to sponsor, where their documents were issued and whether they are already attested. We will tell you what is missing and the order to do it in. Message us on WhatsApp at +971 52 143 0280.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Final decisions rest with ICP and GDRFA. Eligibility criteria are published in the ICP Golden Residency guide.
Prefer our Golden Visa updates? Add us as your preferred source on Google.
