UAE Employment & Family Visas — sponsor your team & family
Hiring staff and bringing your family to the UAE both run on the residence-visa system, with different sponsors and steps. Here is how employment visas for your team and family sponsorship visas for your dependants work in 2026 — the conditions, the process and what each one costs.
What this guide covers
Quick summary
- Employment visa: your company sponsors each hire's work permit, residence visa and Emirates ID.
- Family sponsorship: sponsor your spouse, children and — with a higher income — parents.
- Salary rule: spouse sponsorship commonly needs around AED 4,000 a month (or 3,000 with accommodation).
- Cost: roughly AED 4,000–7,000 per person, plus medical insurance.
- Timeline: usually 1–3 weeks per person once the file is open.
Employment & family visas explained
Two of the most common reasons to arrange UAE residency are work and family — hiring staff for your company, and bringing your loved ones to live with you. Both run on the same underlying residence-visa system, but the steps and sponsors differ. This guide covers employment visas for your team and family sponsorship visas for your dependants, so you can plan both together.
If you are a founder setting up your own residency first, start with the investor visa guide — you need an active residency before you can sponsor anyone else.
Employment visas for your team
To employ someone in the UAE, your company sponsors their work permit and residence visa. A mainland employer works through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, while a free zone company sponsors staff through its own zone authority. Either way, the employee needs a valid work permit, a residence visa and an Emirates ID before they can legally start.
The employer is responsible for the visa costs, the labour contract and, in most cases, medical insurance. Aurum manages the establishment card, quotas, permits and stamping so your people are onboarded cleanly and on time.
The employment visa process
Establishment & quota
We set up your immigration file and confirm your visa quota with the relevant authority.
Work permit & entry permit
We apply for the employee's work permit and entry permit so they can enter or change status.
Medical & Emirates ID
The employee completes the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics.
Labour contract & stamping
The contract is registered and the residence visa is stamped — the hire can now begin.
Family sponsorship visas
Once you hold a valid residence visa — as an investor, Golden Visa holder or employee — you can usually sponsor your immediate family to live with you. Sponsoring your spouse and children is the most common case; sponsoring parents is also possible with a higher income and additional conditions.
| You can sponsor | Typical condition |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Valid residency plus a minimum salary, commonly around AED 4,000 (or AED 3,000 with accommodation). |
| Children (sons) | Usually up to age 18, extended while in full-time education. |
| Children (daughters) | Sponsored until they marry. |
| Parents | Higher income threshold, full family medical insurance and often a deposit. |
Thresholds and documents vary by emirate and by your own visa type, so we confirm exactly what applies to you before starting. Golden Visa holders enjoy the most generous family sponsorship terms — see the Golden Visa guide for details.
The family sponsorship process
Confirm eligibility
We check your salary, visa type and tenancy meet the sponsorship conditions.
Entry permit
We apply for each family member's entry permit to bring them into status.
Medical & Emirates ID
Adults complete a medical test; everyone is registered for an Emirates ID.
Visa stamping
Each dependant's residence visa is issued and linked to your sponsorship.
Cost & timelines
An employment visa typically costs the employer somewhere in the region of AED 4,000 to AED 7,000 per staff member, depending on the authority and role, and is usually completed within one to three weeks. Family sponsorship carries similar per-person government fees plus medical insurance, and moves at a similar pace once your own residency is active. We give you a clear, itemised quote for each person so payroll and budgeting stay predictable.
Official sources
- Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MoHRE)
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP)
- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA)
Employment & family visa FAQs
How does an employment visa work in the UAE?
Your company sponsors the employee's work permit and residence visa — through MoHRE for a mainland company or the free zone authority for a free zone company. The employee needs a work permit, residence visa and Emirates ID, and the employer covers the costs.
What salary do I need to sponsor my family?
To sponsor a spouse and children you generally need a minimum salary of around AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. Sponsoring parents requires a higher income, full family medical insurance and usually a deposit.
Can I sponsor my parents in the UAE?
Yes, but it carries stricter conditions — a higher income threshold, comprehensive medical insurance for them, and often a refundable deposit. We confirm the current requirements for your emirate before applying.
How long does a family visa take?
Once your own residency is active, each dependant's entry permit, medical, Emirates ID and stamping usually complete within one to three weeks.
Until what age can I sponsor my children?
Sons are typically sponsored up to 18, extended while they are in full-time higher education. Daughters can be sponsored until they marry. Golden Visa holders can sponsor children regardless of age.
Who pays for an employee's UAE visa?
The employer is responsible for the work permit, residence visa and, in most cases, medical insurance and the labour contract costs for each employee.
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