Dubai wife visa requirements

According to a Gulf News "Ask The Law" report 12 January 2012, the conditions specified by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in the UAE under which a wife can sponsor her husband (which are different for those for a husband sponsoring his wife) are:

* The wife should be employed as a doctor, engineer, or teacher
* Minimum salary should be AED 3,000 if accommodation provided, or AED 4,000 if accommodation not provided.
* An attested marriage certificate and labour contract needs to be supplied. If salary between AED 3,000 and AED 4,000 then a tenancy contract also.
* For husbands working in different professions, an application for an exemption from the profession requirement needs to be made to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, and the minimum salary should be AED 10,000 without accommodation or AED 9,000 with accommodation.

Source: Dubaifaqs.com

Procedure To Arrange Husband / Wife Visa

Procedures to get husband/wife visa:

- Spouse should go to medical clinic to do blood test and x-ray.
- Spouse and sponsor go to immigration department typing center with all documents - pay fees and get application form filled in.
- Typing center will direct you to the next counter.

Fees are AED 300 for a 3 year residence permit (AED 100 per year) + 10 dhs processing fee + 120 dhs if urgent processing required.

- If your spouse overstays his/her entry permit before processing the residence visa, there will be fines of 25 dhs per day imposed (or more if that has changed).
- It is not necessary to depart and re-enter the UAE when changing entry permit to residence visa.

Documents Needed For Husband/ Wife Visa

Here are the needed documents for applying husband/wife visa...

- Application form - from typist at DNRD or relevant UAE visa processing department.
- 2 photographs of spouse (but bring a couple of extra photos).
- Original entry permit of spouse (e.g. visit visa, tourist visa)
- Original passports of sponsor and spouse being sponsored.
- Original valid medical certificate
- Copy of the sponsor's employment contract or salary certificate
- Copy of the sponsor's valid residence permit
- Copy of sponsor's e-gate card in Dubai (unconfirmed if this is necessary)
- Residence contract in name of sponsor at Sharjah Naturalisation & Residency Department (SNRD), attested by the Sharjah Municipality (Gulf News 11 August 2008). This apparently does not apply to professional workers on higher salaries.
- Health insurance for spouse (might not be required, or required in Abu Dhabi only).

Sponsor Your Wife/Husband For Residence Visa in Dubai

Do you have a plan bringing your husband/wife here in Dubai? If yes, this post is for you...


Married couples can sponsor each other for a residence visa in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the rest of the UAE. Note that the sponsorship is only for a residence visa which is not the same as an employment visa / work permit / labour card. If the spouse is working, then s/he is supposed to get a work permit from the employer. It is not uncommon for spouses to work (usually part-time) without a labour card but be aware that s/he will not have any rights should there be a dispute between the employee and the employer, and there is potential for problems (fines, labour ban, deportation) if found out. There are some restrictions when applying to sponsor your wife or husband.