Parents Visa in Dubai: Eligibility & Key Requirements

Bringing your parents to live with you in Dubai is an important goal for many expats. However, the process of applying for a parent visa can be quite complex, particularly when it comes to understanding the income criteria, necessary documentation, and additional evidence requested by the authorities. If your residency is based on employment or investment, the rules may differ slightly. This guide will clarify what is required to sponsor your parents, including eligibility criteria, necessary documents, and practical tips to help navigate the process confidently.

Eligibility Criteria

Employment Visa Holders:

Those working in Dubai or the UAE with a valid employment visa can sponsor their parents if they meet certain conditions. The minimum monthly salary required for parent sponsorship is AED 10,000. In addition, stable employment and documents like a contract and salary certificate are needed to demonstrate your ability to support your parents.

Investor Visa Holders:

If you hold an investor visa, you can still sponsor your parents, even without a fixed salary. In this case, you'll need to provide business or company bank statements showing consistent cash flow and financial stability over the past months, which reassures immigration authorities of your capability to support your parents.

Other Requirements

• Two-bedroom Ejari tenancy contract or equivalent accommodation proof
• Affidavit confirming your parents have no other supporter or that siblings will not object
• Valid passports for both parents (typically with at least six months validity)
• Attested birth certificates or other proof of relationship - learn more about document attestation in UAE
• Medical fitness tests required after arrival, depending on the emirate
• All documents not in Arabic or English must be translated and legally attested

Step-by-Step Application Overview

1. Gather and verify all required documents (such as proof of relationship, tenancy, bank statements, and passports).
2. Attest and translate any documents if necessary.
3. Submit the application to immigration or residency authorities.
4. Pay all relevant fees and, if applicable, deposits.
5. When your parents arrive, ensure they complete any medical tests required by your emirate.
6. Once approved, residence visas are issued, followed by Emirates ID cards for your parents.

Government Deposit for Parent Visa

A government security deposit is required to sponsor parents. This amount is refundable upon visa cancellation or non-renewal and acts as a financial guarantee to the government.

Practical Tips and Common Pitfalls

• Always confirm the latest salary thresholds and accommodation rules, as they can change.
• Ensure all required paperwork from abroad is properly legalized and translated.
• Applications often fail due to missing proof or weak documentation. Stronger affidavits and financial evidence can help your case.
• The two-bedroom accommodation requirement is strictly enforced.

Conclusion

Sponsoring your parents for a UAE residence visa is entirely possible with the right preparation and meeting all criteria. Whether the sponsor is on an employment visa or investor visa, it is important to collect financial records, accommodation proof, and documents establishing your relationship before applying. Professional services such as Verifast can assist families from document attestation to preparing the application, making the process smoother.