The United Arab Emirates has outlined clear financial requirements for foreign residents wishing to sponsor their immediate family under the family residency programme.
Eligibility and Sponsorship Criteria
To qualify as a sponsor, a foreign national must hold a valid UAE residence permit and meet specified income thresholds:
- A minimum monthly income of AED 3,000 (approximately KSh 105,000) if employer-provided housing is included.
- A minimum monthly income of AED 4,000 (around KSh 140,000) if housing is not provided by the employer.
Sponsors are required to provide suitable accommodation for all family members, whether through ownership or rental agreements, ensuring the housing capacity matches the family size.
Who Can Be Sponsored?
Under the programme, sponsors may bring their spouses, unmarried daughters, sons under 25 years, and children with special needs regardless of age. Those holding the UAE Green Residence permit can additionally sponsor first-degree relatives beyond this immediate family group.
Documentation and Fees
Applicants must submit several documents including a valid passport with at least six months validity, attested marriage and birth certificates, proof of income and housing, and valid health insurance. Nationals from Afghanistan, Iran, and Iraq have additional ID requirements.
Application fees include:
- A non-refundable application fee of AED 100 (KSh 3,500).
- An issuance fee of AED 100 per year of the residence permit.
- Smart service fees of AED 100.
- Financial guarantees ranging from AED 3,000 to AED 5,000 per family member depending on the applicant’s status, capped at AED 15,000.
- Additional fees such as a financial security deposit of AED 20 and a status adjustment fee of AED 500.
Residency Processing and Overstay Penalties
Family members must complete residency issuance procedures within 60 days of entering the UAE. Failure to comply results in fines of AED 50 (KSh 1,750) per day for overstays.
