GDRFA Dubai has clarified the visit visa framework for relatives and friends of UAE residents, giving sponsors a clean rulebook heading into the second half of 2026. The authority reports 29,456 visitor visas issued in Dubai during H1 2026, and now confirms three headline salary thresholds — Dh4,000, Dh8,000 and Dh15,000 — alongside fixed fees, refundable deposits and a hard annual cap of 120 days.
What GDRFA clarified
According to GDRFA Dubai, the sponsor income thresholds now scale by degree of kinship rather than a single blanket rule. The same clarification reconfirms the available visa types, the refundable deposit levels, the 60-day entry window and the 120-day annual stay limit — a full package rather than a patchwork of updates.
Federal guidance on u.ae aligns with this Dubai framework for expatriate sponsorship. Gulf News reported the clarification on 17 July 2026.
Sponsor income thresholds
A resident needs at least Dh4,000 per month to invite first-degree relatives, Dh8,000 for second- and third-degree, and Dh15,000 to invite a friend. Payslip and category do the work — no discretionary lift.
| Visitor category | Examples | Minimum sponsor salary (AED / month) |
|---|---|---|
| First-degree relatives | Parents, spouse, children | 4,000 |
| Second- and third-degree relatives | Siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins | 8,000 |
| Friends | Non-relatives | 15,000 |
Visa types, durations and fees
Base fees range from Dh200 to Dh700, depending on stay length and entry type. VAT, insurance and service charges sit on top of the base fee.
| Duration | Single entry (AED) | Multi entry (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 days | 200 | 300 |
| 60 days | 300 | 500 |
| 90 days | 400 | 700 |
The base fee is not the full price. Add 5% VAT, medical insurance (roughly Dh40–90 depending on duration) and a service fee (around Dh20–60). The Smart Services calculator on gdrfad.gov.ae returns the exact final total before payment, so there is no guesswork at checkout.
Deposit, processing time and stay rules
GDRFA takes a refundable deposit of Dh1,000 for single entry and Dh2,000 for multi entry, processes most applications in around 48 hours, and caps stay at 120 days per year.
The visa has to be activated by entry within 60 days of issue. If the visitor does not cross the border in that window, the visa lapses. Extensions from inside the UAE are possible — subject to GDRFA approval, not automatic.
Documents and application channels
Applications go through the GDRFA Smart Services portal on gdrfad.gov.ae, the GDRFA mobile app, Amer service centres, or Customer Happiness Centres — all within Dubai.
The sponsor prepares:
- Emirates ID and passport copy
- Evidence of Dubai residency
- Income proof — salary certificate, attested labour contract, or partnership papers
- IBAN for the deposit refund
- Attested relationship certificate (birth or marriage)
The visitor prepares:
- Passport valid for at least six months
- ICAO-format photo
- Attested relationship certificate
- Purpose-of-visit statement (family visit, wedding, medical treatment, business meetings)
One practical note. UAE Pass is the unified national digital ID used to authenticate inside Smart Services — not a separate portal or a shortcut. As a general rule, residents of other emirates cannot file through GDRFA Dubai; they apply via the authority in their own emirate.
Practical checklist for a UAE resident
Seven steps take most families and businesses from decision to submission without rework.
- Confirm Dubai residency and a monthly salary above the applicable threshold.
- Identify the visitor category — first-degree, second- or third-degree, or friend.
- Prepare and attest all documents. Relationship proof and income proof stall most files.
- Choose the visa type — 30, 60 or 90 days, single or multi entry — based on real travel plans, not maximum length.
- Pay the base fee plus refundable deposit through Smart Services or an accredited channel.
- Provide a UAE-based IBAN for the deposit refund after the visitor departs.
- Submit the application, then brief the visitor on the 60-day entry window and the 120-day annual cap on stay.
What it means for families and businesses in the UAE
Standardised thresholds cut down on avoidable refusals. A resident earning Dh4,500 now knows, with no ambiguity, that a parent visa is on the table and a friend visa is not.
For HR teams inside Dubai companies, the framework gives a clean answer for expat staff asking whether their current salary supports a family invitation. Family offices can budget cost per visit — base fee, deposit, insurance, service — without surprises at checkout. Entrepreneurs juggling investor visits and personal travel often find the multi-entry track with the Dh2,000 refundable deposit the cleanest single instrument across a year.
For borderline cases — a rejected relationship document, a salary sitting a hundred dirhams below the line, a visitor arriving mid-window — it is worth confirming directly with GDRFA, or running the case past Garant BC's immigration desk before submission.
