🛂 UAE Family Visa for Indian Citizens (2026)
Eligibility, documents and process — plus a free fee calculator on the main /visa page.
Quick answer
Indian passport holders are eligible for UAE visa-on-arrival only with a valid US, UK, EU, Australian, or Canadian visa or residence permit. Otherwise a pre-arranged Family Visa is required, obtainable through an airline, licensed travel agency, or UAE-based sponsor.
Eligibility for Indian passport holders
Visa-on-arrival is available for Indian passport holders carrying a valid US visa, US Green Card, UK residence permit, or EU Schengen residence visa. The UAE has also extended visa-on-arrival eligibility to Indians holding residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Singapore. Without one of these, a pre-arranged visa is required.
India hosts the largest expatriate community in the UAE.
About the UAE Family Visa
Residence visa that allows a UAE resident to sponsor their spouse, children, parents, or other dependents to live with them in the UAE.
Typical documents
- Sponsor's passport, Emirates ID, and residence visa copies
- Sponsor's attested employment contract or salary certificate
- Sponsor's tenancy contract (Ejari registered)
- Attested marriage certificate (for spouse)
- Attested birth certificate(s) (for children)
- Dependent's passport with at least 6 months validity
- Medical fitness test (for dependents aged 18 and above)
- Emirates ID application
- Basic UAE health insurance
How Indian citizens typically apply
Applications for Indian passport holders are typically routed through the following authorized channels:
- VFS Global
- Emirates Airlines
- flydubai
- Etihad Airways
- Licensed UAE travel agencies
Nearest UAE diplomatic mission: New Delhi (Embassy); Mumbai and Hyderabad (Consulates).
Notes specific to Indian applicants
- Indian applicants typically qualify on one of three grounds: travel history (at least one international trip in the last 3 years, or a valid US / UK / Schengen visa), financial proof (e.g. ITR with adequate income for the last 2 years), or sponsorship from an immediate family member already residing in the UAE.
- VFS Global is the most common processing partner for Indian applicants.
Common rejection reasons
- Sponsor salary below the minimum threshold (AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 + accommodation)
- Unattested marriage or birth certificates
- Sponsor's residence visa nearing expiry
- Medical fitness test failure (for communicable diseases)
- Incomplete tenancy contract documentation
Process notes
- Sponsor minimum salary is AED 4,000 — or AED 3,000 plus accommodation — and covers spouse and children together.
- Sons can be sponsored up to age 25 if enrolled in an accredited institution; unmarried daughters indefinitely.
- Gender-based salary differences have been removed: male and female sponsors are assessed under the same threshold.
- Costs vary by emirate, dependent age, and whether the dependent is inside or outside the UAE during the application.
- For an estimate of current fees, use the calculator on the main UAE Visa page.
Get current fees and currency conversion
Visa fees change periodically and are quoted in AED. Use these free tools to estimate costs in your currency:
Planning the move itself?
FAQ
Visa-on-arrival is available for Indian passport holders carrying a valid US visa, US Green Card, UK residence permit, or EU Schengen residence visa. The UAE has also extended visa-on-arrival eligibility to Indians holding residence permits from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Singapore. Without one of these, a pre-arranged visa is required.
Residence visa that allows a UAE resident to sponsor their spouse, children, parents, or other dependents to live with them in the UAE.
A UAE Family Visa is typically valid for 1, 2, or 3 years (renewable; tied to the sponsor's residence validity). It can be extended subject to current rules.
Typical documents include: Sponsor's passport, Emirates ID, and residence visa copies; Sponsor's attested employment contract or salary certificate; Sponsor's tenancy contract (Ejari registered); Attested marriage certificate (for spouse). Specific requirements may vary by sponsor and emirate.
Fees vary by visa duration, sponsor, and processing speed. For an up-to-date estimate, use the free UAE Visa Fee Calculator on the main /visa page.