🛂 UAE Family Visa for Pakistani Citizens (2026)
Eligibility, documents and process — plus a free fee calculator on the main /visa page.
Quick answer
Pakistani 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 Pakistani passport holders
Visa-on-arrival is available only to Pakistani passport holders carrying a valid US, UK, EU, Australian, or Canadian visa or residence permit. Standard Pakistani passport holders require a pre-arranged visa.
Pakistan hosts one of the UAE's largest expatriate communities.
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 Pakistani citizens typically apply
Applications for Pakistani passport holders are typically routed through the following authorized channels:
- Licensed Pakistani travel agencies
- Emirates Airlines
- flydubai
- UAE-based PRO services
Nearest UAE diplomatic mission: Islamabad (Embassy); Karachi (Consulate).
Notes specific to Pakistani applicants
- Applicants are typically asked to provide a Pakistani national identity card (CNIC) in addition to the passport.
- A confirmed return ticket and a verifiable residential address in Pakistan are standard requirements.
- Work and residence visa processing involves additional sponsor / employer verification steps.
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 only to Pakistani passport holders carrying a valid US, UK, EU, Australian, or Canadian visa or residence permit. Standard Pakistani passport holders require a pre-arranged visa.
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.