🛂 UAE Family Visa for American Citizens (2026)
Eligibility, documents and process — plus a free fee calculator on the main /visa page.
Quick answer
American passport holders receive 90 days visa-free entry to the UAE — no advance application required. For longer stays or different purposes, the Family Visa is available under the standard process described below.
Eligibility for American passport holders
US passport holders receive 90 days visa-free entry on arrival — no advance application required.
American nationals form a notable professional 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 American citizens typically apply
For tourism, no application is needed. For other visa types like family visa, applications are routed through the following sponsors:
- Not applicable for tourism — visa-free entry
Nearest UAE diplomatic mission: Washington D.C. (Embassy); Boston, Houston, Los Angeles, New York (Consulates).
Notes specific to American applicants
- US citizens receive 90 days visa-free entry per visit, on arrival.
- Passport should have at least 6 months validity from the planned date of entry.
- For stays beyond 90 days, an extension or pre-arranged visa is required.
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
US passport holders receive 90 days visa-free entry on arrival — no advance application 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.