By GulfInside | Updated 21 October 2026. UAE residents inviting relatives or friends need to understand the sponsor’s income requirements, relationship evidence and applicable entry-permit fees. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) published revised income thresholds in its 2025 visa amendments, which remain an important reference for 2026 applications.
Minimum monthly salary requirements
| Visitor relationship to foreign resident | Minimum sponsor income |
|---|---|
| First-degree relative | AED 4,000 per month |
| Second- or third-degree relative | AED 8,000 per month |
| Friend | AED 15,000 per month |
ICP identifies first-degree relatives as parents, spouse and children; second-degree relatives include siblings, grandparents and grandchildren; and third-degree relatives include uncles, aunts and cousins. The rules concern a foreign resident acting as host; different visa types may have different eligibility conditions.
What documents are needed?
GDRFA Dubai’s single-entry relative-or-friend visit visa service lists passport and personal photographs, evidence of relationship such as marriage or birth certificates, and employment or salary documentation where applicable. It also lists home-country identity cards for certain nationalities, including Pakistan. Applicants should consult the exact service for their emirate and relationship category.
Dubai visit visa durations and published fees
GDRFA’s single-entry relative-or-friend service lists 30, 60 and 90 days, with base fees of AED 200, AED 300 and AED 400 respectively, plus VAT. It separately lists financial security, insurance and service charges. These should not be confused with the different tourist visa fee schedule.
If your purpose is a holiday rather than a resident-hosted visit, compare the separate Dubai tourist visa fees and application requirements. Applicants planning repeated tourist trips can also review the five-year multiple-entry tourist visa guide.
How to prepare an application
- Confirm the sponsor’s eligible relationship and monthly income.
- Gather proof of kinship and salary or employment documentation.
- Check passport validity and insurance requirements.
- Use the appropriate ICP or GDRFA service.
- Budget for government fees, insurance and any required refundable guarantee.
- Track the application through the authority’s official system.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sponsor a friend on an AED 4,000 salary?
Not under the ICP friend-visit threshold for a foreign resident host, which is AED 15,000 per month.
Is the AED 4,000 threshold for every family member?
No. ICP distinguishes first-degree relatives from second- and third-degree relatives.
Is the minimum salary the only requirement?
No. Identity, relationship evidence, application documentation and other visa conditions still apply. Meeting an income threshold does not guarantee approval.
Official sources
ICP policy announcement; ICP visa service; GDRFA relative or friend visit service.
