visas
How to Sponsor a Child Dependent Visa in Dubai
Step-by-step guide to sponsoring a child residence visa in Dubai. Two routes: outside the UAE (child travels in on a permit) and inside the UAE (change of status, no travel required).
Gov. fee
AED 2,875 (government fees, excl. attestation)
Timeline
3–6 weeks
For
Residents in Dubai working in the private sector, a free zone, or government sector,…
Steps
6
Start
Have the child's birth certificate authenticated for UAE use.
Last updated: April 2026
- 1Attest the Child's Birth Certificate
- 2Open Family File at Amer
- 3Apply for Entry Permit
- 4Complete Change of Status
- 5Apply for Emirates ID
- 6Finalize Residence Visa
Step by step
Attest the Child's Birth Certificate
Have the child's birth certificate authenticated for UAE use. Steps vary by country but typically include notarization, foreign ministry authentication, UAE embassy stamping, and UAE MOFA attestation.
Where to go
UAE MOFA (final step)
Address / portal
mofa.gov.ae or any typing center for MOFA attestation
Est. cost
Varies by country
Est. time
1–4 weeks (varies)
Advice
Start this step first. If the certificate is not in Arabic or English, a certified translation is required before MOFA attestation.
Note
Requirements differ by country. Confirm the exact attestation chain with the UAE embassy in the child's country before starting.
Open Family File at Amer
The sponsor submits the required documents at an Amer service center to open the child's family file and register the dependency.
Where to go
Amer
Address / portal
Any Amer branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 252
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
Bring: sponsor's Emirates ID (original physical card), passport, and residence visa; child's attested birth certificate, passport, and white-background photo; Ejari or tenancy contract; and proof of income (salary certificate for free zone or government sector; labour contract for private sector). Partner or investor sponsors should confirm requirements separately.
Note
Bring the original Emirates ID card. A copy or digital version is not accepted.
Apply for Entry Permit
Amer submits an inside-country entry permit application to ICA. Once approved, the child can proceed to change of status without leaving the UAE.
Where to go
Amer
Address / portal
Any Amer branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 1,089
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
Complete Change of Status
Submit the change of status application at Amer. This converts the child's current visa status to the residence visa process.
Where to go
Amer
Address / portal
Any Amer branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 639
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
Apply for Emirates ID
Submit the Emirates ID application at Amer and complete biometric enrollment for the child.
Where to go
Amer
Address / portal
Any Amer branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 385
Est. time
2–3 days (card delivered in 5–10 days)
Advice
The Emirates ID is issued for 2 years. Track card dispatch via the ICA app.
Finalize Residence Visa
Submit the residence visa application at Amer. The child's passport is stamped with a 2-year residence visa once approved.
Where to go
Amer
Address / portal
Any Amer branch in Dubai
Est. cost
AED 510
Est. time
2–3 days
Advice
The child's passport is held briefly during stamping. Do not plan travel until it is returned.
Note
Check the child's passport expiry before submitting. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the intended residence visa expiry date.
Overview
Sponsors whose child is already inside the UAE complete all submissions through Amer service centers. The inside-country route costs more than the outside-country route because the entry permit fee is higher and an extra change of status step is required. No medical test is required on the standard child route.
Total government fees are approximately AED 2,875, covering file opening, entry permit, change of status, Emirates ID, and residence issuance. Attestation costs abroad are additional and vary by country. Allow 3–6 weeks overall — document attestation is usually the longest step.
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