Sponsoring children for a UAE residence visa: sons under 25, unmarried daughters, special needs
The official rules for sponsoring children in the UAE: sons under 25 and unmarried daughters of any age, children with special needs regardless of age, sons over 25 who are studying, the attested birth certificates, income condition, the wife-as-sponsor document, fees and the sequence.
The short answer
A UAE resident who meets the income condition may sponsor sons under 25, unmarried daughters and children with special needs regardless of age, proving each child's age with an attested birth certificate. Sons over 25 may remain on a parent's sponsorship with evidence of attending a higher-education institute, and daughters may be sponsored for study until they marry. The children's residence cannot outlast the sponsor's, children aged 18 or over take the medical fitness test, and GDRFA Dubai asks for the father's no objection when the mother is the sponsor.
Key facts
- Sons
- Under 25 years old (ICP card; u.ae family page); over 25 with evidence of attending a higher-education institute (u.ae student page)
- Daughters
- Unmarried daughters (ICP); for study 'regardless of her age, until she is married' (u.ae student page)
- Special needs
- Children with special needs, with 'documents proving special needs regardless of age' (ICP)
- Proof of age
- Birth certificates to prove children's ages (ICP); attested
- Sponsor income
- AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus housing (ICP; u.ae; GDRFA Dubai)
- Mother as sponsor
- 'No objection from the father if the guarantor is the wife' (GDRFA Dubai document list)
- Student residence
- Duration set by the study programme; 180 days allowed after completion (ICP)
Who this page is for
Parents holding a UAE residence who want their children to live with them, and parents of older students who want to know how long a child can stay on the family file. The rules are quoted from the ICP card, the u.ae family page updated 7 August 2026, the u.ae student page and the GDRFA Dubai family-sponsorship card.
Age and status rules as officially stated
| Child | Official wording | Source | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Son | 'sons under 25 years old' | ICP card; u.ae family page (07 Aug 2026) | The older u.ae FAQ says 'up to 18'; superseded on the current pages |
| Son over 25, studying | 'male students over the age of 25 can stay on their parents' sponsorship if they provide evidence of attending a higher educational institute' | u.ae student page | Whether the institute must be in the UAE is not stated |
| Daughter | 'unmarried daughters' | ICP card; u.ae family page | No upper age stated |
| Daughter, studying | 'may continue to sponsor their female children for study, regardless of her age, until she is married' | u.ae student page | |
| Child with special needs | 'children with special needs'; 'documents proving special needs regardless of age' | ICP card | The issuing body for the proof is not named on the card |
| Male children, Dubai | 'Up to 25 years old, a resident may sponsor his male children' | GDRFA Dubai card | Consistent with the federal wording |
| Student sponsored by a university | Residence 'determined by the study program'; 'allowed to remain in the UAE for 180 days after the completion of the study period' | ICP card; u.ae student page | Alternative to parental sponsorship |
Sponsor conditions
- A valid residence permit held by the sponsoring parent.
- Income of AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided housing.
- Adequate housing for the family.
- Proof of kinship and age: attested birth certificates.
- The children's residence matches the sponsor's permit and cannot exceed it.
- Children aged 18 and above pass the medical fitness test; fingerprints and signature for Emirates ID from age 15.
Documents and who issues them
| Document | Issued by |
|---|---|
| Attested birth certificate for each child | Civil registry of the country of birth; attested through that country's foreign ministry and the UAE's attestation route |
| Documents proving special needs, where applicable | Medical authority; the ICP card does not name a specific issuer |
| Evidence of attending a higher-education institute (sons over 25) | The institute |
| Child's passport valid 6 months and photograph | Passport authority |
| Sponsor's employment certificate showing income and housing; job contract | Employer |
| Utility bill; tenancy contract or ownership proof | Utility provider; tenancy registry; land department |
| Health insurance for each child | Insurer |
| Medical fitness certificate (18+) | EHS, DHA or SEHA centres |
| No objection from the father, if the mother sponsors | Father (GDRFA Dubai list) |
| National ID copy (nationals of Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq) | Home-country ID authority |
The sequence
- Attest birth certificates for every child before applying.
- Entry permit per child from ICP or GDRFA Dubai (AED 200 plus VAT in Dubai); change of status (ICP AED 500) if the child is already in the UAE.
- Entry and the 60-day window to complete residence.
- Medical fitness test for children aged 18 and above.
- Emirates ID: fingerprints and signature are required from age 15.
- Residence stamped, expiring no later than the sponsor's.
Official fees stated
Per child on the ICP card: application AED 100; issuance AED 100 per year; smart service AED 100; deposit fee AED 20. GDRFA Dubai entry permit AED 200 plus VAT. Investors' family members carry a financial guarantee of AED 3,000 each up to AED 15,000 on the ICP card. Medical, Emirates ID and insurance are separate.
What people get wrong
- Cancelling a son's visa at 18. The current official age is under 25, and study can extend it.
- Assuming a married daughter can stay on the file. The wording is 'unmarried daughters' and 'until she is married'.
- Forgetting the father's no objection when the mother sponsors in Dubai. It is on the GDRFA Dubai document list.
- Letting a student's residence lapse after graduation. ICP allows 180 days after completion of the study period for university-sponsored students.
Next step
Send us the children's ages, where they were born and whether any is over 25 and studying. We will say which official wording applies to each and what attestation the birth certificates need. If a parent will also be sponsored, read sponsoring parents.
Any "starting from" figure is an indicative price for our service and excludes government and third-party fees, which vary by activity, visa count and jurisdiction. Government fees shown are official charges from the cited pages at the review date. Your exact, itemised quote is confirmed free of charge in a consultation, with nothing hidden.
Frequently asked questions
Until what age can I sponsor my son in the UAE?
Under 25, per the ICP card and the current u.ae family page. Over 25, with evidence of attending a higher-education institute, per the u.ae student page.
Is there an age limit for daughters?
No upper age is stated. The condition is that the daughter is unmarried.
Can I sponsor a child with special needs who is over 25?
Yes. The ICP card lists children with special needs and asks for documents proving special needs regardless of age.
Can a mother sponsor her children?
The ICP wording is 'his/her'. GDRFA Dubai's card lists 'no objection from the father if the guarantor is the wife' among the documents.
Does my 16-year-old need a medical test?
The medical fitness test applies to family members who have completed the age of 18. Fingerprints and signature for the Emirates ID apply from age 15.
What if my child studies at a UAE university?
The child can stay on your sponsorship, or the accredited university can sponsor a residence set by the study programme with 180 days allowed after completion.
Official sources and review
The rules on this page were checked against the official pages below. We re-check every 60 days and after any announced change.
- ICPIssuing Residency Permit — service card (all residence types)Checked 4 September 2026
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)Residence visa for family membersChecked 4 September 2026
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)Residence visa for studying in the UAEChecked 4 September 2026
- GDRFA DubaiEntry visa for residence without work — family sponsorshipChecked 4 September 2026
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)FAQs: visa and Emirates IDChecked 4 September 2026
- UAE Government portal (u.ae)General provisions for the residence visaChecked 4 September 2026
Government fees, thresholds and processing times change without notice. Where an official page does not state a figure, we say so rather than estimate. Nothing here is legal advice or a decision of any UAE authority.
Immigration UAE is a brand of Cosmos Immigration, a private immigration and business-services consultancy. It is not affiliated with the Government of the UAE, ICP, GDRFA, MOHRE or any UAE government authority.
Sponsoring your children?
Send their ages, countries of birth and study status. We will say which official wording applies to each and what the birth certificates need.
No private firm can guarantee the outcome of a UAE visa, residency or licensing application. Decisions rest solely with the relevant UAE authority.