Sponsoring your husband or wife in Dubai is not one fee but several: an entry permit, the residence permit itself, the Emirates ID and a medical fitness test. Each is set by a different government body, and a few depend on where your spouse is when you apply. This page lists every published government fee for a spouse visa in Dubai, with a link to the official page it comes from, so you can see where each dirham goes before you start.
All figures below are government fees as published by GDRFA Dubai, ICP and Dubai Health. They are estimates of government fees only. Health insurance is not included because no official premium is published, and our service fee is separate. For a full quote for your case, contact us.
Who can sponsor a spouse
A resident of Dubai can sponsor a husband or wife if they earn at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 a month plus accommodation (GDRFA). The housing must be adequate for the size of the family, owned or rented (ICP). The spouse's residence runs for the same term as the sponsor's and cannot be longer.
Spouse visa fees in Dubai (government fees)
| Item | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Entry permit (spouse outside the UAE) | AED 200 + 5% VAT | GDRFA – family entry permit |
| Residence permit fee | AED 200 | GDRFA – family residence permit |
| Knowledge Dirham + Innovation Dirham (residence) | AED 10 + AED 10 | GDRFA – family residence permit |
| Residence delivery | AED 20 | GDRFA – family residence permit |
| Residence longer than two years | + AED 100 for each year over two | GDRFA – family residence permit |
| Emirates ID (new card) | AED 100 per year of residence + AED 100 smart services fee | ICP – new ID card |
| Medical fitness test, standard (24 working hours) | AED 270 | Dubai Health – medical fitness packages |
| Health insurance | Required; we confirm the current amount for your case | Not published officially |
Optional and conditional items
Some fees apply only in certain situations. We check which ones apply before you pay anything.
| Item | Fee | When it applies | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside-country fee on the entry permit | AED 500 + Knowledge Dirham AED 10 + Innovation Dirham AED 10 | When your spouse is already inside the UAE | GDRFA – family entry permit |
| Inside-country fee on the residence permit | AED 500 | Listed on the residence page without stating when it applies; we confirm the current amount for your case | GDRFA – family residence permit |
| Status change inside the UAE | AED 500 + AED 10 + AED 10 (individual fee AED 15) | When a spouse on a visit visa moves to residence without leaving; we confirm whether it is charged in your case | GDRFA – status amendment |
| Medical test, Premium (6 working hours) | AED 700 | If you choose a faster result | Dubai Health |
| Medical test, Salem Innovative Center (30 minutes) | AED 700 | If you choose this centre | Dubai Health |
| Medical test, VIP (2 working hours) | AED 1,020 | If you choose the VIP service | Dubai Health |
The medical test is needed only for family members aged 18 or over. The Dubai Health list prints its prices without saying whether VAT is included, and states that prices may change. VAT is shown on the GDRFA entry-permit page only, so whether it also applies to the residence fee is something we confirm for your case.
A note on conflicting sources: ICP publishes a different, federal fee structure for residence permits (an application fee plus AED 100 per year and a smart services fee). For a Dubai residence file, GDRFA Dubai is the issuing authority, so this page uses the GDRFA figures and ICP only for the Emirates ID.
Example estimate
A Dubai resident sponsors his wife, who is outside the UAE, for a two-year residence with the standard medical test:
| Step | Government fee |
|---|---|
| Entry permit: AED 200 + 5% VAT | AED 210 |
| Residence: AED 200 + 10 + 10 + 20 delivery | AED 240 |
| Emirates ID, two years: (2 × AED 100) + AED 100 | AED 300 |
| Medical test, standard | AED 270 |
| Estimated government fees | AED 1,020 |
This is our arithmetic from the published fees and is an estimate of government fees only. Health insurance comes on top. If the spouse is already in the UAE, the entry permit rises by AED 520, and the residence may carry a further AED 500 inside-country fee if GDRFA applies it to your case. A residence of three years adds AED 100 to the residence fee. Our service fee is separate; contact us for your exact total.
Documents in brief
- Sponsor: passport copy, residence visa copy, Emirates ID copy, Ejari or tenancy contract, and salary certificate or employment contract
- Attested marriage certificate
- Spouse: passport copy and a passport-size photo with a white background
- Visit visa or cancellation copy if your spouse is already in the UAE
- Valid health insurance
- Medical fitness result for a spouse aged 18 or over; fingerprints for the Emirates ID from age 15
The residence must be completed within 60 days of your spouse entering the UAE on the entry permit (GDRFA).
Frequently asked questions
How much is a spouse visa in Dubai in 2026?
For a spouse outside the UAE on a two-year residence, the published government fees add up to about AED 1,020 including the standard medical test and Emirates ID. Health insurance and our service fee are extra.
Is it more expensive if my spouse is already in Dubai?
Yes. GDRFA adds AED 500 plus AED 10 and AED 10 to the entry permit when the sponsored person is inside the country, and lists a further AED 500 inside-country fee on the residence page. We confirm which apply to your case.
What salary do I need to sponsor my husband or wife?
At least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 a month plus accommodation, according to GDRFA Dubai and ICP.
Does a longer residence cost more?
Yes. The GDRFA residence fee rises by AED 100 for each year over two years, and the Emirates ID costs AED 100 for each year of residence.
Which medical test package should I pick?
The standard package (AED 270, 24 working hours) is enough for most families. Premium and VIP only make the result faster.
Is your service fee included in these figures?
No. These are government fees only. Our service fee is separate, and we give it to you before we start.
Get your spouse visa cost confirmed
Send your documents on WhatsApp to +971 52 505 3494 and we will confirm the government fees for your case, plus our service fee, before anything is submitted.