Spouse Sponsorship Visa: Step by Step

Step 1: Attest your marriage certificate first

Before anything else, your marriage certificate needs to be attested for UAE use. This is often the longest single step, taking anywhere from three days to two weeks depending on where you married, so it's worth starting well before the rest of the application. See our guide to marriage certificate attestation for the full process.

Step 2: Confirm eligibility as a sponsor

You'll need to meet the salary requirement for spouse sponsorship, generally starting around AED 4,000 with accommodation provided, and hold a registered tenancy contract (Ejari) in your name.

Step 3: Entry permit or status change

If your spouse is currently outside the UAE, an entry permit is applied for on their behalf. If they're already in the country on another visa, a change of status is arranged instead.

Step 4: Medical test and Emirates ID

Once the entry permit or status change is approved, your spouse completes a medical fitness test and applies for their Emirates ID, which involves biometrics.

Step 5: Visa stamping

The final step is stamping the residence visa into your spouse's passport, which completes the sponsorship process.

Timeline and cost

End to end, spouse sponsorship typically takes two to four weeks once the marriage certificate is already attested. DocuGulf's service fee is AED 3,200, with government fees shown separately and itemised at cost. For the full document checklist, see documents required for a UAE family visa.

Key takeaways

Key takeaways: Attest the marriage certificate first, it's the longest single step and everything else depends on it. Confirm salary and tenancy eligibility before applying. The process then runs entry permit or status change, medical, Emirates ID, then stamping, usually two to four weeks total. DocuGulf's fee is AED 3,200, with government fees shown separately at cost.

A note on scope: DocuGulf is a documentation facilitation service. All kinds of work is performed by licensed notaries, translators and approved typing centres. Reach us at info@docugulf.com or +971 58 569 3628.