Picture used for illustrative purposes.

Emad Eddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

The Digital Government of the UAE stated that a resident in the country can sponsor his/her parents, as a residence visa is granted to either of them, subject to annual renewal, with the payment of insurance as a guarantee determined by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), regardless of the length of stay of the sponsor.

The government added that resident can obtain a residence visa for members of his family to live and reside if he has a valid residence visa, according to conditions which must be met by the resident, the most important of which is that his salary should not be less than Dhs4,000 per month or Dhs3,000 with the availability of housing. The government clarified that the resident who wants to obtain a residence visa for his parents must provide a proof of their need for his care and support.

In the event of the death or divorce, official documents proving this must be submitted in order to obtain the residence visa for one of them without the other. The digital government also indicated that a mother can sponsor her children in certain cases, defined by the ICP. It also clarified that the resident who wants to modify the status of his family from a temporary entry permit to a residence visa must complete the procedures of the modification within a maximum period of 60 days from entering the country.

Health insurance must be provided to parents, which must be annually renewed, and all family members (over 18) must undergo a medical test, the government affirmed. It added that if the applicant suffers from tuberculosis (old or inactive), he is considered healthy, provided that he is followed up by the Preventive Medicine Department, and he will be granted a health fitness certificate for residency in which the phrase “subject to treatment” is mentioned.

The residence visa period in this case will be only one year.

Terms and conditions for residency visas may change from time to time, so it is advised to contact the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, or the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), to be updated with the latest required procedures, the government pointed out.