Family Visa Attestation Documents Dubai — Complete Checklist (2026)

Documents Required for Spouse Visa

Sponsoring a spouse for a UAE residence visa requires several attested documents. The key document is your marriage certificate — it must be fully attested through the chain of home country authentication, UAE Embassy attestation, and MOFA attestation. If your marriage certificate is in a language other than English or Arabic, you need a certified translation from an MOJ-approved bureau. Additionally, the sponsor must provide a valid passport copy, UAE residence visa copy, Emirates ID, salary certificate from the current UAE employer (minimum salary threshold applies — currently AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation), Ejari-registered tenancy contract proving adequate housing, and passport photos. For the sponsored spouse: passport copy (valid for at least 6 months), passport photos, and medical fitness test results (completed after arrival in the UAE).

Documents Required for Children's Visa

Sponsoring children requires attested birth certificates as the primary document, along with additional paperwork.

• -Attested birth certificate of each child — full attestation chain required
• -Attested marriage certificate of the parents — same as for spouse visa
• -Passport copies of both parents and the child
• -Sponsor's salary certificate and Emirates ID
• -Ejari tenancy contract
• -School enrollment letter — for children of school age (required by some GDRFA offices)
• -Medical fitness test — for children over 18 (completed after UAE arrival)
• -NOC from the other parent — if the child is being sponsored by only one parent and the other parent is not in the UAE

Attestation Requirements by Document Type

Not all documents for the family visa need attestation — here is the breakdown.

• -Marriage certificate — MUST be fully attested (home country → embassy → MOFA) if issued outside the UAE
• -Birth certificate — MUST be fully attested if issued outside the UAE
• -Salary certificate — Does NOT need attestation if issued by current UAE employer. Only needs attestation if from a foreign employer.
• -Tenancy contract (Ejari) — Does NOT need attestation. It is a UAE-issued document.
• -Employment contract — Does NOT need attestation for family visa purposes if UAE-issued.
• -Passport copies — No attestation needed, but must be clear and valid.
• -Medical fitness — Completed at approved UAE medical centres, no prior attestation needed.

The Family Visa Application Process

Once all documents are attested and ready, the family visa application process follows these steps.

1. 1Submit the visa application through the GDRFA portal or an Amer centre — include all attested documents
2. 2Pay the visa application fee — varies by emirate and processing speed
3. 3Receive the entry permit — valid for 60 days, allows the family member to enter the UAE
4. 4Complete medical fitness test — the family member must undergo a medical test at an approved centre after arrival
5. 5Obtain Emirates ID — apply through ICA centres
6. 6Visa stamping — the residence visa is stamped in the passport, completing the process

Common Mistakes That Delay Family Visa Applications

The most common delays come from incomplete attestation — submitting a marriage or birth certificate without MOFA attestation results in immediate rejection. Name discrepancies between the marriage certificate and passport cause verification issues — ensure names match exactly or provide legal documentation of any name changes. Expired documents — salary certificates older than 3 months and medical fitness results older than 60 days may be rejected. Not meeting the minimum salary threshold — if the sponsor's salary is below the GDRFA requirement, the application will be rejected regardless of document attestation. AttestExpress handles the complete attestation package for family visa applicants — we collect all your certificates from your home in Dubai, attest them through the full chain, and deliver them back ready for visa submission.