UAE Cabinet announces new process of visa facilitation

UAE Cabinet has announced that a new process of visa facilitation will take into account salary of the expat workers, rather than job title to sponsor their immediate family member to come and stay with them.

In a tweet, the UAE government said that the Cabinet has approved new facilitation for expats sponsoring family members and reaffirms UAE’s position as a hub for talents and the land of opportunities.

A statement by the General Secretariat of the Cabinet stated that the amended provisions now indicate income as a requirement for sponsoring family members, as opposed to the previously listed professions which allowed workers to sponsor their families. The amendment is in line with international developments and accordance with best practices, it added.

Giving the details, the UAE government website sad that the



expatriate residents, both employers and employees, may sponsor their families in the UAE provided they have a valid residency permit. 

It further stated that male residents who are employed in the UAE can sponsor their immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions which include minimum salary of 4,000 Dirhams or 3,000 Dirhams plus accommodation.

The male sponsor must also hold a profession which allows him to sponsor his family. However, the mother is not allowed to sponsor them.

The UAE government website also clarifies that the Domestic helpers and certain other categories cannot sponsor their families regardless of their salary.

A large number of Asian expats especially Indians work as domestic help in the UAE