UAE Residence Visa: Muslim Expats Can Sponsor Two Wives at Same Time

Expatriates residing in the UAE have the privilege of enjoying the remarkable opportunities available in the country with their partners, children, and even extended families, whether by starting a family or bringing their loved ones from their home countries.

Recent developments in the UAE have introduced regulations enabling expatriates to sponsor residence visas for their families. According to the UAE Government, both employers and employees holding valid residence visas have the authority to sponsor their families.

"Unlike before, employees can sponsor their families regardless of their job titles — if they earn a minimum salary of Dh4,000 or Dh3,000 plus accommodation," the UAE government said on its official website.

Upon entering the country with an entry permit, expats are given a period of 60 days to apply for residence visas for their dependents. However, specific criteria must be fulfilled before these visas can be granted. Individuals who are "medically unfit" will be ineligible to obtain a visa, and dependents who are 18 years or older will be required to pass a medical fitness test as a requirement for the visa application process.

According to information on the UAE Government's website, there may be exceptional circumstances where Muslim expats could be permitted to sponsor two wives simultaneously. However, these cases are subject to strict regulations and conditions.

The authorities highlighted that the sponsor will have to meet certain terms and conditions set by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

"To sponsor the wife, the expatriate resident must prove an existing marital relationship by submitting an attested marriage certificate in Arabic or duly translated into Arabic by a certified translator," according to the guidelines.

The visa application process for daughters differs from that for sons in the UAE. Unmarried daughters can be sponsored without any specified age limit. On the other hand, sons can be sponsored by their parents only until the age of 25. However, individuals with special needs can be sponsored without any age restrictions.

Parents of babies born in the UAE must proceed with the visa application process within 120 days of their child's birth to avoid penalties.