New Family Visa Cost in the UAE: Inside vs Outside Country (2026)

The UAE family visa cost depends on one thing most people miss: whether your dependent applies from inside or outside the country. Applying from outside is cheaper — here is the full fee comparison.

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Quick answer

You can save roughly AED 1,280 per person by applying for a new family visa from outside the UAE. The cost difference stems from two main factors: a more affordable entry permit (AED 339 compared to AED 989) and the fact that you avoid the AED 630 change-status fee.

For an adult, the total government fee is AED 1,376 from abroad versus AED 2,656 from within the country. For a child, the cost is AED 1,103 from abroad versus AED 2,383 from within. Please keep in mind that if this is your first time sponsoring, a one-time family file fee of AED 203 is also required.

Determining the cost of a UAE family visa can be confusing, as online information is often inconsistent. The price varies significantly depending on whether your dependent is currently inside or outside the country at the time of application. This guide clarifies the costs using official government data from our Visa Calculator, ensuring you know exactly what to expect.

Note: The following information applies only to new family visa applications. Renewal fees follow a different structure and are detailed in a separate guide. All figures are in AED.

How much does a new family visa cost in the UAE?

Same end result, two price paths — based on where the applicant is.

A new family visa is built from a short list of government fees: an entry permit, a medical fitness test (adults only), the Emirates ID, and visa stamping. The twist is the entry permit. If your dependent is inside the UAE (for example on a visit visa), they need an in-country entry permit plus a change-status step. If they are outside the UAE, they receive an entry permit from outside and simply enter on it — no status change. That single difference is why the totals are not the same.

  • Entry permit (inside): AED 989 — plus a change-status fee.
  • Entry permit (outside): AED 339 — no change of status needed.
  • Change status: AED 630 — inside-country applications only.
  • Medical fitness (standard): AED 273 — adults only.
  • Emirates ID: AED 354. Visa stamping: AED 410.
Calculate your family visa cost

Inside vs outside country: the full price comparison

Here is the line-by-line comparison for one adult. Notice that the medical, Emirates ID and visa stamping are identical on both sides — only the entry permit and change-status lines move.

Government fee

Inside the UAE

Outside the UAE

Entry permit

AED 989

AED 339

Change status

AED 630

Not required

Medical fitness (standard)

AED 273

AED 273

Emirates ID

AED 354

AED 354

Visa stamping

AED 410

AED 410

Total (one adult)

AED 2,656

AED 1,376

A child follows the same pattern, minus the medical test: AED 2,383 inside versus AED 1,103 outside. Either way, the outside route saves the same AED 1,280 per person.

Why is applying from outside the country cheaper?

It comes down to two fees, and both disappear or shrink when your dependent is abroad. The entry permit issued from outside the country costs AED 339, while the in-country entry permit is AED 989. On top of that, an inside application has to change the person’s status from visit to residence, which adds AED 630. Apply from outside and there is no status to change, so that fee is gone entirely.

The maths: applying from outside saves AED 650 on the entry permit (AED 989 → AED 339) and a further AED 630 by skipping change of status. Together that is AED 1,280 saved per person, while the medical, Emirates ID and stamping fees stay exactly the same.

Note: the outside route only works if your dependent is genuinely outside the UAE when the entry permit is issued. They then travel in on that permit and finish the medical and stamping inside the country.

Family visa fees for an adult and a child

The same person costs less from outside — children always pay less than adults (no medical).

Applying from inside the UAE

Adult — from outside

AED1,376

Entry permit (outside)

AED 339

Medical (standard)

AED 273

Emirates ID

AED 354

Visa stamping

AED 410
Cheaper route

Child — from outside

AED1,103

Entry permit (outside)

AED 339

Emirates ID

AED 354

Visa stamping

AED 410

Medical fitness

Not required
No medical fee

First-time sponsor

AED203

Family file opening

AED 203

Repeats per dependent

No
One-time only
Applying from inside the UAE

Adult — from inside

AED2,656

Entry permit (inside)

AED 989

Change status

AED 630

Medical (standard)

AED 273

Emirates ID

AED 354

Visa stamping

AED 410
Already in the UAE

Child — from inside

AED2,383

Entry permit (inside)

AED 989

Change status

AED 630

Emirates ID

AED 354

Visa stamping

AED 410

Medical fitness

Not required
No medical fee

Worked example — a spouse and one child, first family file. From outside: AED 1,376 + AED 1,103 + AED 203 = AED 2,682. From inside: AED 2,656 + AED 2,383 + AED 203 = AED 5,242. Same family, same visa — AED 2,560 cheaper from outside.

The one-time family file opening fee

Before you can sponsor anyone, you need a family file with immigration. If this is your first time sponsoring a dependent and you do not yet have a family file, a one-time fee of AED 203 is added to open it. Once the file exists, you will not pay it again for future dependents — it is charged once per sponsor, not per person.

What the family visa price does not include

These are government fees — a few costs sit outside them.

The totals above are the official government charges for the visa itself. A few related costs depend on your situation and are billed separately, so plan for them on top of the figures shown. You can review the full process on our Family Visa service page.

  • Sponsor eligibility. Sponsors generally need a minimum salary (commonly AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 with company accommodation) and a valid tenancy contract. This is a requirement, not a fee.
  • Health insurance. A valid policy is mandatory for each dependent and is priced separately by age and provider.
  • Document attestation & translation. Marriage and birth certificates issued abroad usually need attestation before they are accepted.
  • Premium or express medical. The AED 273 figure is the standard test; faster tiers cost more.
  • Service fees. These government fees do not include any typing-centre or PRO service charge.

Which option should you choose?

If your spouse, child or parent is already abroad — or can travel out and re-enter on the new visa — the outside route is the clear saver at AED 1,280 per person. If they are already inside the UAE on a visit visa and cannot easily leave, the inside route avoids the cost and hassle of a trip, even though the fees are higher. The right answer depends on where your family is and the price of a flight versus the AED 1,280 saving.

Quick answer

  • Dependent already abroad? Apply from outside and save AED 1,280 each.
  • Children under 18 never pay the medical fee — budget AED 1,103 (outside) each.
  • First time sponsoring? Add the one-time AED 203 family file fee.
  • Weigh a flight’s cost against the AED 1,280 saving before deciding.
Calculate your family visa cost

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about new Family Visa Cost in the UAE. Tap to expand.

Government fees for a new family visa vary depending on whether the applicant is inside or outside the UAE. For adults, the fee is AED 1,376 from outside the UAE and AED 2,656 from inside. For children, it is AED 1,103 from outside and AED 2,383 from inside. Health insurance, document attestation, and service fees are separate.

Applying from outside the UAE is AED 1,280 cheaper per person because the outside entry permit costs less and no status change fee is required. Applicants enter the UAE directly using the issued residence entry permit.

Government fees for a child are AED 1,103 when applying from outside the UAE and AED 2,383 when applying from inside. Children under 18 are exempt from the medical fitness test, making their overall government fees lower than those for adults.

A one-time government fee of AED 203 is charged when opening a sponsor’s family file with immigration. This fee is only payable the first time you sponsor a dependent.

No. Children under 18 years of age are exempt from the UAE medical fitness test required for residence visa issuance.

Applying from outside the UAE is the more affordable option, saving AED 1,280 per applicant. However, this option is only available if the dependent is genuinely outside the UAE when the entry permit is issued.

No. The amounts shown are government fees only. Additional costs such as health insurance, document attestation, certified translations, premium medical services, and professional service fees may apply depending on your circumstances.

An inside-country entry permit is issued to applicants already in the UAE and requires a separate status change process. An outside-country entry permit is issued while the applicant is abroad, allowing them to enter the UAE directly as a resident without paying the status change fee.

In most cases, the sponsor must earn at least AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,000 plus employer-provided accommodation, and hold a valid UAE residence visa. Other eligibility requirements, such as suitable accommodation, may also apply.

No. These government fees apply only to new family visa applications. Renewal costs are lower because they do not include an entry permit or status change and are calculated separately.

Want your exact family visa cost?

Tell us where your family is and how many dependents you’re sponsoring, and we’ll confirm the government fees and handle the whole file inside or outside the country.

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Brightlink Management Consultancy · Third-party visa & PRO services, Dubai

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Brightlink Management Consultancy

Brightlink, operates FamilyVisaUAE.com, a premier Dubai-based service dedicated to simplifying the immigration process. We empower residents to manage UAE family visas and essential government documentation entirely online. Through our expert insights, we provide clear guidance on visa regulations, costs, and the practical steps required to help families successfully settle in the UAE.

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