Your family is settled in the UAE, and now the residence visas are close to expiry. Renewal is usually simpler than the first application, because no entry permit is needed and most of your documents are already on file. Still, timing matters. This guide explains when to start, what to prepare and the steps in the right order.
Start with the sponsor's own visa
Your family members' residence is linked to yours as the sponsor. If your own residence visa is expiring at the same time, or before theirs, renew your own visa first. In most cases the family visas cannot be renewed for longer than the sponsor's visa, and a sponsor with an expired visa cannot renew for the family.
If your job, salary or visa type has changed since the first application, tell us early. A new employer, a move to a business or investor visa, or a Golden Visa can change the requirements for renewal.
When to start the renewal
Start in the weeks before the expiry date. This gives enough time for the medical test, health insurance and any document updates. Renewing early is usually allowed, and it avoids a last-minute rush if something needs to be corrected, such as an expired passport.
Check that every family member's passport is valid. If a passport is close to expiry, renew it with your embassy first, because the new residence is linked to the passport details.
The renewal steps in order
- Check eligibility. Confirm the sponsor's visa is valid and the salary or income still meets the current requirement.
- Medical fitness test. Family members aged 18 and over need a medical test. Children under 18 do not.
- Health insurance. Valid health insurance is usually required for each family member in most emirates.
- Emirates ID renewal. The Emirates ID is renewed together with the residence, and biometrics may be needed for some family members.
- Residence visa renewal. The residence is renewed for the new period. No entry permit is needed, because your family is already resident. UAE residence is digital, so there is no sticker in the passport.
Sons over 25 and other changes
Sons can be sponsored until 25. When a son turns 25, he usually cannot stay on your family visa and needs his own residence, for example through an employment visa, a student visa or another option that fits his situation. Unmarried daughters can stay on the family visa with no age limit, and children with disabilities can be sponsored at any age. We confirm the current rule for your case before you pay. Read more in our guide on children and age limits.
What happens if the visa expires?
After a residence visa expires, there is usually a grace period to renew or leave the country. After the grace period ends, daily fines usually apply for each person. The grace period and fine rules have changed in recent years, so please check the current grace period with us rather than relying on old information. The safest plan is to renew before expiry.
Documents for renewal
- Passports of the sponsor and each family member, valid for the new period
- The sponsor's valid residence visa and Emirates ID
- Current Emirates IDs of the family members
- Recent photos as per the current photo rules
- Proof of salary or income, such as a salary certificate or employment contract
- Tenancy contract (for example, Ejari in Dubai)
- Health insurance for each family member, where required
- Medical test results for family members aged 18 and over
Most attested certificates, such as your marriage and birth certificates, are already on file from the first application, but sometimes they are requested again. Our required documents page has more detail.
Renew online with FamilyEase
FamilyEase handles family visa renewals end to end, 100% online. You send the documents by WhatsApp, we book the steps and follow up until the new Emirates IDs are issued. Ask for a free eligibility check on WhatsApp, learn more about our family visa renewal service, and see the exact government fees in our visa calculator.
Questions about this visa
Do I need an entry permit to renew my family visa?
No. Your family is already resident, so the renewal covers the medical test (for 18+), Emirates ID and the residence visa only.
When should I start the renewal?
Start in the weeks before expiry, and renew your own sponsor visa first if it is also expiring.
What if the visa has already expired?
There is usually a grace period, then daily fines apply. Contact us to check the current grace period for your case.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change and every case is different — we confirm what applies to you before you pay anything.