UAE visa: Minimum salary to bring your parents, siblings or friends in 2026
UAE residents who want to bring parents, siblings, other relatives or friends into the country on a visit visa must meet minimum monthly salary requirements based on their relationship with the visitor.
Under the current requirements published by the United Arab Emirates’ Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), the minimum monthly salary ranges from AED 4,000 to AED 15,000, depending on who the resident wants to invite. (icp.gov.ae)
For Nigerians living and working in the UAE, this means the salary requirement can range from about ₦1.45 million to ₦5.43 million per month, based on an exchange rate of approximately ₦362.30 to AED 1 on September 21, 2026.
The naira figures are approximate because exchange rates fluctuate.
Here is what to know about the UAE visa salary requirements in 2026.
1. You need AED 4,000 (about ₦1.45 million) to sponsor parents, spouse or children
A UAE resident must earn at least AED 4,000, equivalent to about ₦1.45 million, to sponsor a visit visa for a first-degree relative.
The ICP identifies first-degree relatives as:
– Father
– Mother
– Spouse
– Son
– Daughter
Therefore, a UAE resident earning at least AED 4,000 monthly can meet the stated income requirement for bringing an eligible parent, spouse or child on a visit visa.
The sponsor must also provide proof of the family relationship when applying. (“icp.gov.ae”)
2. Siblings and grandparents require AED 8,000 (about ₦2.90 million)
The minimum salary rises to AED 8,000, or approximately ₦2.90 million, when a UAE resident wants to sponsor a second-degree relative.
The ICP lists siblings, grandparents and grandchildren under this category.
Therefore, a resident earning AED 8,000 or more per month meets the stated salary threshold for sponsoring a sibling, grandparent or grandchild under the applicable visit-visa rules.
Proof of kinship is also required for relatives under the relevant categories. (“icp.gov.ae”)
3. Uncles, aunts and cousins also require AED 8,000 (about ₦2.90 million)
The same AED 8,000 (about ₦2.90 million) minimum applies to third-degree relatives.
The ICP identifies uncles, aunts and cousins as third-degree relatives for the visit visa category.
This means a UAE resident who wants to invite an uncle, aunt or cousin must meet the AED 8,000 monthly salary requirement.
The applicable relationship must be established through the required documentation during the application process. (“icp.gov.ae”)
4. Sponsoring a friend requires AED 15,000 (about ₦5.43 million)
The highest salary requirement applies when the visitor is a friend who is not related to the UAE resident.
In that case, the sponsor must earn at least AED 15,000 per month, which is approximately ₦5.43 million at the exchange rate used for this article.
The ICP specifically sets the AED 15,000 minimum for a friend visiting a foreign resident in the UAE. (“icp.gov.ae”)
The difference means that a UAE resident earning AED 15,000 can meet the stated income threshold for sponsoring a friend, while the same resident would also meet the lower salary thresholds applicable to eligible relatives.
5. Visitors need a passport valid for at least six months
Meeting the salary requirement does not complete the visa application.
The ICP states that visitors must have a passport valid for no less than six months.
A return travel ticket is also required, while the authority requires a valid health insurance policy within the UAE for the applicable visit-visa category. (“icp.gov.ae”)
For relatives, the sponsor must also provide proof of the relationship.
The UAE resident sponsoring the visit must have an active sponsor file that allows them to apply for the relevant visa and residence services. (“icp.gov.ae”)
6. Visitors can stay for 30, 60 or 90 days
The visit visa can allow a visitor to remain in the UAE for 30, 60 or 90 days, depending on the duration selected.
The ICP says the authority may extend the visa once or multiple times, provided the visitor’s total stay does not exceed 120 days under the applicable rules.
The entry permit must also be used within its stated validity period.
The ICP says the holder must enter the UAE within 60 days from the date of issuance, subject to the applicable rules. (“icp.gov.ae“)
This allows families to select a visit duration according to the purpose of the trip and the period for which the visitor intends to remain in the country.
7. These are visit-visa requirements, not family residence requirements
The salary thresholds should not be confused with the requirements for sponsoring a family member for UAE residence.
For a family residence visa, the official UAE government portal states that an expatriate resident can sponsor eligible family members with a minimum salary of AED 4,000, or AED 3,000 plus accommodation. (“u.ae” )
The two arrangements serve different purposes.
A visit visa allows a relative or friend to come to the UAE temporarily, while a residence visa allows an eligible family member to live in the UAE as a dependent of the sponsor.
Therefore, anyone planning to bring a parent, sibling, other relative or friend to the UAE should first establish whether the purpose is a temporary visit or family residence before relying on the applicable salary requirement.
For visit visas, the current thresholds are AED 4,000 (about ₦1.45 million) for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 (about ₦2.90 million) for second- and third-degree relatives, and AED 15,000 (about ₦5.43 million) for friends.
The naira equivalents are based on an exchange rate of approximately ₦362.30 per AED 1 on September 21, 2026, so the figures may change as the exchange rate moves.
The ICP provides for applications through its Smart Services website and smart application, with the specific requirements and fees depending on the visa category. (“icp.gov.ae“)