The UAE has launched new income thresholds for residents sponsoring family members and friends under visit visas, a move that travel experts believe will ensure more genuine visitors and curb visa misuse. The regulation comes from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP), and it outlines three salary brackets depending on whom the resident is sponsoring.
Residents earning AED 4,000/month can now sponsor first-degree relatives. Those with a salary of AED 8,000/month may sponsor second- and third-degree relatives. To invite friends on a visit visa, the sponsor must earn at least AED 15,000/month.
Industry voices have praised the new rules as a positive step toward transparency and fairness. It gives sponsors a clear income requirement, regardless of nationality. Previously, many depended on travel agencies to arrange visa applications, which sometimes rejected applications based on risk profiles or policy ambiguities. Now individuals can apply directly via Amer Centres or ICP, streamlining the process.
Another expected benefit is fewer absconding cases. With stricter, clearer rules, experts say applicants are more likely to follow visa conditions, and enforcement will be easier.
Travel and tourism operators describe the initiative as helpful for families wanting to reunite, tourists who want more predictable access, and the UAE’s broader goal of being an attractive hub for business and leisure.
