The United Arab Emirates has introduced new minimum monthly salary thresholds for residents sponsoring visit visas for family or friends in 2026. The requirements vary depending on the relationship between the sponsor and the visitor. Residents must meet specific income brackets to sponsor a visit visa, with those sponsoring non-relatives facing the highest requirements. The new thresholds aim to regulate the sponsorship process and ensure that sponsors can support their visitors financially.
According to the new rules, residents who wish to sponsor a first-degree relative, such as a parent, spouse, son, or daughter, must earn at least AED 4,000 (approximately GHS 12,533) per month. For second- or third-degree relatives, including siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, and cousins, the threshold doubles to AED 8,000 (roughly GHS 25,066) monthly. The steepest requirement is reserved for friends, with no family connection to the sponsor, who must show a monthly income of at least AED 15,000, equivalent to around GHS 47,000.
Meeting the salary threshold is not enough; sponsors must also hold an active sponsor file authorizing them to apply for visa and residence services on behalf of others. They must provide documentation proving the nature of the relationship claimed, with more paperwork required for closer or more distant relationships. The sponsor file is an official record that permits a UAE resident to apply for visas and residency-related services on behalf of others.
Once an application is approved, the entry permit issued is valid for 60 days, during which the visitor must enter the UAE. The entry window can be extended for a similar period if needed. At the application stage, sponsors choose how long their guest is expected to stay, with options of 30, 60, or 90 days. Authorities may approve one or more extensions during the visit, but the total time a sponsored visitor can spend in the UAE is capped at 120 days.
The new thresholds will significantly impact Ghanaians living and working in the UAE who plan to bring in friends or family members next year. The UAE hosts a significant Ghanaian diaspora, many of whom regularly host relatives or friends visiting from home for holidays, family events, or short stays. Ghanaian residents in the Emirates hoping to bring over extended family or friends will need to verify they meet the specific income bracket tied to that visitor's relationship to them before applying.
For Ghanaians earning below the AED 15,000 threshold, sponsoring a non-relative friend for a visit in 2026 would not be possible under these rules, even if they could comfortably meet the lower thresholds required for close or extended family. The new rules aim to ensure that sponsors can financially support their visitors during their stay in the UAE. The exact date when the new thresholds take effect in 2026 and how enforcement or verification of income and relationship documents will be carried out is not specified.
The introduction of the new salary requirements aims to streamline the sponsorship process and ensure that visitors to the UAE are adequately supported during their stay. The new thresholds vary depending on the relationship between the sponsor and the visitor, with friends facing the highest requirements. The rules will impact residents of the UAE, including Ghanaians, who plan to sponsor visit visas for family or friends in 2026.
Key points
- The UAE has introduced new minimum monthly salary thresholds for residents sponsoring visit visas for family or friends in 2026.
- The requirements vary depending on the relationship between the sponsor and the visitor, with friends facing the highest requirements.
- The new thresholds aim to regulate the sponsorship process and ensure that sponsors can support their visitors financially.
