How to Apply for a Dependent Visa in Dubai and Sponsor Your Family With Meydan Free Zone

Moving to Dubai is a big step, and for many Indian residents in Dubai, it’s not just about starting a business. It’s about creating a stable life where your family can live, study, and grow alongside your success.

The UAE offers one of the most family-friendly residency systems in the region. Once you hold the right visa or trade license, any UAE resident expatriate can sponsor their spouse, children, and even parents by meeting basic income and accommodation requirements. The process is clear, structured, and digital, giving your family access to education, healthcare, and long-term stability.

With Meydan Free Zone,  family sponsorship becomes even simpler. Once your business license is issued, usually within 60 minutes, your investor visa allows you to apply for a dependent visa in Dubai immediately. It’s one connected system that lets you manage your business setup and your family’s residency in Dubai, all in one place.

Why Dubai Is the Best Place for Indian Families to Relocate and Build a Business

Few cities in the world understand Indian families the way Dubai does, modern, connected, and full of opportunity. For Indian families, it’s where global opportunity meets cultural familiarity. Home to over 4 million Indian nationals, the city offers the comfort of community with the benefits of a world-class lifestyle.

Here’s how life in Dubai compares to India across key areas that matter when you’re planning a family move and a business setup:

Dubai offers Indian families safety, stability, and a future built on opportunity, and Meydan Free Zone makes that move seamless. When you set up your company here, your investor visa qualifies you for a dependent visa in Dubai, allowing your spouse, children, and parents to live with you.

With the protection of an LLC license that keeps your personal assets safe, a guaranteed bank account in Dubai, and flexible pay-as-you-grow plans, Meydan Free Zone lets you manage your business and your family’s residency visa applications and renewals, all in one place. For Indian entrepreneurs, it’s the fastest way to build a company and a family life in Dubai, side by side.

Understanding the Dependent Visa in Dubai for Indian Families

A dependent visa, also known as a family residence visa, allows UAE residents to sponsor immediate family members, typically a spouse, children, and parents, to live with them in the UAE. This visa category is especially relevant for Indians who hold an investor, employment, or business owner visa and wish to bring their families to Dubai.

Many Indian entrepreneurs and professionals planning to move often ask: Can a family visa for the UAE be applied for from India? Yes, and it’s easiest when you start your business with Meydan Free Zone. The entire setup process is 100% digital, allowing you to establish your company from anywhere in the world. Once your business is registered and your investor visa is approved, you can immediately apply for your family visa in Dubai from India. This process is facilitated by Meydan Plus, the value-added service that handles everything online, from setup to residency.

Dependent Visa in Dubai for Indians: Eligibility and Sponsorship

• Spouse: You would require proof of marriage through an attested certificate.
• Children: Sons can be sponsored until age 25; unmarried daughters at any age.
• Parents: You can sponsor your parents with a visa issued on a yearly renewable basis.
• Employees: Eligible if earning at least AED 4,000 or AED 3,000 plus accommodation.
• Business owners or investors: If you own a business, you can sponsor your dependents directly under your company license. With a Meydan Free Zone business license, your dependent visas are seamlessly connected to your business setup through the Meydan Plus mResidency service, making the entire process fast, digital, and hassle-free.

Documents Required for a Dependent Visa in Dubai for Indian Families

Applying for a dependent visa in Dubai is a straightforward process when you have the right documents in order. Here’s a quick overview of what Indian families need to prepare before starting their application.

• Valid passport copies of both the sponsor and dependents
• Sponsor’s Emirates ID and UAE residence visa copy
• Attested relationship certificates (marriage or birth) with legal translation
• Tenancy contract/Ejari in the sponsor’s name
• Salary certificate or stamped bank statement, in case you are an employee
• Recent coloured photographs
• Recent utility bill (such as DEWA/Etisalat) for address confirmation.
• Medical fitness certificate for dependents aged 18+ (blood test/chest X-ray by approved DHA centre)
• Emirates ID registration for each dependent once the residence visa is approved
• Health insurance for dependents
• No objection certificate (NOC), if required (e.g. for single mother sponsorship)

How to Apply for a Dependent Visa in Dubai With Meydan Free Zone: A Step-by-Step Guide

Applying for a dependent visa in Dubai through Meydan Free Zone is simple and fully digital. Once your business license and investor visa are issued, you’re automatically eligible to sponsor your dependents. The entire process, from entry permit to visa stamping, is managed seamlessly through the Meydan Plus platform.

Here is a step-by-step guide for obtaining a dependent visa with Meydan Free Zone, once your business license is issued and your residency visa is granted with an Emirates ID:

1. Log Into Your Meydan Free Zone Customer Portal

Start by signing in to Meydan Free Zone’s secure online portal. This is where you can manage every step of the visa process, from document uploads to payment, without needing to visit an office.

2. Select Meydan+ & Dependent Visa Service

From the dashboard, choose the Meydan Plus service to begin your dependent visa application. Whether you’re sponsoring your spouse, children, or parents, this service handles verification, entry permits, and visa stamping on your behalf, all fully online.

3. Upload Required Documents & Complete Application Details

Fill out the online application form and upload all required documents, including passport copies, attested certificates, relationship proof, and photographs. Provide accurate sponsor and dependent details to ensure smooth processing.

4. Make Payment

Pay the dependent visa fees directly through the portal. The system generates a confirmation instantly, and your application moves into processing.

5. Entry Visa, Medical Test, and Emirates ID

Once the initial application is approved:

• Meydan’s team schedules medical fitness tests and biometric appointments for your dependents.
• Private transport and on-site assistance are provided for all test centre visits.
• Entry permits and Emirates ID formalities are managed end-to-end by Meydan Plus.

6. Receive Dependent Residence Visa and Documents

Once you’ve completed all the procedures and verifications, you’ll receive both digital and physical copies of:

• Dependent Residence Visa
• Entry Visa (if applicable)
• Medical Test reports
• Emirates ID

The typical processing timeline for a dependent visa in Dubai is around 10–15 business days from the date of submission. This includes the time needed for document verification, entry permit issuance, medical fitness testing, Emirates ID biometrics, and final visa stamping.

This fully managed, transparent workflow helps Indian entrepreneurs and residents bring family to the UAE efficiently, while eliminating stress and maximising compliance with current regulations.

Why Indian Families Prefer Meydan Free Zone in Dubai

Unlike traditional routes that involve multiple entities, translations, and approvals, Meydan Free Zone centralises the entire journey, from business setup to dependent visa management. Here are the reasons why Indian families choose Meydan Free Zone:

• Faster Approvals: Get your business license in under 60 minutes and start your residency visa process the same day, so you can start the dependent visa process immediately.
• Full Ownership & Protection: Enjoy 100% ownership with an LLC license that keeps your personal assets protected.
• Simplified Family Sponsorship: Manage all dependent visas — spouse, children, and parents — through Meydan Plus, our digital visa and residency platform.
• Guaranteed Bank Account: Receive a guaranteed UAE business bank account to meet visa requirements and support your family’s move.
• Tax-Free Setup: Benefit from 0% corporate tax on qualifying income, helping you save more for your family’s future.
• Always-On Support: Get round-the-clock help and walk-in assistance from Meydan Free Zone’s dedicated visa and compliance team.
• Safe & Secure: Your applications, records, and family documents are processed with verified digital security and government-backed transparency.

Build Your Business and Bring Your Family to Dubai With Meydan Free Zone

For many Indian entrepreneurs, Dubai isn’t just a new market, it’s a new beginning. A place where your business can grow globally, your family can live securely, and your children can thrive in world-class schools, all within one connected ecosystem.

With Meydan Free Zone, that move becomes easier than ever. In just 60 minutes, you can start your company, get your investor visa, and apply for your dependent visa, all through one digital platform designed for Indian founders relocating to Dubai. No middlemen. No delays. Just one smart process that brings your business and family under one roof.

Your next chapter in Dubai starts with a single decision, a business license.

Launch your business, get your visa, and bring your family to Dubai with Meydan Free Zone.

FAQs

1. How can an Indian apply for a dependent visa in Dubai?

Indian residents can apply for a dependent visa in Dubai if they hold a valid employment, investor, or business owner visa. You’ll need to submit essential documents such as passport copies, attested marriage or birth certificates, tenancy contract (Ejari), and proof of income. If you start your business with Meydan Free Zone, your dependent visas are processed faster and entirely online through the Meydan Plus platform

2. Can I bring my family to Dubai if I start a business?

Yes.  When you set up your business with Meydan Free Zone, you automatically qualify for an investor visa, which makes you eligible to sponsor your dependents too. You can bring your spouse, children, and even parents to live with you in Dubai, all managed digitally under your company license.

3. How much salary do I need to sponsor my family in Dubai?

If you’re employed in Dubai, you must earn a minimum of AED 4,000 per month or AED 3,000 plus accommodation to sponsor dependents. However, if you’re a business owner with Meydan Free Zone, there’s no fixed salary limit. Your eligibility comes from your valid business license and investor visa, which directly link your company ownership to your family sponsorship.

4. How long does it take to get a dependent visa in Dubai from India?

The process usually takes 10 to 15 business days, including document verification, entry permit, medical test, and visa stamping. When you apply through Meydan Free Zone, every step, from scheduling tests to Emirates ID, is handled through Meydan Plus, saving you time and unnecessary follow-ups.

5. Can I sponsor my parents under a dependent visa in Dubai?

Yes. Indian residents can sponsor their parents under a dependent visa, provided they meet the required income threshold and pay a refundable deposit. The visa is valid for one year and renewable annually. With Meydan Plus, all parent sponsorship requirements, from document attestation to renewal, are managed online, making the process simple and stress-free.