UAE spouse visa for British nationals
What this visa is
If you are married to someone who holds a UAE residence permit, you can join them on a family residence visa. Your spouse sponsors you once they meet the income rule below, and your permit stays linked to theirs for as long as it remains valid. Figures in this guide are as at September 2026.
Who can apply
You can apply if you are legally married to someone who holds a valid UAE residence permit. Your marriage needs to be formally registered in the UK, and your marriage certificate then needs to pass through the attestation chain covered below.
The UAE does not recognise same-sex marriage. The UAE government’s travel and residency guidance gives no route for a same-sex spouse to be sponsored, and UK government travel advice states plainly that same-sex marriages are not recognised in the UAE. If you are in a same-sex marriage, this route is not available to you on the basis of that marriage.
Who can sponsor
Your spouse needs a valid UAE residence permit and must earn at least AED 4,000 a month, or AED 3,000 a month plus housing provided by their employer. The accommodation also needs to be adequate for your family size.
Both husbands and wives can sponsor a spouse. GDRFA Dubai states directly that residents of Dubai can bring in a husband or a wife on the same terms. An older rule, requiring a higher salary and a listed profession from a woman sponsoring her husband, still appears on an archived government page. If you live outside Dubai, confirm the current position with ICP before you rely on the lower figure.
Your residence permit is linked to your spouse’s. You must apply for it within 60 days of entering the UAE, and everyone aged 18 or over needs a medical test at an approved centre. If your spouse’s permit is later cancelled or expires, you keep a six month grace period to sort out your own status.
Attestation of your UK marriage certificate
Before UAE authorities will accept your UK marriage certificate, it has to pass through a chain of attestation. The UAE has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille does not satisfy UAE authorities on its own. The chain ends with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UAE MOFA), which charges AED 150 per document.
Your marriage certificate must first be legalised by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Once it carries that legalisation, you can use the UAE’s digital service, which covers the UAE Embassy in London and UAE MOFA in a single application. Your digitally attested copy is then sent to you by email.
Documents you need
Confirm the current checklist with ICP or GDRFA Dubai before you apply, since the exact list depends on which authority handles your case. In general you need your attested marriage certificate, your passport valid for at least 6 months, a recent passport photo, a utility bill in your spouse’s name, your spouse’s employment certificate showing income and housing, and valid health insurance. Check with ICP or GDRFA whether your attested marriage certificate needs to be accompanied by a certified Arabic translation.
How to apply
GDRFA Dubai handles residents of Dubai, through Amer centres, customer happiness centres, and its own digital channels. ICP handles the other six emirates, through its smart services website and app. Your spouse applies as the sponsor once your marriage certificate is fully attested.
Costs and processing times
GDRFA Dubai lists AED 200 for the residence permit, AED 10 Knowledge Dirham, AED 10 Innovation Dirham, and AED 20 for delivery, plus AED 500 more if you apply from inside the UAE. The issuance fee rises by AED 100 a year for permits covering more than two years. Processing takes about 48 hours.
ICP lists AED 100 for the application, AED 100 a year for issuance, AED 100 for the smart service, and AED 20 for financial security. Processing takes about 2 days.
UAE MOFA charges AED 150 per document for attestation, refunded if a document is rejected, though the service fee is not. You also need to budget separately for your medical test, Emirates ID, and health insurance, since these are charged outside the fees above and are not yet confirmed figures at time of writing.
After you arrive
Apply for your residence permit within 60 days of entering the UAE. Book your medical test at an approved centre in good time, since it is required for everyone aged 18 or over before the permit is issued.
If your spouse is a UAE citizen
Sponsorship by a UAE citizen spouse follows a separate route: a 5 year residence visa with no employment requirement attached. That route is not covered in this guide.
FAQs
Does the UAE recognise a same-sex marriage from the UK for spouse sponsorship?
No. The UAE does not recognise same-sex marriage, and UK government travel advice confirms this directly. There is no route to sponsor a same-sex spouse on the basis of a UK marriage.
Can I use an apostille on my UK marriage certificate instead of attestation?
No. The UAE has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention, so your document still needs FCDO legalisation, then the UAE Embassy in London and UAE MOFA attestation.
Can my wife sponsor me on the UAE visa?
Yes. GDRFA Dubai confirms that both male and female residents can sponsor a spouse. If you live outside Dubai, confirm the current income rule with ICP.
What happens to my status if my spouse’s job in the UAE ends?
Your residence permit is linked to your spouse’s. If their permit is cancelled or expires, you have a six month grace period to arrange your own status.
Does my marriage certificate need to be translated into Arabic?
Check with ICP or GDRFA Dubai when you apply, since this can depend on your case.
Official sources
UAE MOFA, UAE Embassy London digital attestation service
UAE MOFA, FAQs on attestation of documents issued outside the UAE
u.ae, Residence visa for family members (updated 7 August 2026)
u.ae, archived: Sponsoring family residency visa by expatriates
ICP, Issuing residency permit for family members
GDRFA Dubai, Issuance of a residence permit for foreigner family members
GOV.UK, foreign travel advice: United Arab Emirates, safety and security