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Great news for working mothers in the UAE! In a significant update to the residency laws, the UAE now allows mothers to sponsor their children under a new mother visa rule. This change comes as a welcome relief for families where the mother is the primary earner, or where the father is unable to continue sponsorship due to residency violations. Effective immediately, working mothers with valid residency can take over the sponsorship of their children, ensuring that their legal status remains secure. This amendment highlights the UAE’s commitment to supporting families and providing stability, especially in cases where the family head is in violation of residency laws.
Overview of the New UAE Residency Law
As of October 14, 2024, the UAE government has introduced a significant update to its residency laws, allowing working mothers to sponsor their children’s residency under the new mother visa provision.
Mother sponsors children in UAE: This law applies to cases where the family head (father) is unable to continue sponsorship due to residency violations or penalties.
Working mothers can now step in as sponsors, provided they:
Are employed.
Hold a valid residency permit in the UAE.
This new mother visa rule is aimed at safeguarding children's residency, ensuring that families remain stable and secure despite the father’s legal or residency challenges.
Implications for Families
Stress Relief for Families: This amendment offers significant relief to families who are navigating complicated residency issues. If the father has violated residency laws or is facing penalties, the mother can take over the sponsorship without putting the children’s residency at risk.
Security for Children: The new law ensures that children can continue to legally reside in the UAE, even when the family head faces visa issues. This provides assurance for children's education, healthcare, and overall well-being, allowing families to remain together and thrive in the UAE.
This change reflects the UAE’s commitment to supporting expatriate families and providing a more flexible and family-friendly legal framework.
Eligibility and Conditions for Sponsorship by Working Mothers
To qualify for the new mother visa provision allowing mothers to sponsor children in the UAE, the following eligibility requirements must be met:
Employment Status: The mother must be employed in the UAE and possess a valid residency visa.
Father’s Residency Violation: The family head (father) must be in violation of residency laws, rendering him unable to sponsor the children. This law specifically applies when the father cannot continue sponsorship due to violations.
Transfer of Sponsorship: If the above conditions are met, the sponsorship of the children can be transferred to the mother, allowing her to become the primary sponsor. The mother’s residency must be valid, and she must have sufficient income to support the children.
When transferring children's sponsorship to the mother, certain documents need to be submitted to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP-UAE), which oversees this process:
Mother’s Residency Permit: A copy of the mother’s valid residency visa is required to show eligibility for sponsorship.
Employment Contract: Proof of employment, such as an attested employment contract, demonstrating that the mother has a stable job and sufficient income to support her children.
Children’s Documents: Copies of the children’s passports and residency visas, as well as their birth certificates, will be necessary for the transfer of sponsorship.
Father’s Residency Violation Proof: Any documentation related to the father’s residency violation, including details of his residency status and reasons for inability to sponsor the children.
The ICP-UAE facilitates the process, ensuring that all required documentation is submitted and that the transfer of sponsorship is handled efficiently. Families are encouraged to visit their nearest ICP-UAE service center or utilize online portals for application processing. This change has been introduced to provide a more flexible and supportive framework for families in the UAE.
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Impact on UAE Families
Support for Working Mothers: The new mother visa law is particularly beneficial for families where the mother is the primary breadwinner. In situations where the father is unable to sponsor the children due to residency violations, this law enables mothers to take over sponsorship without disruption to their children’s residency status. This change ensures that mothers can continue to work and support their families, contributing to household responsibilities without the fear of losing their children’s legal residency.
Empowerment for Mothers: By allowing mothers to sponsor children in the UAE, the law empowers working mothers, recognizing their crucial role in the family. This law ensures that even if the father faces visa issues, the family’s residency status remains secure, granting mothers the legal authority to maintain stability in the home.
Security for Children’s Future: One of the key benefits of this amendment is the legal stability it provides for children. With the mother as the sponsor, children can remain in the UAE legally, ensuring uninterrupted access to education, healthcare, and other essential services. This stability is crucial for children’s well-being, particularly in times of uncertainty regarding the father’s residency status.
Focus on Family Well-Being: This amendment aligns with the UAE's long-standing commitment to promoting family well-being, especially for expatriate families. By allowing mothers to sponsor their children, the law provides families with more flexibility in managing residency issues, thereby enhancing the overall quality of life for expatriates living in the UAE. This new regulation is part of broader efforts to make the UAE a more family-friendly and supportive destination for expatriates.
Related Changes in UAE Residency Laws
Grace Period for Residency Violators
Ongoing Grace Period: In addition to the new mother visa provision, the UAE government has implemented a grace period for individuals and families with residency violations. This grace period offers those in violation of residency laws the opportunity to regularize their status or leave the country without incurring fines or penalties.
October 31, 2024 Deadline: The grace period is set to expire on October 31, 2024. After this date, strict measures will be enforced, including fines and potential deportation for those who have not addressed their residency violations. This offers families an important window to resolve their residency issues without facing legal repercussions.
Al Maktoum Airport Announcement: The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP-UAE) has announced that violators who leave the country via Al Maktoum Airport during the grace period will not face heavy fines. This allows for an easier and penalty-free exit for families or individuals with residency issues, making the process of leaving the UAE more flexible during this time.
Exit Permits
Requirement for Exit Permits: For families with the head of the household (typically the father) in violation of residency laws, an exit permit must be obtained before they leave the country. These permits ensure that the departure is conducted in accordance with UAE laws and regulations.
Process for Families: Families in such situations must apply for exit permits through the appropriate channels, such as the ICP-UAE or authorized service centers. This step is crucial for families who plan to leave the UAE without facing penalties for overstaying or residency violations during the grace period.
These changes, combined with the new mother visa amendment, are part of the UAE’s broader efforts to create a more flexible and supportive legal framework for expatriates, ensuring that families can manage residency issues with greater ease and security.
Importance of Regularizing Residency Status
Avoiding Penalties
Take Advantage of the Grace Period: It is crucial for individuals and families with residency violations to use the grace period, which ends on October 31, 2024, to regularize their residency status. By doing so, they can avoid hefty fines or penalties. This grace period provides a unique opportunity for violators to either rectify their status or leave the UAE without facing legal repercussions.
Strict Enforcement Post-Deadline: After October 31, 2024, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP-UAE) will begin strictly enforcing residency laws. Those who fail to regularize their status or leave the country will be subject to fines and potential deportation. This highlights the urgency of resolving any visa or residency issues before the deadline to avoid facing serious legal consequences.
Encouragement for Families
Address Residency Issues Now: Families facing residency challenges should take proactive steps during this grace period to ensure compliance with UAE residency laws. Whether it's updating visas, transferring sponsorship under the new mother visa rule, or securing an exit permit, addressing these issues now will prevent future legal complications.
Resources for Regularizing Residency: For more information on how to regularize residency status or transfer sponsorship, families can visit the ICP-UAE’s official website or consult authorized service centers. These resources provide clear guidance on the steps needed to ensure legal residency status and compliance with UAE regulations. Families are encouraged to act quickly and use the available resources to avoid penalties after the deadline.
By resolving residency issues within the grace period, families can maintain stability, avoid financial penalties, and ensure they remain in good standing under UAE law.
How to Transfer Sponsorship for Children
Here is a simple guide on how working mothers can transfer sponsorship for their children under the new mother visa law:
1.Ensure Eligibility:
The mother must be employed with a valid residency visa.
The father must be in violation of residency laws, making him ineligible to continue sponsoring the children.
2.Gather Required Documentation:
Mother’s Residency Visa: A copy of the mother's valid residency permit.
Employment Contract: An attested copy of the mother’s employment contract to prove her financial ability to support the children.
Children’s Documents: Copies of the children's passports, residency visas, and birth certificates.
Father’s Residency Violation Proof: Any documentation related to the father’s residency violation (if applicable).
3.Submit Application to the ICP-UAE:
The mother must initiate the sponsorship transfer process by applying through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP-UAE).
Applications can be submitted online or at authorized centers. Required forms and documents will need to be uploaded or submitted in person.
4.Pay the Fees:
There are fees involved in transferring sponsorship, including processing fees for visa amendments. Fees may vary based on the number of dependents and other factors. Mothers will need to check the ICP-UAE portal for up-to-date information on applicable fees.
5.Processing and Approval:
Once the application and documents are submitted, the ICP-UAE will review the request. Upon approval, the children’s sponsorship will be officially transferred to the mother, and their residency permits will be updated accordingly.
Where to Apply
ICP-UAE Online Portal: Mothers can apply for the sponsorship transfer through the official ICP-UAE website or mobile app. This is the fastest and most convenient option, allowing for online document submission and payment.
Authorized Centers: In-person applications can be made at ICP-UAE service centers across the UAE. These centers provide support with document submissions and answer any queries related to the process.
Typing Centers: Accredited typing centers can also assist with filling out and submitting applications, especially for those unfamiliar with online services.
By following this clear process, mothers can ensure a smooth transfer of sponsorship, providing stability for their children’s residency in the UAE.
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FAQs about Working Mother Sponsorship
1. Can a mother sponsor her child in the UAE?
Yes, under the new UAE residency law introduced in October 2024, a mother can sponsor her child in the UAE. This is particularly beneficial in cases where the father is unable to sponsor the children due to residency violations. The mother must meet certain eligibility criteria, including being employed and holding a valid residency visa. This mother visa rule allows working mothers to take over sponsorship and secure their children's residency in the UAE.
2. What is the minimum salary to sponsor a child in the UAE?
To sponsor a child in the UAE, a mother or father must meet the minimum salary requirement set by the UAE government. As of now, the minimum salary to sponsor a child is AED 4,000 per month, or AED 3,500 if accommodation is provided by the employer. This threshold ensures that the parent has sufficient financial means to support their child’s needs while residing in the UAE.
3. What is a NOC from father to sponsor the child by the mother?
A No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the father is required when a mother sponsors her child in the UAE, especially if the father is still legally present in the country. This NOC is a formal document that states the father’s consent for the mother to take over the child’s residency sponsorship. The NOC is usually issued in writing and needs to be notarized for legal purposes.
4. Can a mother sponsor her child?
Yes, as of October 2024, mothers can sponsor their children in the UAE. If the mother is employed and holds a valid residency visa, she can assume sponsorship of her children in cases where the father is unable to sponsor due to residency violations or other legal reasons. This new law provides greater flexibility for families and helps working mothers secure their children’s residency.
5. What is a NOC letter from a sponsor in UAE?
A No Objection Certificate (NOC) letter from a sponsor in the UAE is a formal document provided by an individual’s employer or sponsor, giving them permission to engage in specific activities. In the context of residency, a NOC is required in situations such as transferring sponsorship or when a parent sponsors a child. The letter confirms that the sponsor (employer or father, in some cases) has no objection to the change or action being requested.
6. Can a UAE resident sponsor someone?
Yes, a UAE resident can sponsor family members, such as a spouse, children, or parents, provided they meet the salary and accommodation requirements. For example, to sponsor a spouse or children, the resident must have a minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000 with accommodation. The sponsor must hold a valid residency visa and provide proof of financial stability to support their dependents.
7. What is a sponsor residence?
A sponsor residence refers to the residency visa granted to an individual when they are sponsored by another person (usually a family member or employer). For example, a child or spouse can live in the UAE on a sponsor residence visa issued by the primary sponsor (either a parent or employer). This type of visa allows the sponsored individual to reside legally in the UAE.
8. How much is the sponsorship fee in UAE?
The sponsorship fee in the UAE can vary depending on the type of visa and the number of dependents being sponsored. For sponsoring a child or spouse, the residency visa fee typically ranges from AED 1,000 to AED 3,000 per person, depending on the duration of the visa and additional costs for medical tests and Emirates ID processing. There may also be processing fees associated with obtaining the visa through the ICP-UAE.
9. What is the minimum salary to sponsor someone in UAE?
The minimum salary to sponsor someone in the UAE depends on the relationship to the person being sponsored. For sponsoring a spouse or child, the sponsor must have a minimum monthly salary of AED 4,000 with accommodation provided or AED 3,500 if accommodation is included by the employer. For sponsoring parents, the salary requirement is typically higher, usually AED 20,000 or more, depending on the emirate.
10. Who pays sponsorship fees?
The sponsorship fees for a residency visa in the UAE are usually paid by the sponsor, whether it’s for family members or an employee. For employees, the employer typically covers the cost of visa processing, medical exams, and Emirates ID issuance. For family sponsorship, the sponsoring family member (either the mother or father) is responsible for paying the fees associated with sponsoring their dependents.
11. How much is the CoS fee?
The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fee is relevant for employment visas, primarily in countries like the UK. However, in the UAE context, the CoS fee is generally not applicable. Instead, the fees are related to visa processing and residency sponsorship for dependents or employees, which vary based on the type of visa and duration.
12. Who pays for sponsorship?
In the UAE, the sponsor—whether an employer or family member—typically pays for the sponsorship fees. For employment visas, the employer covers the costs, while for family visas, the parent or spouse who is sponsoring the family member is responsible for covering the associated costs, including medical exams, visa fees, and Emirates ID processing.
13. How much is a sponsor visa in the UAE?
The cost of a sponsor visa in the UAE depends on the duration of the visa and the type of sponsorship (family or employment). For family visas, the typical cost ranges from AED 1,000 to AED 3,000 per person for the residency visa, plus additional fees for medical tests, Emirates ID, and other administrative costs. Employers sponsoring employees may incur higher costs depending on the job role and visa type.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for general informational purposes only. The details provided are based on the best information available at the time of publication and may be subject to change without notice due to potential updates in educational policies or scheduling adjustments by the respective authorities. Readers are advised to contact the relevant offices directly for the most accurate and current information.