Guide: Family visa documents
Affidavit of support for a UAE tourist visa: the papers behind it
When a relative comes to the UAE on a tourist visa, the host often has to swear an affidavit of support: a statement, made under oath, that the host will house and pay for the visitor during the stay. The most common case is a Filipino resident in Dubai sponsoring a family member from the Philippines, where the affidavit is executed at the Philippine consulate (Dubai) or embassy (Abu Dhabi) and is checked when the visitor leaves the Philippines. Other nationalities may be asked for a similar letter by their own authorities or by an airline.
This page is about the papers behind the affidavit: what the sponsor usually shows, what the visitor carries, and which of those papers ever need notarising or attesting. Where the consulate takes the affidavit itself, the consulate’s own rules apply, and we help you prepare everything around it.
Side by side
The two sides of the file
| Sponsor in the UAE usually provides | Visitor usually carries |
|---|---|
| Passport and residence visa copy | Passport |
| Emirates ID copy | The UAE visit visa |
| Salary certificate or recent bank statement | The affidavit of support, as executed |
| Tenancy contract for the home the visitor will stay in | Proof of relationship to the sponsor |
| Proof of relationship to the visitor | Return ticket, where asked |
Side by side
Which papers need attesting
| Paper | Used where | Attestation usually needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor’s tenancy contract, salary certificate, bank statement | Shown at the consulate in the UAE | No, originals or copies as the consulate asks |
| The affidavit itself | Executed at the consulate | The consulate’s own seal; no MOFA step in the usual case |
| Proof of relationship (for example PSA birth certificates) | Carried by the visitor in the Philippines | Normally no attestation for use in the Philippines |
| A notarised UAE affidavit (instead of a consular one) | Shown to an office abroad | Possibly MOFA and the destination embassy, if asked |
The last row is the one to watch. If an airline or foreign office will not accept a consular affidavit, or the sponsor is not of the visitor’s nationality, a UAE notarised affidavit may be used instead, and then the chain question arises. See affidavit attestation in Dubai.
Proof of relationship
Relationship documents are where visitors are most often questioned. For a sibling, both birth certificates showing the same parents. For a spouse, the marriage certificate. For a cousin or friend, the relationship may be harder to prove and the consulate may treat the case differently. Philippine civil documents come from the PSA; see Philippine document attestation in Dubai if any of them must be used in the UAE later.
An affidavit of support in Dubai for other nationalities
Residents from other countries are sometimes asked for a sponsor letter by their own immigration authority or by an airline. There is no single UAE form. A letter signed before a UAE notary public, with MOFA attestation and the visitor’s embassy stamp if their home country asks, is the usual answer. We confirm what the home country wants before drafting.
Watch for
Mistakes that cause trouble at departure
- The sponsor’s name on the affidavit differs from the residence visa.
- The relationship is stated but not proven with documents.
- The visit dates in the affidavit do not match the visa or ticket.
- The visitor travels with a photocopy when the original affidavit was needed.
Step by step
How we help
01
We check the sponsor’s papers against the consulate’s current list.
02
We prepare the supporting letters, such as an employer letter or tenancy copy, in order.
03
We help book the consulate appointment where it is required.
04
Where a UAE notarised affidavit is needed instead, we draft it, book the notary and take it through MOFA and the embassy if asked.
Prices
Prices
| Service | Our service price | Government fees, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| Affidavit of support (UAE notarised) | From AED 600 | Federal item 12: AED 300 per affidavit |
| Drafting or typing (add-on) | From AED 200 | None |
| MOFA attestation, personal document | From AED 150 | MOFA AED 150 |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does my tenancy contract need MOFA attestation for the affidavit of support?
Usually not. It is shown at the consulate in the UAE, which normally reads it as it is.
Can a UAE notary take an affidavit of support for a Filipino visitor?
A UAE notary can notarise an affidavit, but the Philippine side may expect the consular version. Check with the consulate first.
Does the affidavit of support get the visitor a UAE visa?
No. The UAE visit visa is issued under UAE rules. The affidavit supports the visitor at departure from their own country.
I am not Filipino. Do I need an affidavit of support in Dubai?
Only if your relative’s country, airline or visa office asks for one. There is no single UAE form; we check what they want.
Family visa documents
More guides
Family visa documents
NOC for a visa
An NOC for a UAE visa is a no objection letter from someone whose consent the visa office wants to see: an employer, a sponsor, a spouse or a parent.
Family visa documents
NOC for a child visa
An NOC from parents for a visa is a signed letter in which one parent says they do not object to something the other parent is doing for their child.
Family visa documents
Child travel consent
Yes, a minor can travel to the UAE without parents, but the child needs paperwork that shows both parents agree, and the airline decides how young is too young to fly.
Start with the list
Tell us the visitor’s nationality and relationship, and we send you the paper list.
- Phone and WhatsApp: +971 52 947 5935
- Email: info@dubainotaryservices.com
Sources for this page
- Cabinet Resolution No. 19 of 2024 on notary fees (item 12, affidavits): https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/2491
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FAQ (fees): https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/faqs