Bringing your family: when it is possible and what it takes

The conditions for family residence, the costs people overlook, and how to decide whether it suits you.

Every migrant asks this after a year or two: should I bring my family? The answer is not yes or no. It depends on legal conditions on one side and arithmetic on the other, and people who weigh only the first end up regretting it.

The conditions, broadly

• A valid residence permit and clean status.
• A minimum salary — the decisive condition in practice, differing between Saudi Arabia and the UAE and updated.
• The occupation on your permit; some do not allow sponsorship.
• Suitable family housing — shared worker accommodation does not qualify.
• Health insurance for each family member.

The salary threshold settles it for most workers in the trades, which is why it should be checked before promising anyone anything.

The arithmetic people forget

Even if you qualify, a family changes your budget entirely. What the employer covered becomes yours:

• Rent on family housing instead of free shared accommodation.
• Electricity, water and internet.
• Annual dependant fees per person, where they apply.
• School fees — usually the largest item of all.
• Health insurance for each person.
• Food and transport for a household rather than one person.
• Several flights instead of one.

Add these up and subtract them from your salary before deciding. Plenty of people brought their families and had to send them back a year later — harder on the family than never coming.

How to decide

Ask yourself three questions honestly:

• After all this, does enough remain for the savings you travelled for?
• Is my contract stable enough to move an entire household on?
• Is schooling there better than what my children can get at home, once the cost is counted?

If the answer is no to two of the three, postponing is not a failure but a sound decision.

An alternative that works for many

A family visit of a few weeks costs far less than permanent sponsorship and achieves much of the purpose. Try it first — you will see for yourself what life there would mean for them before committing to something hard to undo.

Conditions and fees are updated constantly and differ between the two countries. Check with the authority before starting any procedure or promising a date.

Rules and fees change and differ by country and employer. Always check with the official authorities before paying or signing anything.