Best Countries to Immigrate to From Dubai with Family: Complete Pathway Guide & Relocation Roadmap
12 Nov 2026
For expatriate families residing in Dubai, moving to a country that offers long-term stability, direct permanent residency (PR), public healthcare, and high-quality education for children is a top priority. While the UAE offers exceptional infrastructure and living standards, non-citizens face long-term residency limits. Navigating international immigration requirements from Dubai requires understanding specific point systems, financial thresholds, age limits, and dependant criteria.
At Abroad Routes, our specialized consultants help professional families in Dubai transition smoothly to leading global destinations. Below is an in-depth breakdown of the best countries to immigrate to with your family.
1. Canada: The Premier Choice for Permanent Residency & Family Unity
Canada remains a leading choice for Dubai professionals due to its transparent points-tested economic immigration pathways and robust family sponsorship framework.
Primary Economic Pathways
- Express Entry System: Managed online, Express Entry oversees three federal skilled programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Government application fees start at CAN$1,590 for main skilled worker applicants.
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): Canadian provinces nominate skilled workers to support specific regional labor market needs, with base processing fees starting from CAN$1,590.
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Tailored for skilled workers with qualifying job offers in Atlantic provinces, requiring at least one year of eligible work experience and language competency in English or French.
Family Inclusion & Sponsorship Rules
- Sponsoring Spouses & Partners: Canadian citizens or PR holders can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner (cohabiting for at least 12 consecutive months), or conjugal partner (living outside Canada due to legal or social barriers) starting from CAN$1,260.
- Sponsoring Dependent Children: Children qualify as dependants if they are under 22 years old and unmarried. Children aged 22 or older qualify only if they depend on parents financially due to a physical or mental condition. Base fees start from CAN$180 per child.
- Parent & Grandparent Super Visa: Allows parents and grandparents to visit family members in Canada for up to 5 years at a time with proof of qualifying health insurance.
2. Australia: High Quality of Life via Permanent Skilled Migration
Australia’s Permanent Migration Program offers targeted pathways for skilled workers and their families, providing access to Medicare healthcare benefits and a direct route to Australian citizenship.
Migration Program Allocation & Visa Streams
- Migration Program Allocations: Australia sets its annual Permanent Migration Program planning level at 185,000 places, allocating 132,240 places to the Skilled Migration Program and 52,460 places to the Australian Family Program.
- Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189) – Points-Tested Stream: Allows invited workers to live and work anywhere in Australia permanently. Applicants must be under 45 years of age at invitation, nominate an eligible skilled occupation, obtain a suitable skills assessment, and score at least 65 points.
- State & Territory Visas: Includes the Skilled Nominated (subclass 190) and Skilled Work Regional (provisional) (subclass 491) visas, enabling individual states to address local economic needs.
Priority Processing & Financial Investment
- Targeted Priority Sectors: Under Ministerial Direction No. 122, application processing is prioritized for priority sectors including Healthcare, Construction, Teaching, Agriculture, Aquaculture, Fishing, and Resources.
- Visa Costs: Main applicant fees for subclass 189 start at AUD 6,135. A second-installment fee of AUD 4,885 applies to accompanying family members aged 18 or older who demonstrate less than functional English.
3. United Kingdom: Direct Dependant Integration for Skilled Professionals
The UK Skilled Worker visa allows sponsored professionals moving from Dubai to bring their partner and dependent children to live, study, and work in the UK.
Dependant Eligibility & Relationship Criteria
- Qualifying Dependants: Spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners (with 2 years of cohabitation or proven ongoing commitment), and children under 18 can apply as dependants.
- Work & Settlement Rights: Dependant partners receive open work rights (excluding professional sports coaching) and can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 years of continuous residence.
Upfront Financial Requirements
To obtain visas, applicants must satisfy strict savings thresholds held in bank accounts for at least 28 consecutive days prior to applying:
- Primary Applicant: £1,270
- Partner: £285
- First Child: £315
- Each Additional Child: £200
4. Germany & New Zealand: Robust European & Pacific Alternatives
Germany: Spousal & Child Reunification (Familiennachzug)
- Family Reunification: Non-EU skilled workers holding a German residence title can bring spouses and unmarried minor children under family reunification rules (Familiennachzug).
- Requirements: Applicants must demonstrate adequate financial resources, legal age, and valid health insurance. Germany also offers an Opportunity Card ( Chancenkarte ) allowing up to one year to search for employment on-site.
- Living Costs Guidance: Official monthly living cost estimates range between 350–1,000 euros for basic rent, 80–250 euros for utilities, and 200–350 euros for food, though rents in major cities can be 40% to 50% higher.
New Zealand: Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Dependant Visas
- Family Support: AEWV holders earning requisite wage levels can support visitor or work visas for partners and visitor or student visas for dependent children.
- Visa Duration: Visas granted to family members are aligned to expire on the same date as the primary worker’s visa.
Ready to start your journey?
Let Abroad Routes handle your skills assessments, documentation, and visa filings with complete accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the maximum age limit for skilled family migration to Australia?
To apply for Australia’s Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) Points-tested stream, you must be under 45 years of age at the time you receive an invitation to apply. If you turn 45 after receiving an invitation, you can still proceed with your application within the 60-day invitation window.
2. Up to what age can children be included as dependants in a Canadian PR application?
In Canada, children qualify as dependent family members if they are under 22 years old and do not have a spouse or common-law partner. Children aged 22 or older are only eligible if they have depended on their parents for financial support since before age 22 due to a physical or mental condition.
3. How much maintenance funds are required for a UK Skilled Worker dependant visa?
For a UK Skilled Worker visa, the primary applicant must show £1,270 in savings. Dependant savings requirements are £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child, and £200 for each additional child. These funds must be held continuously for at least 28 consecutive days prior to application.
4. What are the government fees for Canada’s Express Entry skilled worker program?
Processing fees for Express Entry programs (such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Canadian Experience Class) start at CAN$1,590 for the main applicant. If sponsoring family members later through family streams, spousal sponsorship costs CAN$1,260 and dependent child sponsorship costs CAN$180 per child.
