The United Arab Emirates (UAE) continues to attract tourists, professionals, and expatriates from around the world with its vibrant culture and rapid development. While the UAE offers abundant opportunities, there may come a point when you need to cancel your residency visa—whether due to personal reasons, career changes, or relocation plans. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of cancelling your UAE residency visa, including work and family visas, and will cover the necessary requirements, costs, and timelines involved.
Cancelling a UAE visa is a relatively straightforward process—often quicker and simpler than obtaining one. However, it is important to follow the correct steps and meet all necessary requirements. While the process may vary slightly depending on the type of visa, the general procedure includes the following steps:
Choose Your Method of Cancellation
If you are cancelling your visa independently (excluding work visas, which must be cancelled by your employer), you have several options:
Submit an application through the ICA Smart Services portal, which offers identity and residency services for UAE citizens and residents.
Apply via the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) website.
Visit a government-registered typing center, such as an Amer center in Dubai, to process the cancellation in person.
If your visa was issued through a free zone (such as when starting a business), you must cancel it through the respective free zone authority.
Complete the Visa Cancellation Form
Accurately fill out the visa cancellation form and attach the required documents.
Submit the Application
Submit the completed form and supporting documents to the GDRFA, an authorized typing center, or the respective free zone authority.
Important: Visa cancellations must be processed at the same location where the visa was originally issued.
Pay the Cancellation Fees
Pay the applicable visa cancellation fees as part of the process.
Receive the Visa Cancellation Paper
After submission, the Visa Cancellation Paper will typically be emailed to you within a few days.
Once you receive it, you have 30 days to either apply for a new visa or exit the UAE. If necessary, this grace period can be extended for up to 60 days.
The required documents for visa cancellation may vary depending on the type of visa and your specific situation. Generally, the following documents are required:
If you hold a UAE work permit and residency visa, cancelling it requires coordination between you, your employer, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). Importantly, it is your employer—not you—who must initiate and manage the visa cancellation process, including payment of the government cancellation fee. The general steps are as follows:
Employer Initiates Cancellation
Your employer submits a visa cancellation request to the MOHRE.
MOHRE Issues Clearance
Once the application is processed, the MOHRE issues a clearance letter confirming the work permit cancellation and forwards the information to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
Residency Visa Cancellation
The GDRFA then cancels your residency visa, and the MOHRE officially closes your work permit.
If you are changing jobs within the UAE, your current employer must first cancel your existing work permit. Afterward, you are required to cancel your current work visa and apply for a new visa under your new employment contract.
It is crucial to coordinate closely with both your current and future employers to ensure a smooth transition and to avoid any legal complications.
Keep in mind that you have 30 days to obtain a new visa after your previous one is cancelled. Failure to do so may result in fines.
Important: If you have dependent family members (such as a spouse, children, or elderly parents) under your sponsorship, their visas must be cancelled before cancelling your own visa.
The sponsor is responsible for initiating the cancellation process for each dependent’s visa. The procedure is similar to the general visa cancellation steps outlined earlier. You can process the cancellations at a registered typing center in your emirate or at an Amer center if you are based in Dubai.
However, if you are changing jobs within the same emirate, you do not need to cancel your dependents’ visas. Instead, you can visit the immigration office to place their visas on hold. Once your new employment visa is issued, the hold can be lifted.
The cost to place visas on hold typically ranges between AED 500 and AED 1,000, depending on the emirate.
After placing the visas on hold, you are given 30 days to complete your visa transfer and have the hold released.
If you have been outside the UAE for more than six months, your residence visa may be deemed invalid. In such cases, either you or your sponsor must apply for visa cancellation through the GDRFA office in the emirate where the visa was issued or at an Amer center in Dubai.
It’s important to cancel your visa on time to avoid fines and further complications.
Additional Risks and Legal Consequences to Be Aware Of:
Automatic Cancellation and Re-entry Issues:
If your visa is canceled while you are abroad, you must obtain a new entry permit before returning to the UAE.
Legal Risks:
Failing to formally resign, complete job-related exit procedures, or cancel your visa before leaving the UAE could result in your employer reporting you as absconding.
Potential Consequences:
Being flagged as absconding may lead to legal action, fines, and possible restrictions on future entry into the UAE.
To avoid these issues, it is crucial to plan ahead and resolve all employment and visa matters before leaving the country.
Re-entry After Extended Absence:
If you have a valid reason for your prolonged absence, you may apply for re-entry approval. However, the final decision rests with UAE immigration authorities.
You can cancel your UAE residence visa through several methods:
Online: Via the ICA Smart Services portal or the GDRFA website specific to the emirate where your visa was issued.
Offline: Through a registered typing center, which will forward your documents to the GDRFA. In Dubai, cancellations can also be processed at an Amer center.
Free Zone: If your visa was issued through a free zone authority, cancellation must be handled directly through them.
The cost of cancelling a UAE visa varies depending on the visa type, issuing emirate, and other circumstances. Typically:
Dubai Visa Cancellation Fees: Around AED 500–1,000.
Additional Service Charges:
ICP Website: AED 50 service fee + AED 10 e-services fee (payable via credit card only).
GDRFA Website: AED 100 for urgent processing + AED 10 innovation fee + AED 10 knowledge fee.
If you overstay after your visa expires, you will incur a fine of AED 50 per day.
Visa cancellation generally takes 2 to 5 business days.
Following the cancellation of your visa, the UAE grants a grace period during which you can legally stay and settle your affairs:
30 Days: Most work and family visas.
180 Days: Golden Visa holders, Green Visa holders, their dependents, widows, divorcees, and graduates.
90 Days: Property visa holders.
10 Days: Visit visas (including prepaid and visa-on-arrival).
After submitting your visa cancellation application:
Processing usually takes up to 48 hours.
If any documents are missing, you have 30 days to complete the application. Otherwise, it will be voided.
You can check your visa cancellation status on the ICP website by entering your passport details.
This is especially helpful if you are unsure of your status or are currently outside the UAE.
Before departing the UAE, make sure to:
Close your bank account.
Ensure all salary, bonuses, and settlements are received from your employer.
Cancel your tenancy agreement.
Settle all utility bills.
Sell your car, if applicable.
If you want to extend your stay after cancelling your visa, consider:
Traveling to a nearby country and applying for a new tourist or visit visa.
Airport-to-airport visa change, where you exit briefly and return with a new visa.
Applying for a new visa such as a property visa, job seeker visa, or another suitable type, depending on your eligibility.
Cancelling your UAE visa is a crucial step whether you are leaving the country or changing jobs. Following the correct procedures and preparing the necessary documents will ensure a smooth transition.
Stay updated with visakingdubai on the latest visa regulations and requirements, as they may impact your visa cancellation or eligibility for a new visa.
For assistance or further guidance, contact our professional consultants today!
The brand name Visa Kings Global is used under licence by Visa Success Limited. Visa Success Limited is not a firm of solicitors and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Visa Success Limited does not give financial, legal or tax advice.
Information affecting all users of this website can be found on our Legal Notices page which you are deemed to have read and accepted.
