UAE Visa Cancellation Guide
Travelers, professionals, and expatriates all frequently visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE provides people from all over the world with a wealth of chances due to its unique culture and quick development.
You might eventually need to cancel your UAE visa, nevertheless, either for personal reasons or because of evolving circumstances. In addition to providing crucial details on fees and deadlines, this thorough guide will describe the steps and requirements for canceling your UAE resident visa, including work and family visas.
How to cancel a UAE visa: General rules and steps
The process of canceling a UAE visa is relatively easy and faster than applying for one, but it is crucial to follow the right procedures and make sure all requirements are fulfilled. The general steps are as follows, though the cancellation procedure may differ significantly based on the type of visa:
- You have the following options if you want to cancel your visa on your own (except work visas, which are handled by your employer):
- Apply through the ICA Smart Services portal, which offers identification-related services to residents and citizens of the United Arab Emirates.
- Apply through the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA).
- Go to a typing center in person, like Dubai’s Amer Government Services Center.
- If you received your visa through the free zone, you can cancel it when you launch your company in the United Arab Emirates. To complete the cancellation, get in touch with the free zone authority.
- Fill out the visa cancellation form entirely and include the necessary paperwork.
- Send the filled-out form and any necessary related documentation to a free zone authority, a recognized typing center, or the GDRFA. Be aware that visas must always be canceled at the same place where they were first given.
- Pay the visa cancellation fees.
- Wait for the email with the Visa Cancellation Paper, which should arrive in a few days. You have 30 days from the date of issuance to either change your visa or leave the country. This time frame may be extended by up to 60 days if necessary.
Required documents
Depending on the type of visa you have and your particular circumstances, other documentation may be needed to cancel it. In general, the following documentation is required:
- Completed visa cancellation application form
- Original Emirates ID
- Original passport and a copy
- Original visa or a copy
- Sponsor’s passport copy (for dependent family members)
Cancelling a UAE work visa
You, your employer, and the MOHRE must coordinate if you want to cancel your UAE work permit and work visa. The procedure of canceling a UAE visa is started and coordinated by the employer, not you. Additionally, the government fee for the cancellation is covered by the employer. They will do the following:
- Your company should start the cancellation procedure by sending the MOHRE a visa cancellation form.
- The MOHRE will issue a clearance letter verifying the cancellation, which will then forward the data to GDRFA.
- Your work permit is closed by the Ministry when the GDRFA cancels your resident visa.
Cancelling if you are changing jobs
Your present employer must cancel your work permit if you are changing jobs within the United Arab Emirates. Following that, you must apply for a new visa with your new employment contract and cancel your existing one.
To guarantee a seamless transfer and steer clear of any legal problems, it is essential that you collaborate with both your present and potential employers.
Keep in mind that you have 30 days to get a new visa. If not, penalties could be applied.
Cancelling for dependent family members
Note: Before canceling your own visa, you must cancel the visas of any dependent family members you have sponsored, such as your spouse, kids, or elderly parents.
The sponsor must start the cancellation procedure for each dependent family member’s visa. The method is comparable to the general processes for canceling a visa that were previously described in this guide. Consult Amer in Dubai or a typing facility in the emirate where you are staying.
It is not necessary to cancel dependents’ visas if you wish to shift jobs within the same emirate. You can go to immigration and place their visas on hold, which will be removed after your new visa is approved. Depending on the emirate, a visa hold can cost anywhere between 500 and 1000 AED.
You have 30 days to finish the visa application procedure before the hold is released, according to immigration.
Residence Visa Cancellation for a Person Outside UAE
Your residency visa could be considered void if you have been away from the UAE for more than six months. In these situations, you or your sponsor must file for a visa cancellation at an AMER facility in Dubai or at the GDRFA office in the emirate where the visa was issued. Avoid penalties by promptly canceling your visas!
There are additional risks and legal consequences to think about:
- Automatic cancellation and re-entry issues: You will need to obtain a new entrance permit in order to return to the United Arab Emirates if your visa expires while you are outside.
- Legal risks: Your employer may report you as absconding if you leave the UAE without officially resigning, finishing work-related procedures, or canceling your visa.
- Potential consequences: Legal action, fines, or limitations on re-entry into the United Arab Emirates may follow from being reported as absconding.
To prevent issues, make plans in advance to settle work and visa problems before departing the country.
If you have been abroad for more time than allowed, you do have the opportunity to return to the United Arab Emirates. You can ask for re-entry if you have a good cause for being away, but the immigration office will have the final decision.
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Where to cancel a UAE residence visa?
There are several ways to cancel your residence visa:
- Online via the GDRFA website of the emirate where your visa was issued or the ICA Smart Services website.
- Offline through a typing center that has been registered, which will thereafter send the paperwork to the GDRFA. Visa cancellation is possible at an AMER center in Dubai.
- Through the appropriate free zone.
Cost of a UAE visa cancellation
Depending on the type of visa, the emirate in which it was issued, and any other circumstances, the cost of canceling a UAE visa can vary. The typical cost to cancel a visa in Dubai is between AED 500 and AED 1,000.
There are other service fees as well. Which platform you select will determine the fees:
- ICP website: The service costs AED 50, while e-services cost AED 10. Payment must be made using a credit card.
- GDRFA website: AED 100 for faster processing, with an extra 10 AED for knowledge and innovation fees.
Overstay fine
You will be fined AED 50 each day you overstay your residence visa..
How long does it take?
In most situations, the visa cancellation procedure takes two to five business days.
Grace periods
The UAE offers a grace period once your visa expires, enabling you to remain legal while caring for your business.
- 30 Days: This applies to the majority of canceled family and work visas.
- 180 Days: Available to Green Visa holders, Golden Visa holders, their families, widows, divorcees, and students who have completed their education.
- 90 Days: Granted to Property Visa holders.
- 10 Days: This is applicable to both prepaid and visa-on-arrival visiting visas
Checking visa cancellation status
Processing of your UAE visa cancellation application can take up to 48 hours after you submit it. You have 30 days to submit any missing documents; if you don’t, your application will be rejected.
By entering your passport information in the appropriate section on the ICP website, you can check the progress of your visa cancellation. This will display your visa status, including if it has been canceled. This procedure can be helpful if you’re unsure or not in the UAE.
Things to do before you leave the UAE
- Close your bank account.
- Ensure you have received your salary, bonuses, and settlements from your employer in the UAE.
- Cancel the tenant agreement.
- Pay utility bills.
- Sell the car.
Want to stay longer in the UAE?
One of the following actions during your grace period after canceling your visa will allow you to stay longer in the United Arab Emirates:
- Travel nearby: Apply for a new UAE visa, such as a tourist or visiting visa, after visiting a nearby nation.
- Airport-to-airport change: Take a short flight to get a fresh tourist visa, then return.
- Apply for a new visa: Explore options such as property, job seeker, or other visa categories if you are qualified. Verify eligibility by reviewing the requirements.
Stay informed with JSB Incorporation
When leaving the country or changing jobs, canceling your UAE visa is an important step, and it’s essential to understand the requirements and procedure. You can easily go through the visa cancellation process if you follow this guide’s instructions and ensure you have the required paperwork.
Since they could impact the cancellation procedure or your eligibility for a new visa, JSB Incorporation will assist you in keeping up with changes to the rules and procedures governing visas. For any inquiries or help, get in touch with our qualified consultants.
FAQs
- Leaving the country
- Change of job or termination of employment
Visa cancellation fees range from 500 to 1,000 AED.
As proof, the Residency Cancellation Paper specifies the period the person has to get a new visa or depart the United Arab Emirates. On request, these 30 days may be extended to 60 days.
Yes, sponsors can cancel the visa even if you are outside the UAE.
Don't miss out on this limited-time opportunity!
We'd Love To Hear From You
contact us
Find us Here
Office No 20, 4th Floor, Al Moosa Tower 2,
Sheikh Zayed Road Dubai, United Arab Emirates P.O. Box 27614.
Get In touch
+971 4 824 4842
info@jsbincorporation.com