Understanding UAE Residence Visa Cancellation

For individuals planning to permanently leave the United Arab Emirates or transition to a different visa category, such as the Golden Visa, the existing residence visa must first be officially canceled. Typically, the visa sponsor is responsible for initiating this process. An individual cannot generally cancel their own visa unless they are also the sponsor. If a resident sponsors family members, their visas must be canceled before the sponsor's own residence visa can be processed.

Employment Visa Cancellation Process

When an individual's residence visa is sponsored by an employer, the company undertakes the cancellation procedure. This involves several key steps:

• Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE): The employer must first submit an application to MOHRE to cancel the employee's labor contract and labor card. The employee is required to sign this application.
• Work Permit Cancellation: The company must also cancel the work permit. For this, a letter signed by the employee, confirming receipt of all wages and end-of-service benefits, must be submitted. It is crucial for employees to ensure they have received all their dues before signing this document.
• Federal Authority for Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP): Once the labor contract and labor card are canceled through MOHRE, the employer then applies to the ICP for the residence visa cancellation.
• Visa Cancellation Letter: Upon successful cancellation, the employer will provide the employee with a visa cancellation letter. This document will specify the grace period during which the individual must either exit the UAE or secure a new residence visa.

Family Visa Cancellation Process

For individuals sponsored by a family member, the visa cancellation can be completed through two main methods: registered typing centers or online platforms.

Registered Typing Centers

The sponsor needs to visit an Amer center or a typing center registered with the ICP. They must bring the following original documents:

• Passports of both the sponsor and the sponsored individual.
• Emirates IDs of both the sponsor and the sponsored individual.

The typing center will assist in filling out the cancellation form and submit it online via the ICP portal.

Online Cancellation

Alternatively, the cancellation process can be completed online by the sponsor through various official platforms:

• ICP Website: icp.gov.ae
• GDRFA Dubai Website: gdrfad.gov.ae
• UAEICP Smartphone Application: Available on Apple and Android devices.

To use the online services, a UAE PASS account is mandatory. The steps for online cancellation are:

1. Log in to the service using your UAE PASS account.
2. Initiate a new application to 'cancel residency' for the sponsored individual, who will appear as a 'dependent'.
3. Verify all personal details for accuracy.
4. Select 'Employer/Sponsor request' as the reason for cancellation if prompted.
5. Provide a valid email address and phone number.
6. Validate the request with a one-time password (OTP) sent to the registered mobile number.
7. Proceed to payment of the cancellation fee, which is typically AED 150.

Upon successful payment, the cancellation request will be processed. Notifications regarding the cancellation and the applicable grace period will be sent via email and SMS. It is important to note that any delay in securing a new visa beyond the grace period will result in overstay penalties, currently set at AED 50 per day.

Source: Emirates 24/7