How to cancel your residence visa in the UAE

If you are planning to leave the UAE permanently, you need to officially cancel your residence visa. The process for the cancellation of visa in the UAE is pretty straight forward, with your sponsor taking care of most of the work. You just need to be careful and check up on a few things to ensure the process is smooth and without any incidents. Pay off any debts, sell your car and cancel your tenancy agreement and utility bills before initiating the process. This will help you avoid any inconvenience during the UAE visa cancellation process. Today, we bring you all the details of the steps involved in cancelling a UAE visa. 

Who can cancel your residence visa in the UAE?

You cannot request a visa cancellation process on your own. Only the individual/company who has sponsored you can cancel your residence visa. If, however, you hold an investor visa, you can initiate the process on your own. 

How can a company apply for the UAE residence visa cancellation procedure?

If your sponsor is a company, then it must first apply for the cancellation of your labour card and contract at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation. Your signature is mandatory on this application.

Your company needs to cancel your work permit as well. However, it can’t be done without a letter signed by you stating that you have received your dues, gratuity, repatriation expenses and other benefits that you and your company agreed upon.

Once your company has applied for the cancellation of these documents, you will soon receive a clearance statement that will help you generate a visa cancellation request at GDRFA (The General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs).

What must investors do to cancel their visa in the UAE? 

Investors must prepare official documentation including the NOC from the local sponsor along with information on the transfer of liabilities. In addition to this, they will need to submit the copies of the sponsor’s Emirates ID. They will also need to confirm that all outstanding dues have been cleared with the bank. 

UAE Visa Cancellation Process

There are two ways to apply for a visa cancellation procedure in the UAE. You can either visit a registered GDRFA typing centre or process it online.

In-person: Visiting a registered typing centre

Visit any typing centre registered with GDRFA to initiate your visa cancellation procedure. 

Submit the Documents Required for the Visa Cancellation Process

Submit the following documents at the centre to cancel your visa:

1. Copies of your sponsor’s passport, 
2. His/her visa page copy,  
3. Clearance statement for all financial liabilities
4. Your original Emirates ID card and passport

Inform the GDFRA Branch about your requirements

Tell the management at the GDFRA branch that you want to cancel your visa and those of your dependants to be cancelled.

Pay a Cancellation Fee for your Dependents

Pay AED 110 as a visa cancellation fee for your dependents while your sponsor will pay for yours.

Get an Application from GDRFA

The officers at GDRFA will give you an application form. Once you get it, sign the form and get it signed by your sponsor. 

Visit the GDRFA Head Office

Once you have signed the cancellation application, visit the head office of GDRFA and bring along a copy of the sponsor’s passport, visa page, Emirates ID card and original passport.

Return your Emirates ID Card

You will be asked to give your Emirates ID while your passport will be stamped and returned to you.

Note: If you are not available, your sponsor may request for the visa cancellation process on your behalf by presenting the computerised extract of their residence visas or an original passport.

Cancel it Online

Alternatively, you can also submit your visa residency cancellation request online. Visit the GDRFA website and initiate the process from there. Alternatively, you can download the GDRFA app, the first-of-its-kind Dubai government services smart app in the city and apply for the visa cancellation process from there. After submitting the application, visit the GDRFA office. Bring your Emirates ID and original passport along to complete the residency cancellation process.

For how many days can you stay in the UAE after visa cancellation?

You have 30 days to exit the UAE after your visa is cancelled.

Can your UAE visa be cancelled without a passport?

If you are living in the country and want to cancel your job visa then you will need a passport for that.

GDRFA not only helps you cancel your visa but also let you check your UAE visa status online. Here is how you can submit your UAE visa status enquiry online in the country. 

Recently, the UAE Cabinet has made some reforms in the family sponsorship policy for expats in the country. Here is the complete list of the new visa rules for families in the UAE that you can check for your future applications!