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Who can cancel a UAE residence visa?
- Employees: the employer cancels. You cannot cancel your own employment visa.
- Investors and partners: your own company cancels your investor visa.
- Family members: the sponsor cancels, and dependants are cancelled before the sponsor's own visa.
Visa cancellation process for employers
- Final settlement: pay salary, leave and the end of service gratuity. The law requires payment within 14 days of the contract ending.
- Work permit cancellation with MOHRE (mainland) or the free zone. The employee signs the request.
- Residence cancellation with ICP, or GDRFA in Dubai. Processing usually takes 1 to 3 working days.
- Emirates ID is cancelled with the visa; keep the cancellation paper.
Government and typing fees are usually modest, roughly AED 50 to 130, depending on the channel. See our labour card guide for the permit side.
Grace period after visa cancellation
| Residence category | Grace period |
|---|---|
| Golden, Green and Blue residence holders and their families | 180 days |
| Skilled workers (MOHRE levels 1 to 3) and property owners | 90 days |
| Residence issued with a guarantor or host | 60 days |
| Other categories | 30 days |
So what: your exact grace period is on your cancellation record. Use it to start a new job, change status to a new visa, or leave.
Overstay fines and common mistakes
- AED 50 per day of overstay once the grace period ends, the same rate across the UAE.
- Leaving unpaid dues delays the MOHRE step, because the employee must confirm the settlement.
- Forgetting the family: dependants must be cancelled or moved to a new sponsor first.
- Outside the UAE: the employer can still cancel; a residence visa also lapses after more than 6 months abroad (Golden Visa holders excepted).
Cancel a visa without fines
Tell us whose visa needs cancelling. Our PRO team runs the MOHRE and ICP steps and tells you the exact grace period.
Get Visa Cancellation HelpOur PRO services handle cancellations, renewals and new visas. Entityz has set up businesses for more than 500 entrepreneurs from over 50 nationalities, with a 95% client retention rate.
General information, not legal advice. Grace periods, fines and fees are set by ICP, GDRFA and MOHRE and were gathered in September 2026. We confirm the current rules for your case before filing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my own UAE visa?
Only if you sponsor yourself, for example on an investor visa through your own company. Employees cannot; the employer must cancel.
What is the grace period after visa cancellation in the UAE?
It depends on the residence category: 180 days for Golden, Green and Blue residence holders, 90 days for skilled workers and property owners, 60 days for residence issued with a guarantor or host, and 30 days for others.
What is the overstay fine in the UAE?
AED 50 for each day you stay after the grace period ends.
How long does visa cancellation take in the UAE?
Usually 1 to 3 working days once the final settlement is paid and the employee has signed.
Can my visa be cancelled while I am outside the UAE?
Yes. The sponsor can cancel it while you are abroad. A residence visa also lapses after more than 6 months outside the UAE, except for Golden Visa holders.
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