Cancelling a UAE visa the wrong way can cost you thousands in fines and potentially a labour ban. Here's the 2026 procedure.
Who cancels what
- Employment visa: employer cancels — first the MOHRE labour card, then the GDRFA/ICP residence visa.
- Investor visa: you, via the license-issuing authority.
- Family visa: the sponsor (usually the employee parent).
- Golden / Green visa: you, via ICP / GDRFA.
Grace period after cancellation
Once your residence visa is cancelled you have:
- 30 days — standard employment visas (unless your employer extends to 60/90).
- 60 days — most new employment visas since 2023.
- 180 days — certain Golden / Green visa holders.
Overstaying costs AED 50 per day.
Employer obligations
Under UAE Labour Law, the employer must:
- Pay final settlement (gratuity, unpaid salary, leave encashment).
- Cancel the labour card within 14 days of last working day.
- Return the original passport.
- Pay for the return ticket home if the employee isn't transferring.
Refunds
Labour insurance (AED 60/year) is not refundable. Bank guarantees (old system) are refunded by the bank 3–6 weeks after labour-card cancellation, minus any outstanding labour claims.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the UAE without cancelling — triggers absconding proceedings.
- Not collecting the cancellation paper / EID certificate of clearance.
- Forgetting to cancel dependents' visas (they're auto-tied but require explicit formal cancellation).
#Visa Cancellation#GDRFA#ICP#MOHRE
Need help with this?
Our PRO consultants handle the full process end-to-end — documents, government submission, and delivery. Service fee is fully refundable pre-submission.