UAE Visa Cancellation Through an Authorised Amer Centre in Dubai
Authorised Filing With the GDRFA
A residence visa is cancelled by its sponsor in two stages for private-sector employees and in one stage for family and investor visas, and the cancellation is approved by the authority that issued it. The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA Dubai) handles Dubai-issued visas, while the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) handles visas issued in other emirates. For private-sector employees, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) cancels the work permit first, and the linked Emirates ID is cancelled together with the residence permit.
EGSH operates as an authorised Amer Centre for the GDRFA. EGSH checks the sponsor's documents, confirms that the MOHRE step and any dependant visas are in order, submits the cancellation application through the GDRFA system and hands over the cancellation document once the GDRFA approves it. Where the employer instructs EGSH, the MOHRE work permit cancellation is processed during the same visit.
The GDRFA completes residence permit cancellation within 48 hours of a complete submission.
Cancel Your Visa in Dubai
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From AED 225
How to Complete UAE Visa Cancellation in Dubai
Four Steps Through Official Systems
01
Visit EGSH
Book online or walk in to EGSH, where a consultant attends to the sponsor without queues and identifies whether the visa is employment, family or investor based.
02
Document Review
The consultant checks the identity documents, the MOHRE cancellation status and any linked dependant visas against the GDRFA requirements before anything is filed.
03
Application Submission
EGSH submits the residence cancellation application through the official GDRFA system, and the sponsor pays the government fee at the centre, whether the holder is inside or outside the UAE.
04
Receive Your Visa Cancellation Paper
Once the GDRFA approves the request, you receive the residence cancellation document, and the Emirates ID linked to the residence permit is cancelled at the same time.
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Sunday: Closed

Documents Required for UAE Visa Cancellation
Documents by Visa Type
Sponsor and Visa Holder Identity
The sponsor’s original passport and Emirates ID and the visa holder’s original Emirates ID are required, with the holder’s passport also needed unless they are abroad with an expired residence or over six months' absence.
MOHRE Work Permit Cancellation Extract
For private-sector employment visas, the MOHRE work permit cancellation extract filed by the employer must be issued before the GDRFA Dubai accepts the residence cancellation.
Investor or Partner Licence Documents
An investor or partner visa requires a certificate of cancellation or a waiver of the commercial licence linked to the investor’s residence.
Power of Attorney and Special Cases
A representative acting for an absent sponsor presents a valid power of attorney, and exceptional cancellations such as a sponsor’s death require the official death certificate.
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Most procedures are completed in a single visit to the centre.
What Is UAE Visa Cancellation in Dubai
UAE visa cancellation is the formal closure of a residence permit issued for employment, family sponsorship or investment. It ends the holder's legal residence status in the UAE and starts the grace period during which the holder must leave the country, change status or obtain a new visa.
Residence permits are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. (29) of 2021 on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners and its Executive Regulations issued under Cabinet Resolution No. (65) of 2022.
Only the sponsor can cancel a residence visa. An employee cannot cancel their own employment visa, because only the employer can apply for the MOHRE work permit cancellation. For family visas, the sponsoring parent or spouse files the cancellation. Domestic worker residence is cancelled through the MOHRE or the Domestic Work Bundle.
Residence cancellation is different from the cancellation of an unused entry permit. An entry permit that was issued but never used to enter the UAE is closed under a separate GDRFA Dubai service with its own fee.

Which Office Cancels Your Visa: GDRFA, ICP or MOHRE
The issuing emirate decides the channel. Dubai-issued residence visas are cancelled with the GDRFA through an Amer Centre or the GDRFA smart application. Visas issued in other emirates are cancelled with the ICP through ICP Smart Services or the UAEICP application, which require UAE PASS login.
For employees whose company is registered in a free zone, the free zone authority is the sponsor, so the cancellation starts with that free zone. For private-sector mainland employees, the MOHRE step comes first. The employer files the work permit cancellation, and the employee signs it to confirm receipt of all dues. Read more about how the employer cancels the work permit after a resignation, including the settlement statement the MOHRE requires.
The MOHRE waives the employee's signature where the employee is outside the country, has died or has been administratively removed from the ICP system.

Cancelling in the Right Order
The work permit is cancelled first for private-sector employees. Dependant visas under the sponsor come next, and the sponsor's own residence permit is cancelled last.
Family members' permits under a foreign worker's sponsorship must be cancelled before the worker's residence is cancelled, or placed on hold for a limited period with applicable fees. If you are moving to a new employer in the UAE, you can hold your family's visas instead of cancelling them, which keeps the dependants' status in place while the new visa is processed.
If the sponsor's cancellation is filed while dependant visas are still active and not on hold, the application is not accepted until the dependant files are settled.

Processing Time
The GDRFA completes the cancellation of a Dubai residence permit within 48 hours, and the ICP completes cancellations of permits issued in other emirates within 2 days. These timelines apply to complete submissions and may vary with the authority's review.
A submission is complete when the MOHRE extract has been issued, dependant visas have been cancelled or placed on hold, the required originals are presented and any outstanding fines are settled. After approval, you can check your visa status online to confirm that the file shows as cancelled.
Processing can take longer when the MOHRE cancellation is still pending, when the employee has not signed the MOHRE form, or when a power of attorney has to be verified.

Cancelling When You or Your Sponsor Are Outside the UAE
A Dubai residence visa can be cancelled while the holder is abroad. The GDRFA accepts outside-country applications through Amer Centres or its smart application. The holder's original passport is required if the residence is still valid and the holder has been outside the UAE for less than six months, together with the holder's original Emirates ID and the sponsor's original passport and Emirates ID.
For employment visas, the MOHRE signature exemption for employees outside the country allows the employer to complete the work permit step without the employee returning. An ordinary residence visa is nullified automatically when the holder stays outside the UAE for more than 180 continuous days, unless the holder falls under an exempt category.
When the sponsor is the one abroad, a representative can act under a power of attorney. A power of attorney signed outside the UAE needs power of attorney attestation before it is used in the UAE. EGSH confirms that the document names the cancellation before the file is submitted.

Investor and Partner Visa Cancellation
An investor or partner visa is linked to the investor's commercial licence. Cancelling an investor or partner residence requires a certificate of cancellation or a waiver of the commercial licence. A waiver records that the investor has given up their interest in the licence, which allows the residence to be cancelled while the company continues under the remaining partners.
Where the company itself is closing, cancelling the trade licence comes first, and the investor's residence is cancelled once the licence cancellation certificate is issued.

Your Cancellation Paper and the Grace Period
The cancellation paper is the document issued after the GDRFA or the ICP approves the cancellation. It records the cancellation date from which the grace period is counted. EGSH hands the document to the sponsor at completion, and the holder keeps a copy for exit or for a new visa application.
The grace period starts from the cancellation. For Dubai-issued residence permits, the GDRFA grants a grace period of 60 days after cancellation. For permits issued in other emirates, the ICP applies 30, 60, 90 or 180 days depending on the residence category. The allowed days shown on the holder's file are the figure to rely on. The grace period rules after cancellation differ by category and are explained separately.
After the grace period ends, the ICP applies a fine of AED 50 per day of stay. A holder who stays in the UAE can use the grace period to change status to a new visa without exiting.

Common Reasons a Cancellation Is Held Up
Most delays come from process documents. The GDRFA does not accept the residence cancellation until the MOHRE extract exists, and the MOHRE requires any fines for late issuance or non-renewal of work permits to be paid first.
Other common causes include dependant visas that are still active, an employee who has not signed the MOHRE form, an absconding report or open labour case on the file, a passport held abroad when it is still required, and a power of attorney issued abroad without attestation.

Frequently Asked Questions
How much does visa cancellation cost in Dubai?
For Dubai-issued visas, the GDRFA fee is AED 190 plus Amer Centre fees for an individual sponsor and AED 225 for a company when the visa holder is inside the UAE. When the holder is outside the UAE, the fees are AED 290 plus Amer Centre fees for an individual and AED 325 for a company. The MOHRE work permit cancellation is free on its own channels, with business service centre commission capped at AED 72. Fees are current as of publication and subject to change.
How long does UAE visa cancellation take?
The GDRFA completes a Dubai residence permit cancellation within 48 hours, and the ICP completes cancellations for other emirates within 2 days. For employment visas, the MOHRE work permit cancellation must be completed before this period starts. Timelines apply to complete submissions and may vary.
Can I cancel my visa without my sponsor or employer?
No, normally only the sponsor can cancel a residence visa. For an employment visa, the employer files the MOHRE work permit cancellation and then the residence cancellation. If an employer refuses to act, the employee can file a complaint with the MOHRE.
Can my residence visa be cancelled while I am outside the UAE?
Yes, the GDRFA accepts outside-country cancellations at AED 290 plus Amer Centre fees for an individual sponsor and AED 325 for a company. The holder’s original passport is needed only if the residence is valid and the absence is less than six months. For employees abroad, the MOHRE does not require the employee’s signature on the work permit cancellation.
Do I have to cancel my family’s visas before my own?
Yes, family members' permits must be cancelled before the sponsor’s residence is cancelled, or placed on hold for a limited period with applicable fees. A sponsor moving to a new UAE employer can use the hold option to keep dependants' status active. The ICP also offers a guarantee of AED 5,000 plus a AED 20 deposit fee under set salary and validity conditions.
Can I cancel a partner or investor visa without closing the company?
The ICP accepts either a certificate of cancellation or a waiver of the commercial licence for investor and partner residence cancellation. A waiver allows the residence to be cancelled while the company continues under the remaining partners. Investors planning a new structure can review the requirements for an investor or partner visa before cancelling the current one.
Where do I get my visa cancellation paper?
The cancellation paper is issued once the GDRFA or the ICP approves the cancellation. The Amer Centre that filed the application hands it to the sponsor once the authority approves the request. It shows the cancellation date from which the grace period is counted.
How many days can I stay after my visa is cancelled in 2026?
For Dubai-issued visas, the GDRFA grants a 60-day grace period after cancellation. For visas issued in other emirates, the ICP applies 30, 60, 90 or 180 days depending on the residence category. After the grace period, the ICP applies a fine of AED 50 per day.
Still have any questions?
What Our Clients Say
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Official Sources
- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA Dubai), FAQ: What are the residence cancellation procedures?
- General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDRFA Dubai), Cancellation of all types of residence permits
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), Cancellation of residency permits
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts
- The Official Portal of the UAE Government, General provisions for the residence visa
Updated September 2026: fees and cancellation order checked against GDRFA Dubai, ICP and MOHRE.
Disclaimer
This page provides general procedural information about residence visa cancellation in Dubai and does not constitute legal advice. All cancellation decisions are made by the GDRFA Dubai, the ICP or the MOHRE. Fees, documents and timelines are set by these authorities and may change without notice. EGSH submits and processes applications through official government systems and does not issue, approve or guarantee any outcome.










































































































































