Cancellation of Visa in UAE
Whether it's an employment visa, residence visa, investor/partner visa, family sponsor visa, or a domestic worker (maid) visa, PBS Consultancies handles the entire cancellation process end to end — MOHRE clearance, ICP residency cancellation, final settlements, and compliance documentation — so you stay compliant and can move forward without delays.
5 Steps to Cancel Any Visa in the UAE
A clear, compliant path through MOHRE and ICP — for employment, residence, investor, and family/sponsor visa cancellations alike.
Sponsorship Cancellation Initiated
For employment visas, this starts with MOHRE labour contract cancellation. For investor, family, and other sponsor-based visas, the sponsor initiates cancellation directly through ICP.
- Resignation, termination, or sponsor request letter
- Final settlement confirmation (salary, gratuity, leave) where applicable
- Both parties' approval required
MOHRE Approval & Clearance
For employment visas, MOHRE reviews documentation and issues an approval certificate clearing the labour relationship. Family, investor, and residence cancellations skip this step and move straight to ICP.
- Verification of financial settlements
- Labour dispute check
- Clearance confirmation issued
Residence Visa Cancellation (ICP)
Residence visa cancellation is filed through ICP — using MOHRE clearance for employment cases, or directly by the sponsor for family, investor, and maid/domestic worker visas.
- Submit residence visa cancellation request
- Visa holder surrenders passport & Emirates ID
- Grace period begins (30-60 days)
Healthcare & Insurance Closure
Ensure health insurance termination and all medical clearances are closed in the system.
- Cancel health insurance policy
- Close medical examination records
- Confirm no pending health-related claims
Final Confirmation & Quota Release
Receive official cancellation confirmation and regain your labour sponsorship quota.
- Official cancellation certificate from ICP
- Trade license updated with new quota
- Ready to sponsor replacement employee
Employment Visa Fully Cancelled
Your visa cancellation is now complete and compliant with all UAE authorities.
- Employer liability ends upon completion
- Employee enters 30-60 day grace period
- Zero overstay penalties apply to your company
Types of Visa Cancellations We Handle
Whether it's employment, investor, or family sponsorship visa cancellation, we manage them all.
Employment Visa Cancellation
When an employee resigns, is terminated, or completes a fixed-term contract. Requires MOHRE clearance and final settlement.
Residence Visa Cancellation
Standalone ICP residence visa cancellation for any category, including expired, unused, or no-longer-needed residency permits.
Investor / Partner Visa Cancellation
For shareholders and directors exiting their business or transferring ownership. Requires trade license updates.
Family / Sponsor Visa Cancellation
When dependent visas (spouse, children, parents) need to be cancelled due to the sponsor's departure or a change in circumstances.
Domestic Worker (Maid) Visa Cancellation
Cancellation of visas sponsored for domestic helpers, nannies, drivers, and other household staff.
Visa Cancellation Timeline & Authority Procedures
Employment visas route through MOHRE then ICP. Residence, investor, family, and domestic worker visas go straight to ICP — see how each path plays out below.
Cancellation Initiated
For employment visas: employee gives notice or is terminated, and final settlements (salary, gratuity, leave) must be processed within 14 days. For residence, investor, family, and domestic worker visas: the sponsor submits a cancellation request directly.
MOHRE Labour Cancellation Submission
Submit labour contract cancellation request to MOHRE along with signed resignation and final settlement documents. Residence, investor, family, and domestic worker visas skip this step entirely.
MOHRE Review & Approval
MOHRE reviews documentation, verifies settlement payments, and checks for disputes. Approval typically takes 5–7 business days before moving on to ICP.
ICP Residence Visa Cancellation
Employment cases submit to ICP with the MOHRE clearance certificate attached. Residence, investor, family, and domestic worker cases file directly with ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) — no MOHRE step required.
Passport & Emirates ID Surrender
The visa holder — employee, family member, investor, or domestic worker — surrenders their passport page and Emirates ID to immigration authorities as part of the formal cancellation process.
Final Cancellation Confirmation
ICP issues the final cancellation certificate. For employment visas, the trade license is updated and the labour quota is released; for other visa types, the sponsorship slot is freed up immediately.
Grace Period (Visa Holder)
The visa holder has 30–60 days to exit the UAE, transfer to a new sponsor, or obtain a new visa — this applies whether the visa was employment, residence, investor, family, or domestic worker. Overstay penalties: AED 50/day after the grace period.
Documents Required for Visa Cancellation in UAE
Have these ready to avoid delays and rejections.
From the Sponsor (Employer / Family / Investor)
- Signed termination, resignation, or sponsor cancellation request
- Final settlement letter confirming all payments (employment cases)
- Original labour contract copy (employment cases)
- Medical insurance cancellation confirmation
- Trade license copy (investor/partner cases)
- Sponsor's ID or passport copy
From the Visa Holder
- Original passport with visa page
- Emirates ID card
- Signed acknowledgment of final settlement (employment cases)
- Signed No-Objection Certificate (if applicable)
- All company property return confirmation (employment cases)
- Passport-size photo (if required for new documents)
Visa Cancellation Questions, Answered
Everything you need to know about cancelling employment, residence, investor, and family visas in the UAE.
The sponsor is always responsible for cancelling a visa — an employer for employment visas, or the primary visa holder for family, investor, and domestic worker visas. Visa holders cannot cancel their own sponsored visas; the sponsor must initiate and complete the cancellation through MOHRE (where applicable) and ICP.
Once documentation is complete, employment visa cancellation typically takes 7–14 business days with MOHRE plus 7–14 days with ICP, totalling around 30 days end-to-end. Residence, investor, and family visa cancellations skip the MOHRE step and are usually faster, often 3–7 business days through ICP alone.
After cancellation, the visa holder — whether on an employment, residence, investor, family, or domestic worker visa — enters a grace period of 30–60 days during which they must exit the UAE, transfer to a new sponsor, or obtain a new visa. Overstay penalties of AED 50 per day apply to the individual only (not the sponsor) after the grace period ends.
Yes. Most cancellation steps — for employment, residence, investor, and family visas alike — can be managed online through MOHRE's portal (where applicable) and ICP's systems. Some steps, such as passport and Emirates ID surrender, may still require in-person submission at an immigration office.
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 54 of 2024, overstay fines of AED 50 per day apply from the day after the grace period ends — regardless of visa type. The fine applies to the individual, but the sponsor remains legally liable until cancellation is formally completed. Timely cancellation protects both parties.
Yes, for employment visas specifically: once cancelled, the employee is removed from your active sponsorship count, releasing that slot in your labour quota and allowing you to sponsor a replacement employee. Residence, investor, family, and domestic worker visas don't count against a labour quota, but cancelling them still frees up your general sponsorship allowance.
What Our Clients Say About Our Visa Cancellation Service
"PBS handled our employee visa cancellation from start to finish. No surprises, no delays. Everything was completed in 30 days, and they kept us informed every step of the way. Highly professional."
"We needed to cancel my wife and children's family visas along with my own residence visa when we relocated. PBS coordinated everything directly with ICP — no MOHRE steps needed — and it was done in under a week."
Ready to Cancel a Visa?
Talk to a PRO consultant who manages visa cancellations every day — employment, residence, investor, family/sponsor, and domestic worker visas alike. We handle MOHRE clearance, ICP processing, final settlements, and compliance documentation so you stay protected.
- Free consultation — no obligation
- MOHRE and ICP expertise
- Dedicated support from Sharjah or Dubai office