Key step It blocks other steps, or costs money if you miss it.

How your employer cancels your work permit and residence visa

Your employer cancels your work permit through MOHRE first and then your residence visa through GDRFA. MOHRE requires your signature acknowledging you have received all your dues: check your final settlement has been paid before you sign.

When
10 days to 7 days before your flight
Time
Your part: 30 min
Cost
Paid by your employer

Official source: MOHREAlso: GDRFA Dubai

Have ready

  • Passport
  • Emirates ID
  • UAE PASS on your phone (ask HR how you will sign the MOHRE form)

How to do it

  1. Give HR the date you chose and copies of your passport and Emirates ID. If you sponsor family, cancel their visas first.
  2. HR submits the work-permit cancellation to MOHRE. MOHRE requires your signature agreeing to the cancellation and acknowledging you have received all your dues, and completes it in about 2 working days.
  3. Before you sign, check that your final settlement has been paid (see “Check your final settlement”).
  4. HR then submits the residence cancellation to GDRFA with the MOHRE cancellation; GDRFA expects to complete it within 48 hours.
  5. Ask for the cancellation paper, then check your status and grace-period date on ICP or GDRFA.

Watch out

  • Cancelling the work permit does not cancel the residence visa by itself. Confirm with HR that both are cancelled.
  • If your employer will not cancel after you resigned, call MOHRE on 600590000 or file a labour complaint.

Questions people ask

Can I cancel my employment visa myself?

No. Your employer, as your sponsor, submits both cancellations: the work permit at MOHRE, then the residence visa at GDRFA. Your part is to give HR the date, sign MOHRE’s form once you have been paid, and collect the cancellation paper.

Does cancelling my work permit cancel my residence visa?

No. They are two steps: MOHRE cancels the work permit, then GDRFA cancels the residence visa. Make sure both are done.

How long does residence visa cancellation take?

MOHRE lists 2 working days for the work permit and GDRFA 48 hours for the residence permit. Then check your status and grace-period date on ICP or GDRFA.

What if my employer won’t cancel my visa after I resign?

Call MOHRE on 600590000 or file a labour complaint with MOHRE.

Sources

Official: MOHRE: Cancellation of Work Permits and Employment Contracts · GDRFA Dubai: Cancellation of all types of residence permits · GDRFA Dubai: check your file status

Also checked against: Gulf News: MOHRE steps to cancel a work permit · Gulf News: sign the settlement only after you are paid · u.ae: General provisions for the residence visa

Outro is an independent guide, not a government service or legal advice. If an official page says something different, follow it and .