Following the cancellation of a UAE employment visa, a defined grace period applies, allowing residents to remain in the country for a limited duration in accordance with federal immigration regulations. The permitted stay varies by visa category and is subject to the timelines recorded in official systems. Current rules outline grace periods ranging from 30 to 90 days for most employment visa holders, with extended durations available for select categories. Overstay fines apply after the authorised period lapses, in line with established residency laws.
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Official Grace Period Framework
The single most important step after a cancellation is to check the date printed on your cancellation notice or look it up via the official ICP smart services portal — that is the authoritative record of how long you may remain.
If you live in Dubai, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai (GDRFA) explicitly states that a grace period is applied after cancellation or expiry and notes cases where 60 days is used as the reference timeframe on certain service pages. Always treat the official service page or the cancellation slip as decisive.
Grace Period Categories by Visa Type
- Standard employment visas: commonly 30–90 days after cancellation to either leave, change status or transfer to a new employer. This is the range employers, immigration advisors and media reporting currently use as the baseline.
- Green Visa / Golden Visa /investor and special categories: may qualify for extended windows — up to 180 days in practice for certain categories such as Golden/Green visa holders and other specially exempted cases.
- Dependents (spouse/children): their residency is tied to the principal sponsor’s visa. Once the principal’s visa is cancelled, dependent visas fall due for cancellation too — families must act promptly to transfer sponsorship or change visa type. Local coverage and advisory pieces highlight routes such as sponsorship transfer or student visas for older dependents.
The “typical” is 30–90 days for most workers, but the precise number for your case is printed on your cancellation document or available on the ICP/GDRFA portal.
ICP and GDRFA, Record Verification Process
- Visit the ICP smart services portal (Public Services → File Validity / Visa Validity). Enter passport or file number and view the exact leave-by date shown for your cancelled residence file.
- If the visa was cancelled via a local emirate authority, check the relevant GDRFA page or call the service centre — the GDRFA service pages also state the grace period applicable after cancellation.
- If you received a cancellation notice from your employer, keep the physical/digital copy — it often states the permitted days to stay.
Permitted Actions During the Grace Window
- Transfer to a new employer: The new employer may apply for the work permit/residence while you remain in the UAE (subject to medical, Emirates ID, and visa stamping rules).
- Change visa type while in the UAE: Options may include converting to a visit visa, investor or family visa, depending on eligibility and proof.
- Exit the country and re-enter on a new visa: If you prefer, you can depart and return on a fresh entry permit; make sure any re-entry rules and stamping timelines are met.
Overstay rules and financial penalties
If you remain past the official grace period shown on your file:
- Daily overstay penalties are routinely applied; the common figure quoted across advisory sources and media is around AED 50 per day.
- On exit, immigration will require payment of any fines and completion of the exit formalities; significant overstay may trigger travel or re-entry restrictions later.
*Don’t rely on “general practice” — rely on the cancellation slip / ICP lookup and settle any outstanding fines immediately through the official channels.
Immediate Steps Following Visa Cancellation
- Retrieve your cancellation notice and note the leave-by date.
- Check ICP smart services (File Validity) for the official expiry/grace date.
- Contact the new employer or a registered PRO to begin the transfer or new visa application if staying.
- If leaving, confirm airline and exit requirements and settle any fines shown on the ICP/GDRFA system.
- For families: arrange sponsorship transfer or alternative visas for dependents well before the leave-by date.
