UAE residence visa renewal, cancellation, grace periods and overstay fines

The sponsor renews. For employees that is the employer, for families the sponsoring relative, and for self-sponsored categories the holder. u.ae adds that if you need to renew early for travel, "one to six months" ahead, ICP approval is required. The renewal repeats parts of the issuance sequence: a medical fitness test (with TB screening at renewal), Emirates ID renewal and the residence stamp. ICP fees are AED 100 application, AED 100 per year of issuance and AED 100 smart service; the Emirates ID renewal is AED 100 per year plus AED 100. GDRFA Dubai lists renewal under its "Renewal of Residency Visa" service group, and its retired-foreigner card notes that "the issuance fee increases by AED100 for each year whenever the residency is more than two years".

u.ae: "Normally, only the sponsor can cancel your residence visa." The sequence the official pages describe is:

1. Private-sector employer cancels the labour contract and work permit with MOHRE. The employee signs. GDRFA Dubai's card requires "a cancellation from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation" before it will cancel the residence.
2. Family sponsor cancels dependants' visas first. "An individual sponsoring his/her spouse, children and other dependents must cancel the dependents' visas before he cancels his/her own."
3. Sponsor applies to ICP or GDRFA Dubai through an ICP-registered typing centre, the ICP website or app, or GDRFA Dubai (fee AED 100 plus AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham; completion 48 hours).
4. Emirates ID is cancelled with the residence.
5. Grace period begins for the holder and, separately, six months for dependants.

GDRFA Dubai's Green cards carry a warning that applies to any switch of category: "please do not cancel the current residence, if any, before obtaining a green residence permit." If you are moving to a new sponsor, the ICP change-of-status request (AED 500) lets you complete the new residence without leaving after the old permit is cancelled and the new visa issued.

u.ae: "visit, tourist and residence visa overstaying fees have standardised at AED 50 per day." The ICP residence card: "A fine of AED 50 will be imposed for each day of overstay ... starting from the day following the end of the grace period applicable to the specific type of entry permit." The same fine applies if the residence procedures are not completed within 60 days of entry. GDRFA Dubai runs a fines-inquiry service for checking an outstanding amount.

u.ae's general provisions state that a residence visa is nullified if the holder stays outside the UAE for more than 180 continuous days, with exceptions that include students abroad, investors and people receiving medical treatment. ICP's service card "Permit to stay outside the country for more than 6 months" allows a resident to apply from outside for re-entry after six months, with "a fine of AED 100 for every 30 days or less spent outside the country" (card wording: "Issuance fee for each month of delay after 6 months - 100 AED", plus AED 100 smart fee), and entry within 30 days of approval. The card states "this service is not for residents of Dubai" and lists Golden, Green and Blue residence holders as exempt categories who may enter at any time while their residency is valid.

If you are between sponsors, send us your permit type, emirate, expiry or cancellation date and whether dependants are on your file. We will set out the grace period each official source gives for your case and the order of steps to the new residence.