UAE Visa Cancellation Status: How to Check and What Happens Next?
To check your UAE visa cancellation status, use ICP Smart Services or the GDRFA Dubai app with your passport number or file number. Cancellations are usually confirmed within 48 hours. Only your sponsor, an employer or a family member, can cancel a residence visa. You cannot cancel your own visa directly.
- Confirm your sponsor has submitted the cancellation.
- Check status on ICP or GDRFA using your passport number.
- Note your grace period once cancellation is confirmed.
Who can cancel a UAE visa?
A UAE residence visa can only be cancelled by the sponsor who issued it. If you are on an employment visa, that is your employer. If you are on a family visa, that is the sponsoring spouse or parent. You cannot cancel your own residence visa as an individual, even if you want to leave the country voluntarily.
This is why cancellation status matters so much when you leave a job. Your employer has to actually submit the cancellation, and it does not happen automatically the day you stop working. If you are unsure whether your employer has done this, see our guide on the employer fine for not cancelling a visa.
How to check your cancellation status?
Checking is free and takes seconds on the correct portal. Use ICP for most emirates, or GDRFA for a Dubai visa, the same split that applies to a general visa status check.
- Open ICP Smart Services or the GDRFA Dubai app.
- Enter your passport number, or your residence file number found on your visa sticker.
- Search. If the visa is cancelled, the status will show as cancelled rather than active or valid.
On the GDRFA Dubai app, this sits under Services, then Entry Permit or Residence Status, then Residence Inquiry. Most cancellations are confirmed in the system within 48 hours of submission, and you typically receive an email update once it clears.
Cancellation fees and timeline
The government cancellation fee itself is modest, typically around AED 100 to 220. This is paid by the sponsor, not the employee. Where the total bill grows is the surrounding paperwork.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Government cancellation fee | About AED 100 to 220 |
| Labour contract cancellation (MOHRE) | About AED 100 to 200 |
| Typing centre or PRO service charge | About AED 100 to 800, if used |
On timeline, MOHRE typically clears a labour contract cancellation within 24 to 48 hours, and GDRFA processes the residency cancellation itself within one to two working days once the contract side is done. The whole process usually completes in 1 to 3 working days when the paperwork is in order.
After cancellation: your grace period
Once your visa shows as cancelled, a grace period begins automatically. For most people this is 30 days, during which you can search for a new job, transfer sponsor, or arrange to leave the UAE without an overstay fine. Certain categories, including widowed or divorced women and some students, may qualify for a longer grace period of up to 180 days.
Do not let the grace period lapse without acting. Once it ends, the standard overstay fine of AED 50 a day applies, as covered in our UAE overstay fine 2026 guide. The full set of visa topics is in our UAE visa and immigration guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if my UAE visa has been cancelled?
Check ICP Smart Services for most emirates, or the GDRFA Dubai app or website for a Dubai visa, using your passport number or residence file number. A cancelled visa shows a cancelled status rather than active or valid. Cancellations are usually confirmed in the system within 48 hours of submission.
Can I cancel my own UAE residence visa?
No. Only your sponsor can cancel your residence visa, whether that is your employer on a work visa or a family member on a family visa. You cannot initiate the cancellation yourself, even if you want to leave the UAE voluntarily. Raise the request with your sponsor to start the process.
How much does visa cancellation cost in the UAE?
The core government fee is roughly AED 100 to 220, paid by the sponsor. Total costs rise if a labour contract cancellation and a typing centre or PRO service are also involved, which can add several hundred dirhams more. The employee does not normally pay these fees directly.
How long is the grace period after visa cancellation?
Most people get a 30-day grace period from the cancellation date to find a new job, transfer sponsor, or leave the country. Certain groups, including widowed or divorced women and some students, can qualify for up to 180 days. After the grace period ends, the standard AED 50-a-day overstay fine begins.
Last verified: July 2026
Written by Roman Shah ยท Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP); GDRFA; Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
