In short
Only the sponsor can cancel a residence visa, and family members' visas must be cancelled before the sponsor's own. In Dubai, GDRFA charges AED 100 plus AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham per visa, with an expected completion time of 48 hours. The Emirates ID is cancelled automatically with the visa. After cancellation there is a grace period, which depends on the visa category, and then a fine of AED 50 for each day of overstay, so we check your record and plan the exit or the new visa before we cancel.
Who can cancel a family visa
The cancellation request is submitted by the sponsor: the family member who holds the file, or the employer for a work visa. A wife or child cannot cancel their own family visa. If the sponsor is outside the UAE or cannot act, message us and we will tell you which route GDRFA or ICP accepts in your case.
Cancel the family first, then the sponsor
ICP requires family members' residence permits to be cancelled before the sponsor's own residence is cancelled. So when a sponsor leaves a job or the UAE, we cancel the spouse and children first, then the sponsor's visa. The Emirates ID of each person is deactivated automatically as part of the cancellation.
Visa cancellation requirements
| Requirement | What you need |
|---|---|
| Who applies | The sponsor only |
| Documents (GDRFA Dubai) | Sponsor's passport and the sponsored person's passport |
| Private-sector employee | Work permit cancellation from MoHRE, before the residence is cancelled |
| Order | Family members first, then the sponsor (ICP) |
| GDRFA Dubai fee | AED 100 + AED 10 Knowledge Dirham + AED 10 Innovation Dirham, per visa |
| ICP fee (other emirates) | AED 50 application + AED 100 smart services; AED 100 for an exceptional cancellation |
| Emirates ID | Cancelled automatically with the visa |
How to cancel a visa, step by step
- Record check. Send us the passports and visa details on WhatsApp. We check for overstay fines and confirm the grace period for your category.
- Plan the next step. We agree with you whether the family will leave the UAE or move to a new visa, and by when.
- Family cancellation. We submit the cancellation for your spouse and children to GDRFA Dubai, or to ICP for the other emirates.
- Sponsor cancellation. Once the family is cancelled, your own visa is cancelled, by your employer for a work visa.
- Confirmation. You receive the cancellation confirmation; the Emirates ID cards are deactivated in the system.
- Exit or new visa. Each person leaves or changes status before the grace period ends.
Visa cancellation timeline
| Stage | When it happens |
|---|---|
| Processing | GDRFA Dubai lists 48 hours; ICP lists 2 days |
| Grace period | Starts on the cancellation date; its length depends on the visa category, so we check your record |
| After the grace period | AED 50 overstay fine for each day (ICP) |
Starting again later? A new family file follows our family visa, spouse visa and child visa pages, and staying on your current file is a family visa renewal.
Official sources: GDRFA Dubai: cancellation of residence permits · ICP: cancellation of residency permits · u.ae: cancelling Emirates ID
Ready to start? Send your documents on WhatsApp to +971 52 505 3494. We check them before anything is submitted, and the first consultation is free.
Frequently asked questions
Can my wife cancel her own family visa?
No. Only the sponsor can submit the cancellation request. For a work visa, the employer cancels it.
Why must the family be cancelled before the sponsor?
ICP requires family members' residence permits to be cancelled before the sponsor's own residence is cancelled, because the family's visas depend on the sponsor's.
Can I cancel my visa and keep my family's?
ICP allows it only in limited cases: the family's permits are put on hold for a limited period with fees, or a guarantee is given when the sponsor is moving to a new employer, still meets the salary rule and the family's permits have at least three months left.
How much does visa cancellation cost in Dubai?
GDRFA Dubai lists AED 100 plus AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and AED 10 Innovation Dirham per visa. In the other emirates, ICP lists AED 50 application plus AED 100 smart services.
Is the Emirates ID cancelled too?
Yes. When a residence visa is cancelled, the Emirates ID is cancelled automatically as part of the process.
How long can we stay after cancellation?
There is a grace period from the cancellation date, and its length depends on the visa category, so we check your record before we cancel. After it ends, the fine is AED 50 a day.
How long does cancellation take?
GDRFA Dubai lists 48 hours and ICP lists 2 days.