Cancelling a residence visa in Dubai is one of the cheaper visa services, but the real cost often comes from what happens around it: the order in which family visas are cancelled, the grace period that starts on the cancellation date, and the daily fine if someone stays too long. This page sets out the published government fees for cancelling a residence visa in Dubai and the costs that can follow, each with a link to its official source.
All figures are government fees as published by GDRFA Dubai and ICP. They are estimates of government fees only. Typing-centre charges are not published officially for this service, and our service fee is separate. For a quote for your case, contact us.
Visa cancellation fees in Dubai (government fees)
| Item | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residence permit cancellation | AED 100 | GDRFA – residence cancellation |
| Knowledge Dirham + Innovation Dirham | AED 10 + AED 10 | GDRFA – residence cancellation |
| Total per residence visa | AED 120 (our arithmetic) | GDRFA – residence cancellation |
| Emirates ID cancellation | No separate fee; cancelled automatically with the residence | u.ae – Emirates ID |
| Work permit cancellation (private-sector employees) | Required before the residence is cancelled; we confirm the current amount for your case | GDRFA – residence cancellation |
Grace period and what comes after it
After a residence visa is cancelled, GDRFA Dubai allows a grace period of 60 days to stay in the country, leave, or move to a new visa (GDRFA). ICP lists different grace periods by category: 30 days for most categories, 60 days for permits issued with a guarantor or host, 90 days for skilled workers in levels 1 to 3 and property owners, and 180 days for Golden, Green and Blue residence holders and their families (ICP – residence cancellation). For a Dubai visa we work from the GDRFA figure and check your record to confirm the period that applies to you.
Optional and conditional items
| Item | Fee | When it applies | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overstay fine | AED 50 per day | For each day stayed after the grace period ends | ICP – visa and residence fines |
| Paying fines through GDRFA Dubai | No service fee; only the fines are paid | If there are fines to settle | GDRFA – fine collection |
| Departure permit | AED 241 | If GDRFA requires a permit to leave; departure within 7 days of issue | GDRFA – departure permit |
| Exit fee at land and sea ports | AED 30 | If you leave the UAE by land or sea, not by air | ICP – land and sea exit fees |
| Guarantee for cancelling the sponsor without the family | Listed by ICP as AED 5,000; not listed by GDRFA Dubai, so we confirm the current amount for your case | If the sponsor's residence is cancelled while family visas stay active | ICP – residence cancellation |
Cancel the family first. ICP states that family members' permits under a resident's sponsorship must be cancelled before the sponsor's own residence. Doing it in the right order avoids delays and the extra guarantee above.
A note on conflicting sources: ICP publishes a different, federal fee structure for cancellation (an AED 50 application fee plus a AED 100 smart services fee, and AED 100 for an exceptional cancellation). For a Dubai residence, GDRFA Dubai is the authority, so this page uses the GDRFA figure of AED 100 + AED 10 + AED 10.
Example estimate
A family of three is leaving Dubai by air: the spouse and one child are cancelled first, then the sponsor's own residence. Everyone leaves within the grace period.
| Step | Government fee |
|---|---|
| Spouse's residence cancellation: AED 100 + 10 + 10 | AED 120 |
| Child's residence cancellation: AED 100 + 10 + 10 | AED 120 |
| Sponsor's residence cancellation: AED 100 + 10 + 10 | AED 120 |
| Emirates ID cards (cancelled automatically) | AED 0 |
| Estimated government fees | AED 360 |
This is our arithmetic from the published fees and is an estimate of government fees only. If the sponsor works in the private sector, the employer cancels the work permit and the sponsor's residence. If anyone stays past the grace period, AED 50 a day is added for each extra day, and leaving by land or sea adds AED 30 each. Our service fee is separate; contact us for your exact total.
Documents in brief
- Sponsor's passport and the sponsored person's passport
- Residence visa and Emirates ID details for each person
- Work permit cancellation from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, for private-sector employees
- Proof that any outstanding fines have been paid, if there are any
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to cancel a residence visa in Dubai?
GDRFA Dubai lists AED 100 plus a AED 10 Knowledge Dirham and a AED 10 Innovation Dirham, so AED 120 per residence visa in government fees.
Do I pay to cancel my Emirates ID?
No. The Emirates ID is cancelled automatically when the residence visa is cancelled, with no separate fee.
How long can I stay in Dubai after my visa is cancelled?
GDRFA Dubai gives a 60-day grace period after cancellation. ICP lists other periods for some categories, so we check your record to confirm yours.
What happens if I stay after the grace period?
A fine of AED 50 is charged for each day after the grace period ends.
Can I cancel my own visa before my family's?
ICP requires the family members' permits to be cancelled first. ICP lists a AED 5,000 guarantee if the sponsor is cancelled while the family stays; we confirm whether it applies to your Dubai case.
Is your service fee included?
No. These are government fees only. Our service fee is separate, and we give it to you before we start.
Cancel your visa the right way
Send the passports and visa details on WhatsApp to +971 52 505 3494. We check for fines, confirm the grace period and the government fees for your case, and give you our service fee before anything is submitted.