The United Arab Emirates has emphasized to foreign residents who have decided to leave permanently that they must ensure the completion of procedures for canceling their residency visa, as well as that of their sponsors. The UAE’s digital government clarified that usually, only the sponsor or someone authorized by them (such as a representative in the case of companies) is allowed to carry out the procedures for canceling the residency visas they sponsor, and the sponsored individual cannot submit the request without the sponsor's permission and signature.
Furthermore, it added that if a company decides to cancel an employee's work residency visa, it must first refer to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation to request the cancellation of the employment contract and the employee's work card. This request must be signed by both the employer and the employee, after which the employer submits the cancellation request to the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security.
The "Digital Government" confirmed that the employer must cancel the employee's work permit. Therefore, the employer must provide the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation with a signed letter from the employee confirming that he has received all his salaries, entitlements, and end-of-service benefits from the employer. It noted that for residency visas of family members, such as the spouse and children, the sponsor must first cancel the visas of his dependents before proceeding to cancel his own residency visa.
It pointed out that requests for residency cancellation can be submitted through approved typing offices or electronically through platforms provided by the relevant authorities for issuing residency visas. Additionally, the sponsor or host can visit one of the registered and approved typing offices by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security, where the typing center will fill out the cancellation form on behalf of the sponsor and submit it to the authority. The sponsor or host can also submit the cancellation request via the electronic channels of the authority, such as the authority's website and smart application available on Google Play and the App Store.
It urged people to check all information related to the "Cancellation of Residency Permits" service by visiting the website of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security at https://icp.gov.ae/ and the "Cancellation of Residency Permits of All Types" service on the website of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai.
