UAE is a dream destination and land of opportunities that attracts people from all over the world to live and work. Everyone tries to get UAE citizenship for a secure and promising future. Even after visa cancellation, the UAE provides a grace period to renew the visa or leave the country.
What is the Grace Period?
After visa cancellation, you are allowed to stay in UAE for a specific time, known as a grace period. The duration of the grace period varies with the type of visa. If you were on a visit visa, then the grace period would be ten days. In the case of a golden visa, it is for 6 months, and you can leave or re-apply for a visa.
Grace Period After Employment Visa Cancellation
If you were an employee in the UAE and have decided to leave permanently, your employer must cancel your work permit and labor contract with MOHRE (Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation). It is not possible to cancel an employment visa without the help of an employer. An employer might need your passport, ID card, emirate ID, labor card, and trading license to proceed with the application for visa cancellation.
According to the latest rules and regulations of authorities, the grace period is usually 30 days, but it can be extended to 60 days, 90 days, and even 180 days in some cases. The purpose of a grace period is to provide enough time for the individual so he/she can
- Find another job
- Renew visa
- Exit the UAE
Grace Period for Visit Visa Holders
A grace period of 10 days is provided to visit visa holders in UAE after visa cancellation or expiration. When you overstay, the relevant authority might charge you a penalty or fine; however, if you cannot depart from the UAE for genuine reasons like flight cancellation or airport closures, there won’t be any penalty.
Grace Period for Resident Visa Holders
If you have a residency permit in the UAE, you have a 6-month grace period for expiration and cancellation. If you stay even one day extra after completing 180 days, you must pay 50 AED. To avoid fines, leaving the UAE within 6 months or getting a new visa is recommended.
Grace Period for Retired Visa
In the UAE, foreigners over 55 can get a retirement visa to stay for 5 years. This visa also offers a grace period of 180 days but has some requirements. These include a certain minimum amount in account, property ownership, and some others. It is not affordable for everyone as the requirements are challenging for retired persons.
Grace Period for Investor Visa
An investor visa is an authorization letter issued by the UAE government for foreigners, allowing them to start a company or engage in any type of business through investment. An investor visa aims to attract all business people to the UAE to grow the economy. It is a popular visa in the UAE. It has a grace period of six months, and after that, the daily fine is AED 50.
Grace Period for Widows
UAE govt offers special support to women who live in UAE after their husband passes away. They get one year visa extension along with 180 days grace period. This helps them in finding or deciding on new sponsor in difficult time.
Canceling your visa is a crucial step before leaving the UAE permanently; otherwise, you might face unwanted situations, including the possibility of being banned. It is better to understand how to cancel your visa so you do not have to face any consequences.
Visa Cancellation Procedure in UAE
There can be multiple reasons behind this decision, such as personal matters, health issues, job changes, or educational opportunities in another country. In the UAE, individuals can not cancel their visas on their own; they have to go through a formal process.
- The first step is to submit an application, and for that, you can choose between service centers (Tasheel center, local typing center) and online service (General Director of Residency and Foreign Affairs, smart channel).
- Signing the application by relevant authorities and sponsor
- Submit the required documents to initiate the process.
- After this, the application is forwarded to GDRFA (for cancellation of the resident visa by the Ministry of Labor.
- The employer or sponsor has to visit the General Director of Residency and Foreign Affairs to complete the cancellation process.
You will receive an electronic confirmation from GDRFA of the permanent cancellation of your labor card.
How To Check Grace Period After Visa Cancellation?
There are several ways to check the grace period after visa cancellation. The easiest possible way is to contact relevant government authorities, including the Immigration and Neutralization Department, which is involved in visa issuance and cancellation.
Another option that you can use to check the grace period is to use an online service provided by the UAE government. The grace period can be checked online through the official ICP website. Follow these steps to check the duration of the grace period.
- Open the official website of the ICP service center.
- Tap on Public Visa Service
- Click on Visa Status
- Choose the Residency Validity section and type in the required information, which includes your passport number, passport type, date of birth, and current nationality.
- After providing the above details, click on the search bar to check the validity status.
The third way to check the grace period if you are in UAE is to visit the local police station and provide them with your passport and other documents.
Fine For Overstaying After Grace Period
In UAE, rules should be followed to avoid penalties and fines. The same is true for visa cancellation. After cancellation, you have to leave before the completion of the grace period; otherwise, you have to pay a fine.
- First day: AED 125 and AED 25 will be added for each subsequent day.
- After six months: The fine will be AED 50 instead of 25
- After one year: AED 100 for each subsequent day
Conclusion
At the end of this article, we hope it has given you a clear understanding of the grace period after visa cancellation in UAE. It is valuable time that should be spent on finding a better job, renewing a visa, or planning to leave the UAE. Information about the grace period duration for your visa type is crucial, as you might face penalties for overstaying. There are a number of ways to check the grace period; choose the way that suits you. Online portals or websites also allow you to check the grace period.
Visa cancellation or renewal during the grace period is a complicated process, and if you are doing it for the first time, it can be challenging. You can reach out to Al Riyady for assistance and guidance. We also provide services to help you set up your business and obtain a UAE golden visa.
