UAE visa grace period: How long can you stay after employment visa cancellation?

Dubai: Whether you have resigned, been terminated, or are a foreign student preparing to graduate from a UAE university, understanding the grace period rules after your residence visa is cancelled is crucial to avoid overstaying. In the UAE, the cancellation of an employment contract and work permit automatically revokes an individual’s residence visa. However, expatriates are granted a grace period to either obtain a new visa or leave the country, with the duration varying based on visa type and eligibility.

“The employer is responsible for initiating the visa cancellation process through the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). The employee is required to sign the cancellation application as part of the procedure,” Sunil Ambalavelil, principal partner at Nasser Yousuf Alkhamis Lawyers (NYK Lawyers) and Legal Consultants, explained to Gulf News.