Maid Visa Dubai Guide: Requirements, Cost, Process & Renewal

Ending a domestic worker’s employment in Dubai involves more than saying goodbye. The sponsor has to cancel the worker’s permit and residence visa through the proper channels, settle what is owed, and arrange the worker’s departure or transfer. Getting it wrong can leave you with fines, a stuck file, or an overstay problem that affects the worker.

This guide explains how maid visa cancellation works in Dubai in practice. It covers who can cancel, what to settle first, the documents you need, the two-stage process, the channels you can use, how fees work, what to do if the worker has left without notice, and what happens when you want to hire someone new. If you are hiring rather than cancelling, see our guide to sponsoring a maid in Dubai.

Rules, fees, and service channels change from time to time. Treat the figures here as a guide, and confirm current requirements on the official channels before you start.

Quick Answer

To cancel a maid visa in Dubai, the sponsor normally:

1. Settles the worker’s salary and any other dues
2. Cancels the domestic worker’s work permit with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
3. Cancels the residence visa with the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA), through its smart services or an Amer centre
4. Returns the worker’s passport and arranges their exit or transfer

One 2026 guide describes this as a two-stage process: the MOHRE work permit first, then the residence visa through ICP or GDRFA. A Tadbeer centre can handle these steps for you for a service fee. 

Who Can Cancel a Maid Visa in Dubai?

Only the sponsor, meaning the employer named on the worker’s visa, can start the cancellation. The worker cannot cancel their own residence visa. If you are the sponsor and your circumstances have changed, you need to act. If the worker wants to leave, the process still runs through the sponsor, so the two of you will need to coordinate. For the general rules on ending any residence visa, see our guide to UAE residence visa cancellation.

Common reasons for cancellation include:

• The contract has ended and you do not want to renew
• The worker is leaving the UAE permanently
• The worker is moving to a new employer
• The sponsor is leaving the UAE or no longer needs help
• The employment relationship has broken down
• The worker has left without notice, which is handled as an absconding case

Each of these follows the same basic route, but the preparation and the risks differ. The sections below cover them.

Before You Cancel: What to Settle First

Do not start the cancellation until you have cleared the worker’s entitlements. An unsettled dispute can delay the process, and a complaint on file can block it.

Unpaid salary. Pay all outstanding wages up to the last working day, using the same method you have used throughout (domestic worker salaries are expected to be paid through a traceable channel, and you should keep the records).

Leave and end-of-service entitlements. Check the employment contract and the domestic worker rules for unused leave and any end-of-service payment. Pay what is due and get a signed acknowledgement.

Return ticket. Where the contract requires the employer to cover the worker’s return home, arrange the ticket. If the worker is moving to a new employer instead, agree this in writing.

Passport and documents. Return the worker’s passport and any personal documents you hold. Keep a signed receipt.

A signed settlement note. A short written statement that the worker has received their salary and entitlements protects you if a dispute comes up later.

Neither a Tadbeer centre nor GDRFA can override an active complaint at MOHRE, so clearing any open complaint comes first.

Dubai Maid Visa Cancellation Requirements and Documents

The exact list depends on the channel and your situation, but you should be ready with the following.

Sources differ on small details, and the requirements can change, so ask the centre or portal for the current checklist before you go.

Step-by-Step: How to Cancel a Maid Visa in Dubai

Step 1: Prepare and settle

Gather your documents and complete the settlement checklist above. Confirm there is no open complaint or absconding report against the worker.

Step 2: Cancel the work permit with MOHRE

The first formal step is cancelling the domestic worker’s work permit. This can usually be done through the MOHRE app or website using UAE Pass, or through a Tadbeer centre. The cancellation generates a record that GDRFA will ask for before it cancels the residence. For background on how work permit cancellation works more broadly, see our guide to work permit cancellation in Dubai.

Step 3: Cancel the residence visa with GDRFA Dubai

Once the work permit is cancelled, you cancel the residence visa. For visas issued in Dubai, this is done through GDRFA Dubai, either through its smart app or website, or in person at an Amer centre. For visas issued in another emirate, the cancellation goes through the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP) instead.

Step 4: Collect the confirmation

Keep the cancellation confirmation or receipt. You may need to give a copy to the worker, and you will want it on file if you apply for a new visa.

Step 5: Arrange the worker’s exit or transfer

After the visa is cancelled, the worker has a limited period to leave the UAE or move to a new sponsor. The worker’s Emirates ID is cancelled along with the residence.

Which Channel Should You Use?

You have three practical options. Pick the one that fits your comfort with online services and how complicated your case is.

If you apply online, you need your documents ready and no active disputes on the worker’s record. If anything is unclear, such as a complaint, a contract question, or an absconding report, a Tadbeer centre or one of the immigration consultants in Dubai can save you time.

Dubai Maid Visa Cancellation Fees

Fees vary depending on the channel, whether the worker is inside or outside the UAE, and the sponsor type. Published figures also differ by source, so I am not giving a single number you can rely on.

As a rough guide, recent sources quote GDRFA Dubai at around AED 190 for an individual sponsor with the worker inside the UAE, and around AED 290 outside, plus centre fees. Confirm the current figure on the GDRFA Dubai website or at an Amer centre before you pay.

Be wary of any provider quoting a very low fixed price without explaining which parts are government fees and which are service charges.

How Long Does It Take?

Timing depends on the channel and whether your documents are complete. The MOHRE work permit step is often quick, and the GDRFA residence step is commonly quoted at about two working days after a complete submission. Delays usually come from an open complaint, a missing document, or an unpaid fine on the sponsor’s file.

Do not book the worker’s flight or tell them the visa is cancelled until you have the confirmation in hand.

How to Check the Cancellation Status

You can follow the progress through the same channels you used:

• GDRFA Dubai app or website: log in with UAE Pass and look at your submitted applications. Our guide on checking Dubai visa status online explains the general approach.
• MOHRE app or website: check the work permit status for the worker.
• Your Tadbeer centre or PRO: ask for a reference number and status update.

Keep the application or transaction number, because you will need it if you have to follow up.

Cancellation After the Contract Expires

If the contract ends and you do not renew, you should still cancel properly. Letting the visa lapse without cancellation leaves the worker without a clear legal position and can leave your file in a muddle.

Settle final dues, cancel the work permit and the residence visa, and give the worker a clear date by which they need to leave or move to a new employer. Doing this close to the contract end date keeps the paperwork clean and avoids confusion about the worker’s status.

Final Settlement: What You Owe

The final settlement is the point where most disputes start, so be thorough.

• Wages up to the last working day
• Unused annual leave, as the contract and the rules provide
• End-of-service entitlements, where they apply
• Return ticket, where the contract provides for it
• Return of the passport and personal items

Put the figures in writing, ask the worker to sign, and keep your payment records. If you disagree on any item, resolve it before you cancel, because a complaint can stall everything.

When the Worker Is Outside the UAE

You can cancel a maid’s residence visa when the worker is outside the country. The process is similar, but the fee is quoted higher and you do not need the worker’s physical passport for the cancellation itself. Make sure you have the worker’s details and the contract. If the worker left with a valid visa and has not returned, cancel it so you are not left responsible for an active file.

Absconding Cases: What to Do If the Worker Leaves Without Notice

If your worker leaves your home without notice and you do not know where they are, you can report the absence to MOHRE. This is called an absconding report, or Unexpected Work Abandonment report.

Key points:

• The report can be filed online through the MOHRE app with UAE Pass, but only after the worker has been absent for 5 days, and processing takes about two working days.
• You need the worker’s details, such as passport number, Emirates ID, and unified number.
• A report can only be filed when you genuinely do not know the worker’s whereabouts. It is not for cases where you know where they are.
• A report cannot be filed if the worker is outside the UAE.

Penalties for false reports

Do not file an absconding report to punish a worker or pressure them. MOHRE can fine an employer AED 5,000 per worker for a false or fictitious absconding report, and the employer’s file is suspended until the fine is paid.

Can the report be withdrawn?

Yes. MOHRE can cancel a report in certain situations, such as when the worker was present at the workplace or on legal leave when it was filed, or when the report is inaccurate. MOHRE can also cancel it with the employer’s approval. Workers have a service to request withdrawal. This matters because a worker with an active absconding report cannot normally move to a new employer until it is cleared.

Cancelling the visa after an absconding report

An absconding case still ends with the same two stages: the work permit and the residence visa. Because the process depends on the report’s status, a Tadbeer centre or a licensed PRO can help you handle the order of steps. Keep copies of the report, your attempts to contact the worker, and any police or MOHRE reference.

Transfer to a New Sponsor Instead of Cancelling

If the worker wants to stay in the UAE and has a new employer, it may be better to transfer than to cancel and re-hire. A transfer lets the worker move without leaving the country, and it follows the rules for a new work permit and a new sponsor. Our guide to residency visa transfer explains how transfers work in general. The new sponsor needs to meet the eligibility conditions and complete the permit and residence steps.

Keep two things in mind:

• A worker with an absconding report cannot move to a new employer until the report is removed.
• Agree the transfer in writing, and make sure your own file is cleared properly.

Grace Period and Exit After Cancellation

Once the residence visa is cancelled, the worker has a limited period to leave the UAE or move to a new sponsor. Sources give different figures. Some quote 30 days for domestic workers, while GDRFA Dubai’s service page is quoted at 60 days for residence cancellation in general. Overstay fines apply after the grace period ends. See our guide to Dubai visa overstay rules for how fines work.

Because the numbers conflict, treat the shorter period as your safe working assumption and check the current grace period for domestic workers on the GDRFA Dubai or UAE government portal when you cancel. Tell the worker the exact date in writing so there is no confusion.

Sponsor Responsibilities After Cancellation

Cancelling the visa does not end every responsibility.

• Make sure the worker can leave or move. Do not hold the passport.
• Provide the return ticket where it applies.
• Keep your records of payments, the settlement note, and the cancellation confirmation for a reasonable period.
• Clear any fines. An outstanding fine can block your file and stop you from hiring someone new.
• Notify your insurer if the worker was covered under a policy you held. Our guide to health insurance in Dubai covers how cover works.
• If you are leaving the UAE yourself, read our guide on the procedure for a Dubai resident leaving Dubai, and cancel the worker’s visa before you go.

Applying for a New Maid Visa After Cancellation

Once the previous worker’s visa is cancelled and your file is clear, you can apply for a new domestic worker through a Tadbeer centre or the relevant channel. Your file must be free of fines and suspensions, and you will need to meet the current sponsor conditions. Do not assume you can skip steps because you hired someone before. Confirm the eligibility rules, the documents, and the cost on the day you apply, because they can change. For the full hiring process, see our guides to sponsoring a maid in Dubai and sponsoring a nanny in Dubai.

If you are hiring from a Tadbeer centre, ask for a clear written breakdown of government fees and service fees before you pay.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Cancelling before settling dues. An unresolved complaint can block the whole process.

Filing a false absconding report. It can lead to a fine and a suspended file.

Holding the worker’s passport. This creates problems for the worker and can cause trouble for you.

Skipping the MOHRE step. GDRFA expects the work permit cancellation record first.

Not telling the worker the exit date. Confusion over the grace period can lead to overstay.

Paying a flat price without a breakdown. Ask what is a government fee and what is a service charge.

Relying on outdated fees. Fees and grace periods change, so confirm them before you pay.

Checklist Before You Cancel

1. Pay all outstanding salary and agree the final settlement in writing.
2. Arrange the return ticket, or confirm the transfer to a new employer.
3. Check that there is no open complaint or absconding report.
4. Gather your passport, Emirates ID, the worker’s documents, and the contract.
5. Cancel the work permit with MOHRE.
6. Cancel the residence visa with GDRFA Dubai.
7. Keep the confirmation and share a copy with the worker.
8. Return the passport and tell the worker the exit date in writing.
9. Clear any fines before applying for a new worker.

Final Thoughts

Cancelling a maid visa in Dubai is a two-step process that is simple when you prepare. Settle what you owe, clear any complaints, cancel the work permit with MOHRE, then cancel the residence with GDRFA. Be honest in any absconding report, give the worker clear written dates, and keep your records. If your case is complicated, a Tadbeer centre or licensed PRO can save you time and avoid costly mistakes. If you want help with a visa question, you can contact our team.

Rules, fees, and grace periods change. Confirm current requirements with MOHRE, GDRFA Dubai, or a licensed Tadbeer centre before you act.