Can I Cancel My Dubai Visitor Visa?

You have not entered the UAE yet

Yes, you can cancel. Contact the agency or sponsor that processed your visa and request cancellation. The cancellation fee is approximately AED 150. The original visa fee is not refunded. Your visa is then voided before use.
You entered on a single-entry visitor visa and have now exited the UAE
No cancellation needed or possible. A single-entry UAE visitor visa becomes automatically invalid the moment you exit the UAE. There is nothing to cancel. If you wish to return, apply for a new UAE tourist visit visa.

You entered on a multiple-entry visitor visa and have exited the UAE

You must cancel if you do not intend to return. A multiple-entry visa remains valid for re-entry after you exit, until it reaches its expiry date. To prevent further use, contact the agency or sponsor to formally cancel it after your exit.
You are inside the UAE and your employer is processing a residency or work visa for you

This is a status change, not a cancellation. You apply to change your status from tourist/visitor to resident without leaving the UAE. This is called a tourist-to-residence status change or in-country visa change. Your visitor visa is converted : not cancelled. You do not need to exit the country for this process.

You are inside the UAE on a visitor visa and wish to exit, then return on a new visa

No cancellation needed before you exit. Simply exit the UAE. If your visa is single-entry, it becomes invalid on exit automatically. If it is multiple-entry, it remains valid unless you cancel it. Apply for a fresh UAE visit visa before re-entering if needed.

Formal cancellation (paying the AED 150 fee through the sponsor) is only strictly necessary in two situations:

• Before entry : you have a valid unused visa and no longer intend to travel.
• After exit on a multiple-entry visa : to prevent the visa from being used for re-entry.

In all other situations, the visa either becomes invalid automatically (single-entry after exit) or is handled through a status change process (residency conversion inside the UAE).

• Applicant's original passport
• Sponsor's original Emirates ID
• Completed cancellation form signed by the sponsor

1. Go to smartservices.ica.gov.ae
2. Click Passport Information
3. Enter your passport number, expiry date and nationality
4. Complete the CAPTCHA and click Search : your visa status is shown in the results

If you are still inside the UAE and your visitor visa is running out, you have two options before the expiry date:

• Apply for a UAE tourist visa extension from inside the country : no exit required, available in 30-day increments.
• Exit and re-enter on a new UAE tourist visa : apply before re-entering.

No grace period since October 2024. Overstay fines begin from AED 50 per day from the first day after your visa expires. Act before expiry, not after.