PRO services
Visa status change inside the UAE without leaving the country
A status change lets a person who is already in the UAE activate a new entry permit without travelling out and back. It is used by people on a visit visa and by residents whose previous residence was cancelled, for example when changing employer. The request is filed with GDRFA in Dubai or ICP in the other emirates.
At a glance Fact sheet
- Handled by
- GDRFA Dubai for Dubai sponsors, ICP in the other emirates
- Also called
- Status amendment, status adjustment or change of status
- Main conditions
- A new entry permit, and cancellation of any previous residence
- Who applies
- The new sponsor, such as the employer or the investor's own company
- What follows
- Medical fitness test, Emirates ID and residence visa
Overview
A new residence visa starts with an entry permit. Normally that permit is used by entering the country on it. If the person is already here, the immigration authority can change their status inside the UAE instead, so the new permit takes effect without a trip abroad. The status change carries its own government fee, separate from the visa fees, and the request is made by the new sponsor.
Two groups use it most. The first is people in the UAE on a visit visa who have accepted a job, set up a company or are joining family. The second is residents moving from one sponsor to another, such as an employee changing company. In that case the old sponsor cancels the previous residence first, and the status change is filed within the grace period that follows.
The status change is one link in a chain. Before it comes the entry permit and, for a mainland job, the MOHRE work permit approval. After it come the medical fitness test, the Emirates ID application and the residence visa. Whether a change inside the country is open to you depends on the visa you hold and the rules in force, so your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you before you plan around it.
How Caliph helps with a status change
No exit and re-entry to plan
Where a change inside the country is available, you stay in the UAE and carry on with your setup or handover while the file moves.
Timed around the grace period
After a residence is cancelled, the time you may stay depends on your residence category. We schedule the new permit and the change inside that window.
The old sponsor's cancellation checked
Only the previous sponsor can cancel the old residence. We review the cancellation paper before filing, since the change cannot proceed without it.
Work permit lined up for employees
For someone joining a mainland company from another employer, we arrange the MOHRE transfer permit so the labour side and the immigration side agree.
The whole chain in one pair of hands
Entry permit, status change, medical test, Emirates ID and residence are filed in sequence by the same consultant.
What to have ready
- The applicant's passport copy
- The current visit visa or entry permit, or the cancellation paper for the previous residence
- The new entry permit issued under the new sponsor
- The sponsor's passport copy and residence visa, where the sponsor is an individual
- The sponsoring company's trade licence and establishment card, where the sponsor is a company
- A passport-style photo with a white background
The authority may ask for other papers depending on nationality and visa type. Your consultant gives you the final list.
How a status change works
We check that you are eligible
Your consultant looks at your current visa, its expiry date and the type of residence you are moving to.
Any previous residence is cancelled
If you are changing sponsor, the old sponsor cancels the residence, and for an employee the work permit too, and hands you the cancellation paper.
The new entry permit is issued
The new sponsor applies for the entry permit. For a mainland job the MOHRE work permit approval comes first.
The status change is filed
We submit the request through the GDRFA Dubai or ICP smart services or an approved service centre, and the government fee is paid.
Medical test and Emirates ID
With the new status active, you complete the medical fitness test and the Emirates ID application.
The residence visa is issued
The immigration authority issues the residence, and your new Emirates ID follows.
Good to know
- Do not start work on a visit visa. Working before the work permit and the correct visa status are in place is illegal for both the employee and the employer.
- Overstaying a visit visa or a grace period leads to daily fines, and those have to be settled as part of the file.
- If a change inside the country is not available in your case, the alternative is to leave and enter again on the new entry permit. We tell you which route applies.
Questions people ask
Can I change from a visit visa to a residence visa without leaving the UAE?
In many cases, yes. Once a sponsor has obtained a new entry permit for you, the immigration authority can change your status inside the country, and you then complete the medical test, Emirates ID and residence. Availability depends on your visa type and the current rules, which your consultant checks first.
What is the difference between a status change and a new visa?
The entry permit is the new visa. The status change is the separate request that activates that permit while you are still in the UAE, in place of leaving and entering again. You need both, and the residence visa is then issued on the strength of them.
Do I have to cancel my old residence visa before changing sponsor?
Yes. The immigration authority requires the previous residence to be cancelled before a status change to a new sponsor. Only the current sponsor can cancel it. For employees, the employer first cancels the work permit and contract with MOHRE, with the employee's signature, and then the residence.
How long can I stay in the UAE after my residence is cancelled?
You receive a grace period, and its length depends on your residence category. The new entry permit and the status change should be completed inside that period. Staying beyond it brings daily overstay fines, so tell your consultant the cancellation date as early as you can.
Can I work while my status change is being processed?
No. A person may not work for a mainland company until the MOHRE work permit has been issued and their visa status is correct. Working on a visit or tourist visa exposes both the worker and the employer to penalties, so wait for the permit.
Who applies for the status change, me or my sponsor?
The new sponsor applies. For an employee that is the hiring company, for an investor it is the investor's own company, and for a family member it is the relative who sponsors them. Caliph files the request on the sponsor's behalf through the official channels.
- General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai
- Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security
- UAE Government portal, general provisions for the residence visa
Reviewed by Caliph Business Solutions on . Rules differ by activity and by authority. Your Caliph consultant confirms what applies to you.
Ready to establish your company in the UAE?
Book a free consultation. Tell us what you want to open and we come back with the route, the documents and the cost.
- VisitHapag-Lloyd Building, Port Saeed, Deira, Dubai. P.O. Box 8070
Open in Google Maps