How to Put Family Visa on Hold When Changing Jobs in the UAE 2026: ICP Guide
I sat across from an immigration consultant at the Amer Center in Al Kifaf on a Wednesday morning, holding passports for my spouse and two children. My previous employer had just initiated my labour cancellation, and like thousands of UAE residents moving between companies every month, my biggest fear was having to cancel dependent visas, disrupt school registrations, and pay unnecessary re-application fees.
Putting dependent visas on hold rather than cancelling them is one of the most practical yet misunderstood provisions in UAE immigration law. By lodging a refundable security deposit with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, you can freeze your dependents residency for up to 60 days while your new work permit and residency are finalized.
At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
Refundable deposit | AED 2,500 per dependent |
Hold window | Up to 60 days |
Service fee | AED 100 to AED 150 |
Where to apply | ICP portal and Amer typing centres |
Eligibility | New offer letter or work permit |
Understanding the UAE Family Visa Hold Process in 2026
Under standard UAE immigration regulations, cancelling a primary sponsor employment residency automatically initiates the cancellation of all sponsored dependents within 30 days. To prevent this disruption during a job change, immigration authorities permit sponsors to place dependent residencies on temporary hold. This administrative freeze keeps your family residence permits valid on system records, ensuring that basic services such as local bank accounts, domestic health insurance policies, and school enrolments remain active throughout the corporate transition.
The service applies across all seven emirates, managed either through ICP for Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah, or via GDRFA for Dubai residence visa holders. Placing visas on hold avoids the steep costs of fresh entry permits, medical fitness tests, and Emirates ID card replacements for every family member.
The 60-Day Temporary Window
Immigration rules provide a strict window of up to 60 days from the date the hold request is approved. During this timeframe, your new employer must finalize your Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation work permit, issue your new electronic entry permit, and stamp your primary residency so the dependent hold can be released.
Protection from School and Tenancy Disruptions
Because the dependent Emirates IDs are not cancelled in the central immigration database, school portals and landlord Ejari databases do not register an expired residency status. This prevents school administration desks from flagging student files during mid-term transitions.
Freezing visas protects your family from the 30-day exit countdown while HR processes your new employment contract.
Deposit Amounts, Processing Fees, and Financial Comparison
The financial mechanics of the visa hold system hinge on a mandatory refundable guarantee deposit. In Dubai, GDRFA requires a refundable security deposit of AED 2,500 per dependent, alongside a non-refundable administrative processing fee of approximately AED 120. In the northern emirates and Abu Dhabi, ICP levies a similar refundable guarantee of AED 2,500 per person plus nominal platform service charges.
While depositing AED 5,000 for two children requires upfront liquidity, it represents substantial savings compared to the outright cancellation and re-issuance route. When you cancel and re-apply, you incur new entry permits at AED 500 each, VIP medical tests at AED 700 each, and new five-year Emirates IDs at AED 370 each.
Process Route | Initial Outlay | Net Cost |
|---|---|---|
Visa on Hold | AED 2,650 | AED 150 net |
Cancellation | AED 1,800 | AED 1,800 lost |
Document Checklist for ICP and GDRFA Applications
Preparing the correct documentation before visiting an Amer centre or logging into the digital portal prevents delays that could jeopardize your 30-day grace period. Both your previous company HR team and your prospective employer must provide formal paperwork before the hold can be submitted.
Applications must be submitted after your old employer initiates your labour contract cancellation but before your individual residency visa is stamped with a final exit or transfer code. Gathering digital copies of all contracts on your mobile device expedites verification at customer happiness counters.
Original passport and Emirates ID of the sponsor
Passports and Emirates IDs of all dependents to be placed on hold
MOHRE labour cancellation receipt from current employer
Official job offer letter or electronic work permit from the new employer
Valid tenancy contract or Ejari registered in the sponsors name
Credit or debit card to pay the refundable deposit
Ensure your new employer signs their electronic job offer letter before your current company uploads your final cancellation form.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Place Visas on Hold
Executing the visa hold requires precise sequencing between your old company, your new employer, and the immigration authorities. Missing a step can lead to automatic dependent visa cancellation or system error codes.
Follow this chronological procedure to ensure your family visas are safely locked into the hold status before your personal sponsorship changes.
Obtain an official electronic job offer or new work permit from your new company
Request your current employer to submit your labour cancellation to MOHRE
Visit an authorized Amer centre in Dubai or log into the ICP smart portal
Submit the dependent visa hold request and pay the AED 2,500 refundable deposit per dependent
Receive the official hold certificate and clearance receipt via email
Complete your new company visa stamping within the permitted 60-day window
How to Release the Hold and Claim Your Refund
Once your new residence visa is successfully issued and your new Emirates ID card status is activated, you must formally close the hold loop. The security deposit is not returned automatically upon visa issuance; the sponsor must initiate a deposit refund application through the same channel where the hold was registered.
In Dubai, return to an Amer centre or open the GDRFA smart application and select the refund service under financial guarantees. Provide your original deposit transaction reference number and your international bank account number (IBAN). The funds are transferred directly into your UAE bank account within seven to 14 business days.
Submitting the IBAN Refund Request
Ensure that the bank account name matches the sponsors passport name exactly. If there is a slight discrepancy in middle names or corporate payroll accounts, the automated clearance gateway may flag the transfer, requiring in-person counter verification.
Re-linking Dependent Files to the New Visa
Once the hold is released, the immigration system automatically updates the dependents master file to reflect your new sponsor file number, ensuring continuity on all unified identity records.
Save the original deposit receipt PDF securely in cloud storage because the reference code is required to trigger your IBAN refund.
Official Verification: Government Gateways and Contact Channels
Navigating immigration procedures in the UAE is simplest when using verified federal portals. Federal residency protocols on the ICP portal allow residents of the northern emirates and Abu Dhabi to track active guarantees online. Dubai residency transfers handled by the GDRFA Dubai platform provide real-time updates on active visa hold files.
Expat relocation guidance published on the UAE Government Portal outlines comprehensive worker mobility frameworks across the federation. Public security and identity validation supervised by the Dubai Police safeguards digital financial transactions across government payment channels. Official immigration policy updates issued through the Emirates News Agency continue to emphasize streamlined digital services for skilled expatriates. Commuter mobility managed by RTA Dubai facilitates smooth travel between typing centres and government customer happiness offices.
FAQ
Can I travel outside the UAE while my family visa is on hold?
Dependents whose visas are placed on hold should not travel outside the UAE during the 60-day freeze period. Leaving the country while their residency is temporarily locked can cause entry permit discrepancies or lead to automatic cancellation of the residency file at immigration border control.
What happens if my new employer takes longer than 60 days to issue my visa?
If your new employment visa is not finalized within the 60-day window, the immigration department may forfeit the AED 2,500 security deposit per dependent. You must then either apply for an exceptional extension at a main immigration headquarters or immediately cancel the dependents to avoid overstay fines.
Can a mother sponsor place her children visas on hold when changing jobs?
Yes, female sponsors who hold valid residency and earn the qualifying salary threshold of AED 4,000 or AED 3,500 plus company accommodation can utilize the same visa hold facility through ICP or GDRFA when changing employers.
How long does it take for the AED 2,500 deposit to be refunded?
Once your new residence visa is stamped and you submit the deposit release request with your valid UAE IBAN, funds are credited back to your bank account within seven to 14 working days, depending on your commercial banks processing cycle.
Useful Links
ICP — track federal residency and deposit guarantees
GDRFA Dubai — manage Dubai residency files and holds
UAE Government Portal — verify official worker mobility regulations
Dubai Police — check electronic identity verification standards
Emirates News Agency — read official immigration policy announcements
RTA Dubai — plan routes to customer happiness centres
Pair It With
— Angel Tyagi, Creator of Angel In Dubai
Prices, timings and availability may change — always check directly with the venue before visiting. Not sponsored.
Story lead: Emirates 24|7. Reporting can be updated or withdrawn after publication — always check the original before relying on anything here.
Rules, fees and deadlines change often. This is a general summary, not legal advice — confirm with the relevant UAE authority before acting.
Photo by Amer Centre Dubai: Visa Services, Locations, Contact & Timings via web, Photo by Icp via web
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