How can you keep your family visa hold in UAE?
If you are planning to move jobs, transfer your visa from one sponsor to another having your family under your sponsorship, you do not need to worry. The UAE’s immigration authorities have provided the option of a hold service where you can keep your family visa hold until you transfer your visa from your existing sponsor to the new sponsor. Individuals interested in changing their UAE residence visa from one sponsoring entity to another can now do so via ‘hold service’ in the UAE immigration authorities.
The visa can be put on hold for a maximum of 60 days. You can keep the family visa hold service only on the emirate you are living in.
A family sponsor can tell the authorities that he or she does not want to cancel the family’s visa, but would prefer to put it on hold instead, while he or she changes sponsors for work, using the service.
To find out more about family visa hold or dependent visa hold process please consult the provided guide.
Applying for the Family Visa Hold service in UAE
You can apply for family visa hold service through:
- visiting an Amer service center in Dubai or
- the service center of the Federal Authority for Identity and citizenship (ICA) in any other emirate.
Procedures for Family Visa Hold in UAE
The procedure is simple. To keep the family visa hold you may follow the below steps:
- Step 1: Your labor card needs to be canceled by your existing employer.
- Step 2: Visit an Amer centre or an ICA customer happiness centre and place in the request for putting your family visa on hold.
- Step 3: Cancel your existing employment visa.
- Step 4: Send the cancellation request to your new employer and Request to process your new residence visa application
- Step 5: Once it is stamped, you can remove the hold on your family’s visa.
Once you submit your new residence visa copy to the Amer or ICA center The deposit amount will then be refunded.
Documents required to Family Visa Hold in UAE
If you are transferring sponsorship between a mainland company to another mainland company, these are the documents you would need to submit for family visa hold procedure:
- Holding application
- Labour cancellation documents from current employer
- New company offer letter from MOHRE (salary and profession)
- Sponsor and dependents’ original passport & Original Emirates ID
If you are transferring sponsorship between a free zone to mainland these are the documents you need to submit for family visa hold procedure:
- Holding application
- End of service document
- New company offer letter from MOHRE
- Sponsor and dependents’ original Passport
If you are transferring sponsorship between a free zone to free zone these are the documents you need to submit for family visa hold procedure:
- End of service letter from Free Zone authority.
- Job offer letter from new company.
The residence visa for the sponsored should have a minimum validity of 3 months
The visa can be put on hold for a maximum of 60 days.
Fees for keeping your Family Visa Hold
You need to pay the below fees while keeping your family visa hold:
- Holding application – Dh75
- Refundable deposit – Dh2,500
- Each passport’s holding fee – Dh141
If the hold is lifted before 60 days, the deposit amount will be refunded. Otherwise, the amount will be lost. A security deposit is not required when holding the visas of family members of Golden Visa holders.
Clear family visa hold and Refund Procedure:
- Show your new labour contract and New employment visa stamped on your passport to the Immigration Authority.
- Provide your original deposit receipt to the refund counter
- Get No Objection for refund seal from the counter
- Visit the Dubai Commercial Bank pay the commission and get your refund back
Travel during the family visa hold process
The dependent visa must be valid for at least 6 months to have them put on hold. Family members whose visa are on hold are not able to travel during the new visa process of their sponsor and it is required for dependents to be in the country during the process.
You cannot hold family visa if they are out of the UAE on vacation.
FAQ-Frequently Asked Questions on Family Visa Hold in Dubai, UAE
Can we hold family visa in UAE?
An expatriate who is having a valid residence visa in UAE can hold their family visa while changing the job provided he or she has an offer from another company.
Can I travel while my visa is on hold?
To hold the visa the dependent must be inside the country for the process. You cannot hold family visa if they are out of the UAE on vacation. Also, They will not be able travel once the visa has been put on hold.
How can I Unhold family visa in UAE?
Once you have your new residence visa stamp on your passport through your new employer you can visit any of the Amer Centre or ICA Customer happiness centre and ask for unhold family visa and request for the deposit amount.
How long can you hold family visa in Dubai?
Family Visa Hold can be for a maximum period of 60 days
Can you put your family visa on hold if you are switching jobs between Emirates?
No, you can not put your family visa on hold while switching jobs between Emirates. However, you can avail the service only on the emirate you are living in.
Where can I go to apply for the family visa hold service?
You can apply the service through:
Amer service center in Dubai
The service center of the Federal Authority for Identity and citizenship (ICA) in any other emirate
How do I get my refund back for family visa hold?
Show your new labour contract and New employment visa stamped on your passport along with the deposit receipt to the Immigration Authority
Get No Objection for refund seal from the counter
Visit the Dubai Commercial Bank pay the commission and get your refund back
107 thoughts on “How To Keep Family Visa Hold While Changing Your Job in UAE?”
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Recent Posts
Complete Guide to UAE Corporate Tax 2023: Updates, Implications, and Strategies
UAE Corporate Tax - A Basic Starting Guide! The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Finance (Ministry) has recently announced a Federal Corporate Tax on business profits for the first time in...
GCC Residents: Apply for UAE Entry Permit in 6 Simple Steps | GDRFA Online Service
A Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for a UAE Entry Permit for GCC Residents The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai has launched an online service for residents...
Hi, my labor card and employment visa was cancelled same time, can I still go to Amer to hold my family visa? or should my labor card first then hold then employment visa? Thank you
Hi, the labor card and employment visa are typically linked, and the cancellation of one usually leads to the cancellation of the other.In my opinion you still can go to Amer Centre to hold your family visa, however, it is advisable to contact Amer to get accurate and up-to-date information on your specific situation.
Dear Deena,
Can you Please share some experience more. if someone apply for visa hold online there is anyway website or application to put the visa on hold for family. second thing- the Amer center is asking for previous labor contract or should be only new offer letter. appreciated for your assitance.
Hi, Normally they ask for job offer letter from your new company. May be the process has been changed by now.
Its the Ministry of Labour issued offer letter of the new company.
What is process for put visa on hold in Jafza.
Is company offer letter is ok
To put a visa on hold in Jafza (Jebel Ali Free Zone), you may be asked to provide the passport and visa copy along with the contract or offer letter.
Hi, holding of visa in Abu Dhabi is also 60 days? I can’t find any website confirming this so I wanted to ask. Thanks!
Hi, as far as i know it is 60 days however you may check with the immigration on this.
Hi, I want to hold my family visa in Abu Dhabi, can my family travel back to home country during holding period. Or is there any other option like if they are in home country and I can apply for holding of their visas.
Please reply if someone have experienced the same situation.
Hi, During the process they wont be able to travel. They need to be inside the country.
Is it possible to hold the visa when they are not in UAE. Visa remaining is 23 months
Hi, they need to be inside the country. However, you may check with the immigration on this.
currently, I have a visa in Dubai Emirates and moving to Abu Dhabi Emirates ( New Company). Is it possible to Hold my son’s visa for my Visa cancellation and renewal process
Hi , Since it is a different Emirate I would suggest you to check with the immigration directly.
How much deposit money is required for visa holding in Sharjah?Â
Hi As far as I know it is AED 2500, however you may check with the immigration directly.
Its 5000 now.
Hi Deena,
I asked Amer Center to reconfirm their fees to put the family visas on hold and they have quoted the following:
Deposit is 5000aed, service charge is 100ae and per passport holding is 100aed
However as per the above it is mentioned 2500aed?
When I challenged Amer Center they said these are the revised fees (5000).
Can you advise on this?
Hello Deena,
I have applied for Family visa holding last october 5, 2022 (wife & son) and deposit 2500 AED, they said i have only 60 days to process my new visa and to unhold my family visa, there was a delayed canceling my previous visa from my old employer & delayed in processing my new visa in the new employer, 60 days period will be finish on December 5, 2022, is there any possible way i can extend the holding and get my deposit when my new visa is successfully processed.
Thank you so much in advanced.
Mark
Hi, I would suggest you to contact the respective visa holding department for this.
HELLO DEENA, GOOD AFTERNOON, FAIMLY VISA HOLDING TIME 60 DAYS ?
Hi as far as i know it is 60 days however it is better to complete the new visa process at the earliest.
Hi,
Is the Emirates ID of the family member still valid whilst on hold? Can they still do regular things that require an Emirates ID, for example, anything RTA-related that requires you to bring an Emirates ID?
Hi, since the visas are not cancelled , as far as i know it is still valid
Hi,
i was working in mainland and now got a job offer from freezone. what is the procedure to hold my dependant’s visa without cancellation and to move to my new visa.
Hi, You need to visit the Amer service center in Dubai or the service center of the Federal Authority for Identity and citizenship (ICA) in any other emirate
hello, what if during the process i received a better job offer while I keeping my dependents visa on hold. Is it possible if I can get my refund even if I submit the initial job offer to the immigration?
Hi As far as I know you will get your refund only after your visa stamping
how many days for the refund of deposit will be released
Hi, as far as i know the refund amount will be released as soon as you submit the required documents.
Hi , thanks for your replies. I have a query , my daughter is dependent under my sponsorship. Her visa is valid until 2024. She is studying in uk and comes every six to one year to dubai. I am now planning to change jobs , my daughter cannot come into country during my employment visa change . Do i need to cancel her visa before i proceed with change of my job visa. Or can i make her visa onhold.
Hi , Thankyou for previous reply. One more question. My daughter is under my sponsorship with valid visa until 2024. But she is study in UK and comes every six to -one year to dubai ( due to relaxed rules for students). She cant come into the country when i change my employment visa. Can I still make her visa on hold or I need to cancel her visa before i cancel my old employment visa for job change.
Hi i don’t think you can hold her visa while she is out of country. However , you may please check this with visa holding authority.
Hi,
How much fees for hold wife visa, i will change my company and what kind of documents required.
Hi, You need to pay the below fees while keeping your family visa hold:
Holding application – Dh75
Refundable deposit – Dh2,500
Each passport’s holding fee – Dh141
If you are transferring sponsorship between a mainland company to another mainland company, these are the documents you would need to submit for family visa hold procedure:
Holding application
Labour cancellation documents from current employer
New company offer letter from MOHRE (salary and profession)
Sponsor and dependents’ original passport & Original Emirates ID
Hi, Thanks for your previous reply. Just one more question. My daughter is dependent under my sponsorship , but she is studying abroad in UK. her visa is valid till 2024. She comes every six or one year ( due to relaxed rules of student studying abroad.) She cannot come into the country at present. Can i still make her visa on hold when i change my employment visa or I need to cancel her visa before I can cancel my old employment visa.
The rule keeps changing so I am confused. Thank for your answers.
Hi , i am going to change job , but havent canceled my employment visa yet . When my dependent ( my mother) went on emergency short trip india, I accidentally applied for dependent visa onhold . The application got approved in one day. My mother is coming back in two days time. Will she be allowed to enter Dubai. Or do i need to cancel the onhold application in gdrfa. I approached them on same day application got approved , but they informed in system visa is not showing onhold so cannot cancel application. Please advise.
Hi, i think she will be allowed to enter as you have already got the confirmation from the concerned authority that it is not showing in the system. However i may suggest you to check again with them.
Hi, I feel she will be allowed to enter as you have already got the confirmation of not showing in the system, However i would suggest you to check again with them.
Hi
I have a residence visa but my profession on the visa is not an actual work profession under my residence visa I sponsor my Daughter, Now I request the company to change the job title of my visa but the same company Do I need to apply for the visa on Hold on dependent?
thank you
Hi, the process of changing your designation on your residence visa does not affect your dependent visa.
Hi my family went to home country in emergency and during there stay I got a chance to change my employer. I hold their VISA as the validity of their Residency is more than 20 months. Now my Contract and Emirates ID has been approved and left with Medical and Visa Application then Visa Stamping. Is there anyway that I can bring my family at this stage without waiting any further or any certain step is necessary before entering UAE.
Hi, in my opinion to hold the visa they need to be inside the country. However, you may check on this with immigration. And also to unhold the visa you need to have the visa stamping done.
Hi, my family was in home country and i got the job. Since they couldn`t come due to some reasons my Visa is cancelled from previous employee and EID Application is approved already. By when can i bring my family back to UAE. Is there any way that they can come during hold?
I’m on Dubai mainland visa and is valid more than a year i got job offer from Dubai freezone company. Can i hold my family visa which has more than 6 month of expiry?
I have my kids visa on hold thru a typing center, they agent informed me i have only 30days to arrange my new visa. Today is the 30th day since I deposited. However, my new visa will be release only if not today tomorrow. Can I still have the depsoit refunded?
Hi, i dont think there will be any issue in getting back of deposit provided you pay the required fine.
its 60 days time
In case of any penalty on your visa, you will be paying this, much before the stamping gets complete.
So while releasing hold, you will get full refund.
TIP : Dont use the credit/debit card, as they might charge additional 150-300 AED. Recommended to use cash for this service.
Hi, my visa is finished last week but my visa is not cancelled yet. I got an offer from another company. Is it possible to hold my family’s visa. My family’s visa have validity of 20 months more.
Hi In this case please contact the immigration and explain your case. May be it is possible since you already have a offer from other company.
Hi Deena,
my visa is finished on 5/12/2022, but my visa is not cancelled yet. I got an offer from another company in Abu dhabi. Is it possible to hold my family’s visa. My family’s visa have validity of 23 months more.
Hi Shabin
have you contacted AD Immigration ? if yes what they have replied to your quarry.
Hi Shabin,
i have same problem, my visa expired on 5/12/2022 and i got new job offer within abu dhabi, and my family’s visa have validity of 23months, and i tried to apply from typing centre for family’s visa hold, but it gives some error massage like ” THIS PROCEDURE CANNOT BE APPLIED FOR, PLEASE CHECK RESIDANCE FILE NUMBER”
so have contacted AD immigration ? if yes what they replied ?
Dear Deena
Can you guide me for my above mentioned problem.
because some one told me that if your visa is expired than you can not put hold on your family’s visa.
so is it true or AD Immigration can help for some exceptional case ? please guide urgently.
I need to take quick action.
Hi, as far as i know since the sponsor visa is expired it may not be possible for you to keep the visa on hold. you need to contact the immigration on this.
i got new job in Mainland, Currently in FREEZONE., How can I put Family visa on Hold and what documents are required from My new Employer & the current one. I am still serving the notice period.
First request your new employer to provide you with the Arabic typed job offer, typed from Tasjeel to hold your visa on hold. Proceed to the immigration with the Sponsor original passport, dependant original passport and Deposit amount and NOC to be typed in Immigration office.
My family visa on hold due to change in current job. Now they went in India. Can they come back without any problem.
Hi, Hopefully is should be ok , otherwise they would have not allowed to go.
Hi
I need to hold my family Visa ,and need to change my visa to new employer is it possible?if waht is the cost?and how many days authority will hold familys visa.
Hi, It may be possible . The deposit you may need to keep as mentioned in this article. The duration is for maximum 6o days.
I hold my family visa and changed my Job, my new visa is stamped now but the procedure took more than 60 days, now how to release the hold and get the refund. My visa is stamped yesterday only.
Hi, You may consult immigration on this and I dont think there will be any issues.
Hi Dhaval, i have the same issue as yours. Were you able to get a refund. Mine also exceeded 60 days. I didn’t know that there is a 60 days limit.
Hello. What does the ‘the dependent visa must be valid for 6 months’ mean? Does this mean your sponsors need to have at least 6 months left on their current visas in order to be frozen? Or does it mean they need to have spent at least 6 months here on their visa? If they do not have 6 months left, what do you do? Thank you
Hi, the family visa must be valid for 6 months this means the validity of the residence should not be less than 6 months while keeping the visa on hold
Hi Deena,
I have visited several Amer Service centers & some has mentioned original dependent passport required while others mentioned not required anymore. Which one is correct? Because my dependent passport is currently sent outside the country for renewal
Hi as far as I know they need original passport of the dependent.
What if the original visa holder puts the visa on hold but then fails to get another job? Can they just cancel the visas within 60 days and stil get the refund? Does the holding process also apply to dependent’s like your Nanny’s/maid’s visas as well as spouse/children?
Hi, as far as I know person can hold the visa only if he or she is sure of the new employment.
Hi, can you please confirm within how many days we need to remove visa hold in Abu Dhabi, any website where we can check this information.
Hi , as far as I know you may keep the visa on hold for maximum 60 days.
After holding visa, can we cancel it incase I didn’t get new job. Will I get refund ?
Hi , as far as i know to keep the visa on hold you need to show your cancellation from your current employer and employment contract from your new employer.
Hi, I need to put dependents visa on hold . Do I need to put their visa on hold after my visa cancellation or before. Please advise.
Hi, you need to put your visa hold before you proceed for.your visa cancellation process.
But for dependents visa hold I need to share my labour cancellation cards which I think will be received only after my visa cancellation, Can I put dependents visa on hold after my visa cancellation.
Hi, you need to cancel your labour card before the visa cancellation process
I have UMM AL QUWAIN visa and I sponsored my wife and one child and now I have to change my visa to SHARJAH so can i put my family visa on hold
Hi, I would suggest you to check with the Sharjah Immigration on this.
i want hold visa of my wife and 3 children , Each person need to deposit 2500 aed and other amount is also separately.
can you clear please.
Hi, the amount mentioned is for per person.
as i know deposit 2500 is one time only, and the 100 per head
My current designation is office supervisor and now I’m changing my visa to another company and my new designation is Partner Visa, Please confirm the charges and any additional documents for Partner Visa to hold a family visa.
Hi since you are changing the visa from company to Partner visa I would suggest you to check with immigration on this
Hi, My Employment Visa is from Fujairah freezone, So myself and my family has 3 years visa, which is still valid for 2.5 years. If I resign and cancel my visa, and register my own company and get the investor / general Visa from my own company in fujairah freezone iteself, So this this Scenario, is it possible to put on Hold my families’ visa during my visa transition ?
Please guide.
Hi , I would suggest you to check this with respective free zone authority.
Hai,
For Abu Dhabi visa holders currently, can hold family visas for 60 days or else 30 days ??
Hi As far as I know it should be 60 days, however, you may check with the immigration.
hi, presently I am working in Ajman emirate and my new employment is in Sharjah emirate and I want to put the visas of my family on hold.
is it possible to hold the visas of the family if my new visa is in another emirate?
Hi, since it is a different emirate it may not be possible , however you may please check with your new company PRO on this matter.
If I change jobs but my family is on holiday visiting family abroad, can I put their visas on hold when they get back and ask my former employer to hold my visa until I’m ready to get the visa with the new employer (let’s say the time period is a month).
Hi, As far as I know your family must be inside UAE to hold the residence visa.
How long the process of Holding Visa? Its been 1 week and still showing in process online. How long to recieve a payment request message?
Hi, first your labour card needs to be cancelled by your current employer.
Have you received the payment request message already and how long did it take? I’m also waiting for the same. thanks
Hi you should receive the payment receipt for the amount paid
Hi,
I am changing my job from mainland to freezone and my family is on my sponsership , can I hold my family visa
Hi, I believe it is possible. However, you may check with the freezone authority or the HR on this.
How I can get mohre typed offer letter, because about this my new employer said, can be given only when new visa is applied after existing visa cancellation.
Please help
Hi, you will be able to get the Ministry of Labour contract only when your new employer apply for your new visa.
hi
Do you know if the family member can travel if their visa are on hold during the process of having the new Visa with the new company?
thanks in advance
regards
Hi, I am not sure if they can travel during the process of having new visa.
Family visa changing From ras al khaima to abudabi its possible?
Hi, as far as I know if the visa is from different Emirate, i believe you need to first cancel it. In any case you may check with the immigration on this.
My client would like to hold his family in order to change his employer. Can this be done at an Amer center or they have to do the holding at the immigration itself? The sponsored are Wife, Child, Mother and House Maid. Is the Mother and Maid also entitled for visa hold? Please advice.
Hi, in my opinion sponsor need to visit the immigration office personally.