When you move from one job to another in Dubai and your family members are on your sponsorship, cancelling and reissuing their visas can be costly and complicated. There is a simpler option: you can suspend — or "put on hold" — your dependants' visas while your new employment visa is being processed. Here's everything you need to know about how to suspend dependants' visas in Dubai when changing jobs, including the eligibility rules, required documents, and fees.
Who Can Use the Dependant Visa Suspension Option?
The hold service is available to expatriate residents in Dubai who are transferring employment from one employer to another and who personally sponsor their family members. Eligible dependants typically include a spouse, unmarried daughters, and sons under the age of 25.
The key eligibility condition: the dependant's UAE residence visa must have a minimum validity of at least three months at the time the hold is applied.
How Long Can a Dependant Visa Be Suspended?
The suspension period is capped at 60 days. New employment authorisation must be obtained before the 60-day window closes, or the hold will lapse. Dependants are strongly advised to remain inside the UAE during the suspension period.
Required Documents to Suspend Dependants' Visas in Dubai
To apply for the visa hold, you will need to submit the following documents:
- Sponsor's original Emirates ID and a copy of their passport - Sponsor's passport copy - Current visa copy for each dependant - Dependants' passport copies - New employer's offer letter, including salary and job title details - Sponsor's IBAN (bank account number) - Visa cancellation application form
The offer letter from the new employer is a mandatory requirement — the GDRFA uses it to confirm that the sponsor is genuinely in an employment transition.
Costs and Fees
The cost to suspend dependants' visas in Dubai is structured as follows:
- AED 300 for the first dependant - AED 100 for each additional dependant - Per-visa travel fees also apply - A refundable deposit of AED 5,000 is required to cover up to five dependants for the duration of the hold
The AED 5,000 deposit is returned once the new employment visa is confirmed and the hold is lifted.
Why Use the Visa Hold Instead of Cancelling?
Suspending your dependants' visas rather than cancelling them eliminates the need to apply for entirely new residence visas for your family. It saves both time and money, and allows your family to remain legally resident in the UAE throughout your job transition — without the expense and paperwork of a full cancellation and reissuance process.
