Visa Transfer and Job Change in UAE

A visa transfer in the UAE, also called a job change or sponsor transfer, moves your residence from your old employer to a new one, usually without leaving the country. The old work permit, the new work permit, the residence and the Emirates ID must line up, and your family's visas follow yours. Wordcraft plans the order with your new employer and files each step within your grace period.

When You Can Move Employers

• At the end of your contract: the most common case.
• After serving your notice: when you resign under the terms of your contract and the labour law.
• By mutual agreement: when your employer agrees to release you early.
• Other cases allowed by law: for example where the employer has not met its obligations; these are decided by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).

Before you resign, check your final settlement and whether any complaint or case is open on your file, since both affect how quickly the new permit can be issued. We review your situation before you sign anything.

The Right Order: Step by Step

1. New job offer: your new employer issues an offer, and for mainland companies a MOHRE offer letter is signed.
2. Old permit: your current employer cancels your work permit (or it is transferred, where MOHRE's transfer route applies) and then your residence.
3. New work permit: the new employer applies for your MOHRE work permit (or free zone permit).
4. Status change: your new entry permit is activated inside the country through a status change, so you do not need to leave.
5. Medical and Emirates ID: the medical test (where required) and biometrics are completed.
6. New residence: your residence is issued under the new sponsor, and your Emirates ID is updated.

Timings are confirmed in your quote. If there is a gap between the cancellation and the new permit, the grace period applies; see our guide to the grace period after visa cancellation.

Mainland, Free Zone and Between the Two

• Mainland to mainland: MOHRE handles both permits; the residence moves through GDRFA (Dubai) or ICP (other emirates).
• Free zone to free zone: each free zone authority issues its own permit, so the old visa is cancelled and a new one issued, usually with a status change.
• Free zone to mainland, or mainland to free zone: the old visa is cancelled and a new work permit and visa issued under the new authority.

Our employment visa page explains the new employer's side in more detail.

Moving Your Family's Visas With You

Your spouse's and children's visas are linked to your residence file. Depending on the route, they may stay valid until expiry, need to be re-linked to your new residence, or need to be renewed under it, and in some cases they must be cancelled before your own visa. We check your family's files at the start so no one loses status, and we renew their visas under your new residence when it is issued. See family visa for the documents.

Documents for a Job Change

• Passport, current residence and Emirates ID
• New job offer and signed MOHRE offer letter (mainland)
• Cancellation documents from your old employer, or the transfer approval
• Attested degree certificate if your new job title requires one
• Photo meeting the ICP/GDRFA specification
• Family members' passports, visas and Emirates IDs

If you are leaving rather than moving, see visa cancellation. Wordcraft prepares and submits applications to MOHRE, GDRFA and ICP on your behalf; we are not the authority, and approval decisions are made by them.

Work permit and job-change rules are published by MOHRE; the residence side sits with ICP or GDRFA Dubai.

Last checked: 29 September 2026 against MOHRE guidance on changing employers.

Frequently Asked Questions