TL;DR
- Children’s visas are tied to the parent’s residency and expire when the sponsor’s visa is cancelled.
- You can place their visas on hold for 60 days, only if both visas have 3 months’ validity left.
- Parents can transfer sponsorship to a spouse meeting salary and employment criteria to keep children’s visas active.
- Overstaying leads to daily fines (AED 50) and can affect future visa approvals.
Losing a job or having your visa cancelled or expired in the UAE doesn’t automatically mean your children must withdraw from school or leave the country. While visa rules link children’s residency to their sponsoring parent’s employment status, several temporary and long-term solutions exist to help families navigate this situation. From using grace periods and holding visas to transferring sponsorship or considering alternate visa types, this guide outlines actionable options for parents to ensure their children’s education continues without interruption while both the parent’s and dependents’ residency statuses are being sorted out.
Understanding the legal and visa framework
In the UAE, a child’s residence visa is directly connected to the parent who acts as the sponsor, usually the employed parent. Once that parent’s visa is cancelled due to job loss, the child’s visa becomes invalid simultaneously, regardless of the expiry date printed on it.This link is established under Article 54(3) of Cabinet Resolution No. (65) of 2022, which mandates that the family member’s residence cannot exceed the sponsor’s residence duration. Regardless of the individual visa issuance dates, a dependent’s visa is automatically deemed invalid once the sponsor’s residence permit is cancelled or expires. After visa cancellation, the Federal Decree-Law No. (29) of 2021, particularly Article 11, requires the individual and their dependents to either leave the country or regularise their stay within a defined grace period, or face daily fines.
- Grace period: Ranges from 30 to 180 days depending on visa category; most employment-linked visas carry a 30-day grace period.
- Overstay fines: AED 50 per day, starting after the grace period ends.
Importantly, before cancelling your own visa, you must cancel the visas of any dependents under your sponsorship. However, UAE immigration allows for some temporary relief through visa holding, or transferring sponsorship to the spouse.
Your practical options to keep children in school
Once you’ve received notice of employment termination, there are three main pathways that allow your children to stay in the UAE and complete the school year:
1. Transfer sponsorship to the spouse
If the other parent (usually the mother) is legally employed in the UAE, she can apply to sponsor the children independently.Eligibility Requirements:
- Valid UAE employment visa
- Minimum salary: AED 4,000–6,000 (varies by emirate)
- Proof of accommodation (tenancy contract)
- Required documents: Salary certificate, marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates
- All non-UAE documents must be attested and translated into Arabic
This option allows the children’s visas to continue under the mother’s residency as long as her visa remains valid.
2. Request a visa hold (Up to 60 Days)
This is a temporary workaround provided by GDRFA and ICP that allows you to pause the cancellation of your children’s visas while you secure new employment and transfer your own visa. However, this option is only available with advance planning, it cannot be initiated after your visa has expired, or if your dependents’ visas have less than three months’ validity remaining.How It works:
- Submit a visa hold request to either GDRFA (Dubai) or ICP (other emirates).
- The dependent’s residence visa must have at least 3 months of validity remaining at the time of applying.
- You must provide a valid job offer letter from your prospective employer, showing salary and profession.
- Pay a refundable deposit of AED 2,500, plus a processing fee of AED 141 and any other applicable charges.
- The visa hold is granted for a maximum of 60 days from the date of application.
- During this time, your children’s visas remain valid without cancellation, giving you a window to complete your job transfer process.
Important: This process cannot be applied after your visa is cancelled or at the last minute. It’s advised to begin the hold application process at least 3 months before your own visa or your children’s visa expires.Documents required:
- Labour cancellation form from current employer
- Offer letter from new employer (from MOHRE for mainland or Free Zone authority)
- Original passport and Emirates ID of both sponsor and dependents
- Children’s current residence visas (with minimum 3-month validity)
- Marriage certificate and birth certificates (if requested for verification)
This option allows you to keep your children’s school enrollment uninterrupted while you manage your own employment transition legally and smoothly.
3. Student Visa – In rare cases
Though typically reserved for university and higher education students, a student visa may be available in rare cases for secondary school children, but only if the school is licensed to sponsor and agrees to do so and will require the institution to provide formal documentation and justification to immigration authorities. Approval is not guaranteed and is subject to the discretion of the GDRFA or ICP, depending on the emirate. If approved, the visa allows the child to stay in the UAE independently of their parent’s residency, as the sponsorship shifts from the parent to the school. However, because this process requires the student to be legally responsible for their own residency, it is generally not applicable to younger school-aged children, and approvals are uncommon.Limitations:
- Very rarely issued to school-aged children
- Requires cooperation and documentation from the educational institution
- Not a guaranteed or commonly approved route
Making the most of the grace period (Plan ahead)
After your work visa is cancelled, you’re typically granted a grace period of 30 days, during which you and your dependents can remain in the UAE legally. However, your options during this period are only viable if you’ve planned in advance, especially when it comes to retaining your children’s residency status. Here’s what you can do within or before the grace period:
- Look for a new job: If you’re hired within the grace period, your new employer can initiate a work permit and start the process to transfer your residency. Make sure your dependents’ visas remain valid in the meantime.
- Use the visa hold mechanism: If you have a confirmed job offer before your visa is cancelled, and both your visa and your children’s visas have at least three months of validity remaining, you may apply to place their visas on hold for up to 60 days. This must be done before cancellation, not during or after the grace period.
- Apply for a visit visa: If you’re unable to finalise employment or status change within the grace period, you can convert to a visit visa for yourself and your children to legally extend your stay. This option requires leaving the country temporarily in some cases, depending on the visa type.
- Explore the investor visa option: If you intend to start a business or qualify as an investor, you can apply for an investor visa and later sponsor your family under your new residency.
Important: None of these options can be fully utilised if your or your dependents’ visas have already expired or are too close to expiry. Failing to act before the grace period ends results in daily overstay fines of AED 50, and could negatively impact future visa or residency applications.
Special case – One-Year Student Visa for young adults
The UAE offers a separate one-year renewable student visa for young adults who have:
- Completed secondary school or
- Graduated from a university
- Turned 18 years old
Key Features:
- Renewable for one additional year
- No bank deposit required by parents
- Cost: AED 100 for issuance or renewal
- Requires attested graduation certificates (UAE or abroad)
Note: This visa is not applicable to school-aged children still enrolled in regular schooling, but it enables 18+ students to become their own sponsor and potentially sponsor their parents instead.
Strategic Planning Matters
If your employment in the UAE ends mid-academic year, your children’s education doesn’t have to. The country’s immigration system, while structured, offers several transitional tools:
- Transfer sponsorship to a working spouse
- Utilise the visa hold period while seeking new employmen; visas must have three months validity.
- Leverage grace periods and explore visit or investor visa options
- Consider student visas where applicable for older children
Planning your next steps immediately after job termination, by coordinating with schools, gathering documents, and staying in contact with immigration authorities, can ensure your children stay legally in the UAE and continue their studies uninterrupted.
