An employer who will not cancel a worker's permit can leave that worker stuck, unable to start a new job or leave cleanly. The good news is that UAE law does not make the worker wait indefinitely. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) can cancel a work permit without the employer's consent. The procedure is written down, with fixed timings.

It sits in Article 5 of Ministerial Resolution 47 of 2022, issued under Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021. This guide explains how the worker asks MoHRE to cancel and what MoHRE does next. It sets out the situations in which MoHRE postpones the decision. It then covers exactly what the worker must do once the permit is cancelled.

Why a refusal matters so much

While the old work permit stays active, a new employer usually cannot obtain a permit for the same worker. The worker's residence also stays tied to the old sponsor. That leaves the worker unable to move forward, even after the job has clearly ended.

A refusal may stem from a dispute over notice, money owed, or a simple administrative delay. It may also be deliberate, used as pressure in a separate disagreement between them. Whatever the reason, the worker does not need the employer's cooperation to start the formal process.

Quick Answer

An uncancelled UAE work permit blocks a new employer's permit and keeps residence tied to the old sponsor. Workers do not need the employer's agreement to start the MoHRE process.

The worker files a labour complaint with MoHRE requesting cancellation of the work permit without the employer's consent. Complaints can be lodged through MoHRE's official channels, including its smart app and website. Keep the complaint reference number safe, because every later step refers to it.

Support the complaint with the offer letter or contract, your resignation or termination notice, and any messages showing the employer's refusal to cancel. MoHRE's call centre on 600590000, listed as available around the clock, takes queries. Clear dates and complete documents help MoHRE assess it.

Quick Answer

File a labour complaint with MoHRE asking to cancel your work permit without employer consent. Attach the contract, the notice given and any evidence of the employer's refusal to cancel.

Navy document folder tied with a ribbon beside a stack of papers on a wooden desk
A contract, a notice letter and dated messages carry most cancellation complaints.

What MoHRE does and how long it takes

Article 5 gives the employer a fixed window to respond. If MoHRE cannot reach the employer within five working days, the cancellation is completed at the worker's request. An employer asking for more time gets one further period of five working days.

The cancellation then goes ahead unless the employer proves the worker is under investigation for a crime connected to the work. If MoHRE finds the employer is fictitious, it cancels the permit and takes legal action against both parties. Fines for late renewals move to the employer's file.

Quick Answer

Under Article 5, MoHRE cancels the permit if the employer does not respond within five working days, extendable once by five more. A proven work-related criminal investigation can stop it.

When MoHRE postpones the decision

Article 5 also lets MoHRE postpone cancellation without consulting either party in certain defined cases. The first is when a labour case between them is already under discussion. The second is when the employer claims the worker left during probation without any employer breach.

MoHRE can also postpone where an unexpected work abandonment report is found accurate, or where the worker failed to meet contractual obligations. That is why an open absconding report changes the whole picture. Resolve any abandonment allegation first, because it can stall the cancellation request completely.

Quick Answer

MoHRE may postpone the cancellation during an active labour case, a probation abandonment claim, a proven absence report, or a worker's breach of contract. Clear any absconding allegation before filing.

What to do after cancellation

Once MoHRE cancels the permit, the resolution obliges the worker to change residency status within the specified period. That means a new employer's permit, another residence route or leaving the UAE. The grace period after cancellation starts running, so plan the next step as early as possible.

Ask for written confirmation of the cancellation and keep it with your contract and complaint papers. Check that the residence has also been closed or transferred. Separately, any unpaid salary or gratuity claim can continue through MoHRE even after the permit is gone.

Quick Answer

After MoHRE cancels the permit, the worker must change their residency status within the permitted period. Keep written confirmation, and pursue any unpaid salary or gratuity claim separately with MoHRE.

Frequently asked questions

Can MoHRE cancel my work permit if my employer refuses?
Yes, MoHRE can do it. Article 5 of Ministerial Resolution 47 of 2022 lets MoHRE cancel a work permit without the employer's consent, following a formal complaint from the worker.
How long does MoHRE give the employer to respond?
Five working days from the complaint's registration, with one further five working days if the employer asks for more time. MoHRE then completes the cancellation at the worker's own request.
What can stop MoHRE cancelling my permit?
Evidence from the employer that you are under investigation for a crime related to your work. MoHRE may also postpone during a labour case or after a proven abandonment report.
What if my employer is a fake company?
If MoHRE finds the employer is fictitious, it completes the cancellation at the worker's request. It also takes legal action against both the worker and the employer under the resolution.
How do I file a cancellation complaint with MoHRE?
Use MoHRE's official channels, such as its smart app, website or call centre on 600590000. Attach your contract, notice letter and any evidence showing the employer refused to cancel it.
Does an absconding report affect my cancellation request?
Yes, MoHRE may postpone cancellation where an unexpected work abandonment report is found accurate. Resolve or formally challenge any absconding allegation before relying on the cancellation route in Article 5.
What happens to fines for late permit renewal?
Article 5 moves any fines for delays in issuing or renewing the work permit to the employer's establishment file. The worker is therefore not left carrying them after the cancellation.
What must I do after MoHRE cancels my permit?
Change your residency status within the permitted period, through a new employer's permit, another residence route or departure from the UAE. The grace period starts running once cancellation is complete.
Can I still claim unpaid salary after cancellation?
Yes, a salary or gratuity claim is separate from the permit and can continue through MoHRE. Unresolved disputes may be referred to the labour court if no settlement is reached.
Can MoHRE postpone cancellation if I resigned during probation?
Yes, if the employer claims you left during probation without any breach on its part. That can also trigger a one-year permit ban unless you fall in an excluded category.

Main Takeaways

A UAE worker can ask MoHRE to cancel a work permit without the employer's consent under Article 5 of Resolution 47 of 2022. If the employer does not respond within five working days, extendable once, MoHRE then cancels it. Active labour cases, probation claims or proven absence reports can delay the decision. Plan your next residency step immediately after cancellation.

Moving on without the employer

An employer's refusal feels like a dead end, but the resolution gives workers a clear way out. The timings are short, and the grounds for delay are narrow and specific. A cancellation request stands strongest when the worker has left properly and kept their full records. The difficult cases are those tangled up with absence allegations or court cases.

Before you file anything, gather your contract, notice letter and every message about the cancellation. Check whether any absconding report exists, since that can stall the request. Once MoHRE decides, MSM can handle the formal work permit cancellation and the employment visa cancellation that follows. Our guide to an absconding case in the UAE explains how to clear that obstacle first.

Mohammed Shareef A

Senior PRO Consultant

Mohammed Shareef A is a government liaison and document clearing consultant who files company, labour and immigration applications in Dubai, handling trade licence, establishment card, family sponsorship and attestation files across DET, MoHRE, GDRFA, ICP and MOFAIC.