Stuck in Dubai: How Can I Cancel My Residence Visa When My Employer Refuses?

Hi, I resigned from my company last month by serving the notice period. My company has canceled my work permit, and I need to cancel my residence visa so that I can get the visa from my new employer. My company came to know that I am joining a competitor and has denied canceling my residence visa. Please help.

Background Information

1) My company is an IT company.
2) I am a computer engineer, having worked for more than 4 years in the company.
3) My contract doesn't have any clause related to joining any competitor.
4) I work in the UAE, Dubai.

Hi Imran, I'm from Kuwait, so I can only advise as per Kuwait Labor Laws, which may be similar to other Gulf countries. If you are on the employer's Commercial Visa, then canceling your Work Permit (Izn Amal) also cancels your residence status in the country. If you have completed the contract period with the firm, you can request a release from your current employer so that you can join another firm.

As you mentioned that you have resigned from the job and served the notice period, however, the sponsor employer is harassing you by not giving you a release, then you can approach the relevant Ministry of Labor in the country. I don't know the exact name of the ministry, but you can research and find out. Also, make sure you read the contract carefully because usually in work contracts, there is a clause not to work with the company's clients or competitors. However, you can double-check. If there is no such clause mentioned, then you can approach the ministry.

However, make sure you have completed the contract period with the firm, served resignation and notice period, check any papers you have signed which mention not to join a competitor clause, and also check if you have signed any training contract which has a lock-in period.

If your work permit is canceled, you may be on a temporary residence visa. If your new employer really wants you, you can discuss the issue with the new employer and seek a new visa and re-enter Dubai.

Let us know what was the outcome.

i am sanal .i already cancelled my entry visa with out completing the visa validity (3mnth).now want to take new visa for kuwat.my new company was came to ministry.then applied for new visa.but they did not get new visa .ministry rejected that application/they want the old visa cancellation slip.i did not get that old visa cancellation paper from that old company…..so how can i get that..pls help