- Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00 GST
- Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
SERVICE · VISAS
Visa Status Change
Switch from visit visa, tourist status or one sponsor to another without leaving the country, handled in the correct sequence to avoid a rejected application.
Response within 15 minutes during working hours
Overview
What a visa status change involves
A status change lets someone already in the UAE move from one visa status to another, visit visa to employment, one employer to another, or tourist status to a family or investor visa, without leaving and re-entering the country.
The process is sequence-sensitive, cancelling the old status before the new one is ready, or missing a required NOC, are the most common reasons a status change application gets rejected.
- Eligibility check for the specific status change requested
- No Objection Certificate coordination, where required
- Status change application submission
- Medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics, where required
Benefits
Why sequencing matters here
Avoids the common rejection causes
Old and new sponsorship are sequenced correctly so neither status is left in limbo.
No exit required
The change happens without leaving and re-entering the UAE, saving time and cost.
Works across sponsor types
Employer changes, family sponsorship and self-sponsored routes are all covered.
Fast where eligible
Straightforward status changes typically complete within a week.
Who this is for. Anyone in the UAE on a visit visa, tourist status, or under one sponsor who is eligible to switch to a different visa status without leaving the country.
Requirements & Process
What you’ll need, and how we run it
Documents & eligibility
The file depends on which status you’re moving from and to, we confirm eligibility before filing anything.
- Current passport and visa or entry permit copy
- No Objection Certificate from the current sponsor, where required
- Supporting documents for the new status (labour contract, marriage certificate, trade license, as applicable)
- Passport-size photograph against a white background
Additional documents may be required depending on the specific status change. We confirm the exact list for your case before any fee is paid.
How it works
The 4-stage process
Straightforward status changes typically complete within three to seven working days.
| Stage | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| 01. Eligibility check | We confirm you qualify for an in-country status change to the new visa type. | 1 working day |
| 02. NOC coordination | Where required, a No Objection Certificate is obtained from the current sponsor. | 1–3 working days |
| 03. Application submission | The status change is filed with GDRFA or ICP. | 1–2 working days |
| 04. Approval and next steps | Status change is approved, triggering medical and biometric steps if the new status requires them. | 1–2 working days |
Change your visa status
Tell us your current and target status, a senior consultant confirms eligibility and quote in writing, usually within the hour.
No spam. No follow up calls unless you ask. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm.
