Change of Status
Also known as: Status Change, In-Country Status Adjustment, Visa Status Change
Quick Answer
Change of status is the in-country procedure that converts a person's visa type without leaving the UAE — for example moving from a tourist or visit visa onto an entry permit for residency.
Historically, switching from a visit visa to a residency visa meant flying out of the UAE and re-entering on a new entry permit (the 'visa run'). Change of status removes that step: GDRFA / ICP adjusts the person's immigration status internally, so they can begin a residency process while remaining in the country.
Change of status is used in many situations — a tourist who decides to take a job, a job-seeker on a visit visa who gets hired, a person switching employers, or a dependent transitioning to an employment visa. It is processed against an already-approved entry permit, and once the status is changed the standard in-country steps (medical, biometrics, Emirates ID, stamping) follow.
GDRFA in Dubai and ICP in the other emirates set the change-of-status fee, which comes on top of the entry permit fee; check the current amount on the authority's service page. It only works if the person's current visa is valid and they have not overstayed. ZETUP PRO assesses whether change of status or an exit-and-return is faster and cheaper for each case, then handles the submission.
Frequently asked questions
What is change of status in the UAE?
Change of status is the in-country procedure that converts a person's visa type without leaving the UAE — for example moving from a tourist or visit visa onto an entry permit for residency.
Does change of status avoid a visa run?
Yes — GDRFA or ICP adjusts the person's immigration status internally, so they can start a residency process without flying out and re-entering.
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