Changing jobs in the UAE can sometimes involve moving from a mainland company to a free zone company . Since an employment residence visa is connected to the sponsoring employer, changing employers requires the appropriate visa and employment procedures. If you are planning to move from a mainland employer to a free zone company, understanding the cancellation, application, and status-change requirements can help you avoid unnecessary delays. Can You Transfer a Visa from Mainland to Free Zone in the UAE? Yes, employees can generally move from a mainland employer to a free zone company, provided they meet the applicable UAE employment and immigration requirements . However, a mainland employment visa is linked to the existing sponsor. Therefore, it is usually not a simple transfer from one company to another. The previous employment sponsorship may need to be cancelled before the new free zone employer can process the employee's new work and residence authorization. The ...