Before you move from the UAE to Europe, do three things in this order.
- Collect and attest every UAE document you may need while you still have an Emirates ID.
- Get the European visa into your passport.
- Only then cancel your UAE residence, settle your gratuity, bank and bills, and leave within your grace period.
Cancelling the UAE visa too early is the most common and most expensive mistake. Many European consulates will not take your application without a valid UAE residence permit.
Checked on 4 November 2026 against the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), UAE labour law (Federal Decree-Law 33 of 2021), the European Commission’s pet travel rules and German customs guidance on transferring residence.
What order should you do things in?
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 3–6 months before | Choose your route and country. Get a UAE police clearance. Attest your degree, marriage and birth certificates. Collect experience and salary letters. Check your degree for Germany if relevant. |
| 2–3 months before | Apply for the European visa or permit, keeping your UAE residence valid. Get school transfer certificates for children. Book pet vaccinations. |
| After the visa is issued | Resign or give notice. Give notice on your tenancy. Book shipping. Decide what to do with your car. |
| Last 2–4 weeks | Final salary and gratuity. Clear loans, cards and fines. Close utilities and collect deposits. Cancel your residence visa. |
| After you leave | Register in Europe. Keep a UAE bank account open until the final payments arrive. Keep copies of everything. |
Documents to get while you still live in the UAE
- UAE police clearance certificate. European visas and permits often ask for one, and it is easiest to get with a valid Emirates ID. See UAE police clearance for immigration.
- MOFA attestation of UAE-issued documents such as marriage, birth, police and experience certificates. You apply online with UAE PASS, and personal documents cost AED 150 each. See MOFA attestation for European visas.
- Experience certificates and salary letters from every UAE employer. European employers, recognition offices and visa officers ask for them, and they are hard to get once you have left.
- School records: a transfer certificate and the last reports for each child, attested if the new school asks.
- Medical and vaccination records for the whole family, in English.
- Tax residency certificate from the UAE Federal Tax Authority, if you may need to prove where you were tax resident before the move.
Cancelling your UAE residence visa
- Do it last. Embassies in the UAE, such as the German Consulate in Dubai or the Spanish Embassy in Abu Dhabi, expect a valid UAE residence permit when you apply.
- Your employer cancels an employment visa. You sign the labour cancellation. Family members sponsored by you must be cancelled first.
- Grace period: after cancellation you have a set number of days to leave or change status. It depends on your category, from 30 days up to 180 days for Golden and Green Visa holders. You can see your own period in the ICP or GDRFA app.
- Golden Visa holders can usually stay outside the UAE for long periods without losing the visa. You may be able to keep it as a base for returning. See outside the UAE for more than 6 months.
Your end-of-service gratuity
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| Minimum service | 1 year of continuous service |
| First 5 years | 21 days of basic wage per year |
| After 5 years | 30 days of basic wage per year |
| Maximum | 2 years’ wages in total |
| Payment deadline | Within 14 days of the end of the contract |
| Unused leave | Paid separately, on top of the gratuity |
Example: with a basic salary of AED 10,000 a month and 4 years’ service, the gratuity is 4 × 21 days of basic pay. That works out to about AED 27,600 to AED 28,000, depending on whether the daily wage is taken as the monthly basic ÷ 30 or the annual basic ÷ 365. Ask for a written breakdown before signing any “all dues received” form. If dues are unpaid, complain to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
Bank, loans, bills and car
- Clear loans and credit cards before you leave. Unpaid debts can lead to civil cases and travel bans if you ever return.
- Keep one UAE account open for a few weeks so your final salary, gratuity and deposit refunds can arrive. Ask the bank whether it allows non-resident accounts.
- Get a bank reference letter and 12 months of stamped statements. Some European banks and landlords ask for them.
- Tenancy: give notice as your contract requires, so you are not charged a penalty. Close electricity, water, internet and phone services and collect your deposits.
- Car: pay all traffic and toll fines, then sell it and transfer ownership, or export it. Check first whether your EU country will register a UAE-spec car.
- Driving licence: some European countries exchange a UAE licence directly, while others require tests. Check with the destination before your UAE licence expires. See exchanging a UAE driving licence in Europe.
Moving pets from the UAE to Europe
The UAE is on the EU’s list of approved non-EU countries for pet travel, so dogs and cats coming from the UAE do not need a rabies antibody blood test. They still need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination given after microchipping, an EU animal health certificate, and a UAE export permit. Allow at least a month.
Shipping household goods duty-free
EU customs rules let you bring personal belongings without import duty when you move your main residence to the EU. The usual conditions, using Germany as the example, are:
- You lived outside the EU (for example, in the UAE) for at least 12 months.
- You owned and used the items for at least 6 months before the move.
- You import them within 12 months of moving.
- You do not sell, lend or rent them out for 12 months after import.
Alcohol and tobacco are excluded. Keep invoices and a detailed packing list.
Five mistakes to avoid
- Cancelling the UAE visa before the European visa is issued
- Leaving without a police clearance or attested documents
- Signing a final settlement form before the gratuity is paid
- Closing every UAE bank account before final payments arrive
- Missing your grace period and paying overstay fines
Questions people ask
Should I cancel my UAE visa before applying for a European visa?
No. Apply while your UAE residence is valid, because the consulate in the UAE usually requires it. Cancel only once the European visa is in your passport.
How is UAE gratuity calculated?
21 days of basic wage for each of the first 5 years and 30 days for each year after that, capped at 2 years’ wages, after at least 1 year of service.
Can I get a UAE police clearance after I leave?
Usually yes, through the UAE embassy where you live, but it is slower. It is much easier to get one before you cancel your residence.
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to move from Dubai to Europe?
No. The UAE is an EU-listed country, so no titre test is needed. A microchip, a rabies vaccination and an EU health certificate are still required.
Do I pay customs duty on furniture shipped from the UAE?
Usually not, if you lived outside the EU for 12 months, used the items for 6 months, and import them within 12 months of moving.
Related guides
- How to move to Europe from the UAE: all routes compared
- MOFA attestation of UAE documents for European visas
- Finding a job in Europe from the UAE
Sources
- UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Attestation FAQs and fees
- Gulf News: UAE gratuity guide 2026
- Khaleej Times: Grace periods after visa cancellation
- European Commission: Listed non-EU countries for pet movement
- German Customs: Transferring residence
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 4 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.