What to do if MOHRE has not responded to my complaint about my sponsor holding my passport?

Dear questioner,

Make sure that you have served the notice period mentioned in your MOHRE contract. If there is still no call from MOHRE, then file a complaint again and follow up.

Sometimes, due to technical reasons, there may be slight delays.

If you need more details, kindly share your WhatsApp number.

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out!

Based on the details you've shared, please be informed that under UAE Labour Law, your employer is not legally permitted to hold your passport without your written consent, and they are obligated to cancel your visa once your employment has ended.

Since you have already filed a complaint with MOHRE over a month ago and have not received any updates, we recommend taking the following steps: contact MOHRE, visit the nearest MOHRE office with your Emirates ID and any supporting documents, and request immediate follow-up.

If your passport is still being withheld, you are entitled to file a police report, as this constitutes unlawful retention of personal documents.

You may also consider seeking assistance from a Tasheel center or legal aid office to support and speed up your case.

If you need help drafting a formal request or escalation letter, we’d be glad to assist further.

Best regards,

You're entitled to have your passport returned and your visa cancelled once your employment ends.

If your sponsor is not cooperating and MOHRE hasn’t responded after more than a month, there are legal steps you can take.

We specialize in these cases and can guide you through the process to protect your rights.

Feel free to contact us directly on WhatsApp for faster and professional assistance.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Good morning, and thank you for reaching out!

We understand your concern regarding the delay in action on your labour complaint about your sponsor not cancelling your visa and holding your passport for over four years. Regrettably, you have not yet received any response from MOHRE after more than a month.

We recommend that you follow up directly with MOHRE by visiting their nearest Customer Happiness Center or calling their hotline at 800 60, providing your complaint reference number.

Employers are not permitted by UAE law to retain passports unlawfully, and MOHRE should address this matter promptly.

If the delay continues, you may consider escalating the case through legal channels or requesting assistance from your embassy.

Our legal team can assist you in following up with MOHRE, preparing formal notifications, or taking legal action if needed to ensure your rights are protected.

Please let us know if you would like us to assist you further.

Best regards,

Dear Questioner,

Good morning, and thank you for your message!

We understand your concern regarding the delay in action from MOHRE after you filed a complaint about your sponsor not cancelling your visa and holding your passport. These are serious violations under UAE labour law.

Kindly note the following:

Your sponsor is not allowed to keep your passport. This is illegal unless you gave written consent, and you have the right to report this to both MOHRE and the Immigration Department.

Visa cancellation should be done by the employer once the employment relationship ends. Any delay can negatively affect your legal status in the UAE.

Since it has been more than one month with no action, we recommend:

- Calling MOHRE at 80060 to follow up on your complaint using your reference number.

- Visiting the nearest MOHRE or TASHEEL office in person and requesting an escalation or speaking to an inspector directly.

If there is still no response, we can assist you by reviewing your documents and preparing a formal legal notice or escalation letter to the relevant authorities.

Let us know if you’d like to schedule a consultation for further support.

Best regards,

Mohammed Salah

Legal Consultant

Thank you for reaching out!

Based on what you've shared, it is deeply concerning that even after four years of service, your sponsor is withholding your passport and has failed to cancel your visa as per UAE Labour Law.

Holding an employee’s passport without consent is a violation of their rights, and once the employment relationship ends, the employer is legally obliged to cancel the visa without unnecessary delay.

The fact that you've already filed a complaint with MOHRE more than a month ago but haven’t received a response is unfortunate, but not unusual in some cases where employers are uncooperative or try to delay proceedings.

Here’s what we can do next:

We can follow up directly with MOHRE on your behalf using legal channels to accelerate the process and push for a resolution.

We can send a legal notice to your employer demanding immediate release of your passport and visa cancellation, warning them of potential legal consequences.

If needed, we can escalate the matter to the Labour Court, and simultaneously pursue a travel ban removal or cancellation through legal means if they continue to hold your passport unjustly.

To proceed quickly and get this resolved, I would strongly advise appointing me formally as your legal representative so I can take over communication with MOHRE and your employer and push this forward.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly on WhatsApp or call me at [-----------] to discuss your situation in more detail and take immediate action.

Warm regards,

Suhail Rana