UAE extends expired visa amnesty for 3 months

Those whose visas have expired before March 1 now have until Nov. 17, instead of Aug.18, to leave without penalties and re-entry ban.

DUBAI: Visa holders whose legal stay in the UAE has expired before March 1 this year may now heave of sigh of relief as they have another three months to stay without fines and penalties provided they leave on Nov. 17.

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), has further extended the grace period for those with expired visas for three months, waiving fines and penalties, including a re-entry ban, provided they leave the country on or before Nov. 17 this year.

“The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) has announced the extension of the grace period granted to residency violators for another three months, along with fine exemptions,” ICA, on Monday Aug 17, tweeted.

In the same announcement, ICA cited Major General Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, Director General of Foreigners Affairs and Ports at the government agency, as saying that “the grace period extension runs from August 18 to November 17 and includes all violators with visas (that have) expired before March 1.”

“Al Rashidi made it clear that the initiative covers all violators of the entry and residency law, and affirmed that the violators will not be banned from entering the UAE provided they leave the country,” ICA further tweeted.

He emphasized that visa holders wishing to leave the UAE from the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah airports must arrive six hours before the flight, while those wishing to leave the country through Dubai Airport must visit the deportation center at the Civil Aviation Security Centre near Terminal 2 at least 48 hours before the flight.

The ICA said “the violator will have to complete procedures in only 3 steps, including obtaining the passport, buying the ticket, &arriving before the date of the trip.

The government has set up an operation room, along with a toll free number 800453 dedicated to respond to all inquiries every day of the week from 8am until 10pm, except on holidays.