People receive help from officials at an immigration centre after a visa amnesty was announced in 2018. Antonie Robertson / The National
People receive help from officials at an immigration centre after a visa amnesty was announced in 2018. Antonie Robertson / The National
People receive help from officials at an immigration centre after a visa amnesty was announced in 2018. Antonie Robertson / The National
People receive help from officials at an immigration centre after a visa amnesty was announced in 2018. Antonie Robertson / The National

What is the UAE visa amnesty and why is it important?


Chris Maxwell
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE will next month begin its first residency visa amnesty for six years, to allow people with expired documentation to secure their status or leave the country without being fined.

The government initiative will provide a two-month grace period for those with lapsed residency visas.

The scheme will be overseen by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), with more details expected in the coming weeks.

“The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security aims to provide violators with a new opportunity to regularise their status in accordance with the law, as a gesture that reflects the values of compassion and tolerance upon which the UAE is built,” the ICP said.

When will the amnesty begin?

Authorities confirmed on Thursday that the grace period will be in effect from September 1.

It is due to run until November 1, although a previous nationwide initiative that was due to run for three months was later extended by several weeks.

The ICP said that during the amnesty "violators can regularise their status or leave the country without incurring fines".

The initiative in 2018 led to long queues at immigration centres across the Emirates as people looked to resolve their residency status.

People look to resolve their residency status during a visa amnesty in 2018. Victor Besa / The National
People look to resolve their residency status during a visa amnesty in 2018. Victor Besa / The National

Why is it being introduced?

Such amnesties provide a reprieve for people without valid documentation who may be reluctant to come forward due to concerns about potential fines or jail sentences.

The moves allow the government to take steps to ensure people are living in the Emirates legally, a key consideration amid a population boom.

It is also an opportunity for many to step out of the shadows and grasp the chance of a fresh start – whether in the UAE or back in their home country.

Who will it help?

There are several reasons why people may try to remain in the country without valid documentation.

Although some may be seeking to evade detection, others will have lost jobs and businesses or split from a spouse, leaving them without a sponsor.

A community leader in the UAE welcomed the amnesty and set out some of the reasons why foreign citizens may end up staying without a residency visa.

“It is a big relief for so many. There are people who came here searching for jobs and they overstayed," said Ishtiyak Raziq, former president of Sahana, a Sri Lankan welfare association.

"There are also people duped by agents who promised higher paying jobs and they end up with nothing and they overstay.

“There are people who left Sri Lanka due to the financial crisis and they overstayed as they are unable to pay the fines. And there are people with health issues without insurance and the fines are piling up. It will be good for all of them to go back and start afresh.”

Mr Raziq said the announcement offered a reprieve to people who struggled to find employment after the Covid-19 pandemic.

“What the government of the UAE has decided is timely and we are grateful as expatriates that they can go back to their home country,” he added.

Previous amnesties held in 2007, 2013 and 2018 led hundreds of thousands of people to come forward for help.

The large turnout for a Dubai government event in February 2023 offering advice to people who overstayed highlighted how pressing a concern residency status remains.

What are the visa rules?

Most UAE residents have work visas that are valid for two or three years. The National
Most UAE residents have work visas that are valid for two or three years. The National

Most residents living or working in the UAE have a two or three-year visa in their passport. That has since been replaced with the Emirates ID.

In April 2022, visa changes were introduced by the UAE Cabinet and more categories were added. This included an expansion of golden visas and the introduction of green visas, with several of the new categories aimed at self-employed people and business owners.

The new rules came into effect in September that year.

What are the overstay fines?

The financial penalty has been standardised at Dh50 ($13.60) a day for tourists or residents who overstay their visas, following updates by the ICP in October 2022.

Residency visa holders are given six months to leave the country or change their status by finding a job once their visa expires or is cancelled.

The amnesty will support those who remain in the country beyond the existing six-month grace period.

Where to get advice

Information and guidance is available around the clock through Amer centres, which offer visa and immigration services, or by calling 800 5111.

People in Dubai can also use a video conference service on the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs website and have their queries addressed by an official.

For any inquiry regarding visa issuance, types and validity, people can call the ICP free of charge on 600 522 222 or contact the authority through its feedback platform online.

A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur  Sheikh Zayed

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The Buckingham Murders

Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu

Director: Hansal Mehta

Rating: 4 / 5

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
RESULTS

5pm: Maiden | Dh80,000 |  1,600m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap |  Dh80,000 |  1,600m
Winner: AF Makerah, Adrie de Vries, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap |  Dh80,000 |  2,200m
Winner: Hazeme, Richard Mullen, Jean de Roualle

6.30pm: Handicap |  Dh85,000 |  2,200m
Winner: AF Yatroq, Brett Doyle, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Shadwell Farm for Private Owners Handicap |  Dh70,000 |  2,200m
Winner: Nawwaf KB, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) |  Dh100,000 |  1,600m
Winner: Treasured Times, Bernardo Pinheiro, Rashed Bouresly

Bullet%20Train
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20David%20Leitch%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Brad%20Pitt%2C%20Aaron%20Taylor-Johnson%2C%20Brian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Sandra%20Bullock%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
%3Cp%3EAl%20Khayma%0D%3Cbr%3EBait%20Maryam%0D%3Cbr%3EBrasserie%20Boulud%0D%3Cbr%3EFi'lia%0D%3Cbr%3Efolly%0D%3Cbr%3EGoldfish%0D%3Cbr%3EIbn%20AlBahr%0D%3Cbr%3EIndya%20by%20Vineet%0D%3Cbr%3EKinoya%0D%3Cbr%3ENinive%0D%3Cbr%3EOrfali%20Bros%0D%3Cbr%3EReif%20Japanese%20Kushiyaki%0D%3Cbr%3EShabestan%0D%3Cbr%3ETeible%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESplintr%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMay%202019%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammad%20AlMheiri%20and%20Badr%20AlBadr%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20and%20Riyadh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epayments%20%2F%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10%20employees%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%20seven-figure%20sum%20%2F%20pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eseed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eangel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: August 05, 2024, 10:46 AM`