The United Arab Emirates authority has established a two-month visa amnesty scheme, effective September 1 to October 31, 2024. This means that overstayers have limited time to take advantage of this opportunity.
This scheme, a beacon of hope, is designed to help overstayers regularize their residency status or return to their home nations without incurring penalties. It provides a lawful and secure solution to their problems and prevents prospective fines or jail punishments.
Amnesty allows people with expired documents to modify their status or exit the nation without undergoing penalties.
Qualified candidates include residents who have stayed in the nation unlawfully after the expiration of their residency visas, visitors who remained above the authenticity of their visit permits, and kids born in the United Arab Emirates whose parents did not make an application for residency on their behalf.
Again, the amnesty is issued for people who have run away from their sponsors. Hence, people who moved into the nation unlawfully are not qualified to apply for this amnesty.
“It is an opportunity for every offender to modify their status in the nation,” stated Maj Gen Suhail Saeed AI Khaili, head of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security.
He said, “The initiative will improve the nation’s role in the human rights industry. We desire to assist the remaining individuals in the nation by modifying their status to allow them to obtain their rights and possess a secured exit from the nation or get employed and reside legally in the UAE”.
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Where To Apply For The Amnesty
Amnesty requests can be run at different places across the Emirates. In Abu Dhabi, people may make an application at ICP hubs in AI Dhafra, Sweihan, AI Maqam, and AI Shahamah, as well as in private typing hubs identified by the ICP.
These typing hubs commonly take care of administrative projects, including presenting requests. If you are applying for an exit permit after formerly handling a residency visa, you may go to any of the hubs mentioned above.
Hence, if you move into the nation using a visitor visa, you are required to go to either the ICP hubs in AI Dhafra, Suwaihan, AI Dhabi, AI Maqam, and AI Shahamah in Abu Dhabi or the AI Awir hub in Dubai. This prerequisite is because people landing using a visitor visa do not have scanned fingerprints.
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For people who get an exit permit and exit the nation, it is crucial to understand that they will not be kept on a prohibited list and are free to return to the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, the ICP has coordinated with UAE airlines to provide discounted tickets for people who desire to waive their fines and exit the nation.
In Dubai, amnesty services will be available at Amer Service hubs and the hub for immigration offenders in Al Awir. Requests can also be presented at ICP hubs throughout the other emirates. Service hubs will function daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the amnesty duration.
The Cost
Modifying your visa status or getting an exit permit will not incur charges. Again, any fines formerly acquired for remaining in the nation unlawfully will be waived.
Hence, it is crucial to understand that the exit permit is only valid for two weeks (14 days). All past fines will be reinstated if you fail to leave the nation within this duration.
“ individuals should gain from this special opportunity. All types of fines will be waived even if it is a huge sum,” stated Maj Gen Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, the deputy director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.
Process When Applying For An Exit Permit
Many residents or employees of the United Arab Emirates conventionally have a two—or three-year visa stamped on their passports.
Hence, this has now been superseded by the Emirates ID. In 2022, the UAE Cabinet established many visa modifications, including developing green visas. Several new classes are mainly formed for self-employed people and business proprietors. These updated laws formally started in September 2022.
Visa Overstay Laws
Regarding visa overstay laws, the fines for visitors or residents who stay beyond their visa-approved dates have been standardized at $13.6 daily, based on updates made by the ICP in October 2022.
Holders of residency visas are awarded six months to exit the nation or modify their status by acquiring employment when their visa expires or is revoked. The amnesty scheme will help people who have stayed in the country unlawfully beyond this six-month grace duration.
