UAE Cabinet

Applying for a New Visa? Follow this Timeline

The UAE government announced on November 17 that people who have overstayed their UAE visas still have until the end of the year to leave the country without having to pay any fines. The short-term amnesty introduced earlier this year due to the ongoing pandemic was set to end on November 17 (Tuesday). UAE Visa Fine Waiver Extended Until End of the Year As per the previous Cabinet Order, the deadline was supposedly on November 17, but the UAE's Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) has announced that the grace period has been extended up until December 31 of the current year, the Gulf News reported. According to Major General Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, Director General of Foreigners Affairs and Ports at Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), “The period of extension for overstay violators has been extended until the end of December 31, 2020. The extension is for people who violated the entry and foreigners’ residence law before March 1, 2020. They will be exempted from all fines provided they leave the country before the deadline.” That said, all people who have been illegally staying in the country after their visas - visit, tourist or residency - had expired before March 1 this year will not be penalized and can leave the UAE during the said window period. According to Major Al Rashidi, the extension of the grace period came after directives from the country’s leaders to give a second chance for the violators to change their status. In line with this, Major Al Rashidi expressed his gratitude to the UAE leaders for the new order, noting that this is another opportunity for violators to change their status before the end of the year. ALSO READ: Dubai Authorities to Handle Cases of Jobless Residents with Fines to Return to their Home Countries – Top Ranking Official

Following the announcement of the UAE Cabinet this weekend regarding the amended grace period for all residents, the ICA has clarified that the dates for which you can apply for renewal depending on when your visa expired. …

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