As the UAE’s two-month visa amnesty program ends on October 31, overstaying foreign nationals are encouraged to leave if they have yet to secure a job offer, according to UAE immigration authorities. The amnesty, which began on September 1, applies to all visa types, including expired residency and tourist visas.
Lt. Col. Salem M. Bin Ali, Director of the Customer Happiness Department at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai, advised those waiting on job prospects to exit the country temporarily. “There is no re-entry ban and no fines levied against those who have utilized the amnesty period,” Bin Ali told Khaleej Times.
Amid a surge of overstayers visiting the GDRFA Al Awir Centre on October 30, UAE officials reiterated that no extension for the amnesty program has been announced. Failure to comply could lead to stricter enforcement, deportation, and placement on a no-entry list for future re-entry.
Maj-Gen Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director-General of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), emphasized the amnesty’s importance, calling it a “final opportunity” to settle residency violations without fines or court proceedings. Moving forward, violators will face arrest and deportation.
This amnesty marks the UAE’s fourth such initiative since 2007, with the last held in 2018, which allowed overstayers an extended period to regularize their status or depart without penalties.
