The UAE authorities have explained in detail their upcoming visa amnesty initiative set to take place from 1 September to 30 October 2024.
The authorities announced last month that the country will undertake a new visa amnesty programme.
This will be the fourth amnesty programme announced by the UAE government since 2007. The last one which happened in 2018 which was supposed to run for only 90 days until October 31, 2018, but the federal government extended the amnesty scheme for two more months until December 31 that year to allow more residency violators to rectify their status or leave the country with no penalties.
The aim of this initiative is to help residents and visitors stabilize their visa status or leave the country without penalties.
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) has announced that the amnesty covers various visa categories, including expired residencies and tourist visas, as well as undocumented individuals.
Meanwhile for all those who entered the UAE illegally are not eligible as stressed by ICP. The key benefits for all those who comply include the waiving of fines and fees, with an option to leave without a travel ban. For those who wish to leave the country they will receive a 14-day departure permit. Failure to exit the country within this period will result in the reinstatement of fines and restrictions.
Family members of individuals with expired residencies can also adjust their status without facing financial or legal penalties.
The amnesty initiative will be a much-needed relief for many who have run afoul of the regulations, especially since the financial penalty for tourists or residents overstaying their visas has been standardized at Dh50 per day.
