UAE launches two-month visa amnesty 

The UAE has announced a visa amnesty programme scheduled to run from 1 September to 30 October. The programme aims to help residents and visitors regularise their visa status or leave the country without incurring penalties.

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) explained that the amnesty covers a range of visa categories, including expired residencies and tourist visas, as well as undocumented individuals. However, it excludes those who entered the country illegally.

Eligible participants will benefit from waived fines and fees and the option to depart without a travel ban, provided they leave within a 14-day period. The last UAE visa amnesty was in 2018, which saw more than 105,000 people benefitting from the initiative.

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs ,and Port Security has announced a two-month grace period starting September 1, 2024, for violators to regularize their status pic.twitter.com/OQzBvQZZfO

— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) August 28, 2024

Family members of individuals with expired residencies can also rectify their status without facing financial or legal repercussions. To manage the anticipated demand, fingerprint centres will extend their operating hours until 10 pm local time daily.

Embassies and consulates are preparing to assist their nationals during the two-month grace period, launching awareness campaigns to ensure that those living in the Gulf state illegally due to expired visas take advantage of the opportunity.

Many missions, such as those from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, India and the Philippines — countries that are the source of most labourers in the UAE — are collaborating with community groups to support amnesty seekers and expedite the issuance of necessary travel documents.

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