The UAE will begin its first residency visa amnesty in six years next month, providing an opportunity for individuals with expired documentation to regularize their status or leave the country without facing fines. The government has announced a two-month grace period, running from September 1 to November 1, during which violators can address their residency issues.
Key Details:
Initiative Oversight: The scheme will be managed by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP).
Objectives: The amnesty aims to offer a compassionate and tolerant solution for violators, allowing them to comply with the law or return to their home countries without penalties.
Implementation:
Start Date: September 1, 2024
End Date: November 1, 2024 (with the possibility of extension based on previous instances)
Historical Context:
Previous Amnesty: The last amnesty in 2018 saw significant participation, with long queues at immigration centers across the Emirates.
Reasons for Introduction:
Legal Compliance: To ensure individuals are living legally in the UAE amid a population boom.
Humanitarian Relief: To provide a fresh start for those living without valid documentation due to job losses, business failures, or personal issues such as separation from a spouse.
Beneficiaries:
Job Seekers: Individuals who overstayed while searching for employment.
Victims of Fraud: Those duped by agents promising better job opportunities.
Financial and Health Crises: People unable to pay fines due to financial struggles or health issues without insurance.
Pandemic Impact: Expatriates who lost jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Visa Rules:
Current System: Most residents hold two or three-year visas, now replaced by the Emirates ID.
Recent Changes: In April 2022, new visa categories like golden visas and green visas were introduced, targeting self-employed individuals and business owners. These rules were implemented in September 2022.
Overstay Fines:
Penalty: Standardized at Dh50 ($13.60) per day for tourists and residents overstaying their visas.
Grace Period: Residency visa holders have six months post-expiry to leave the country or change their status.
Support and Advice:
Amer Centres: Offer round-the-clock visa and immigration services.
Contact: Dubai residents can use video conference services on the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs website. For broader inquiries, the ICP can be contacted at 600 522 222 or through their online feedback platform.
#amnesty #uaevisa #overstayfines
To prepare your visa applications in Dubai, call:
No comments:
Post a Comment