Starting September 1, 2024, the UAE is offering a two-month amnesty for people with visa and residency violations. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) announced this amnesty in a recent press conference.
During this period, anyone with issues related to their visa, including tourists or those with expired residency visas, can correct their status or leave the UAE without facing any fines. This includes people who were born in the UAE without proper documentation. If they choose to leave, they can return later with the correct visa, and no exit fees or overstay fines will be charged.
Major General Suhail Al Khaili from the ICP explained that the amnesty covers several categories: those who are staying illegally, those who have violated visa rules, people listed for work absenteeism, and foreign children born in the UAE with unregistered residency.
This is the fourth amnesty offered by the UAE since 2007. The last one was extended in 2018 to allow more people to take advantage of it.
The amnesty can be processed through ICP’s online services and fingerprinting centers across the UAE. People who use this opportunity will not face any bans on their passports, and they will not incur any additional fees related to residency or visa cancellation.
However, those who continue to violate residency rules after September 1, 2024, or who are involved in restricted deportation cases will not be eligible for this amnesty.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
