Globally, business owners and people are embracing the United Arab Emirates as their second home. Sometimes, expatriates forget to update the UAE visa status on time, or face delays due to unforeseen circumstances. The government has given two-month grace period for UAE residency amnesty starting from 1st September 2024.
This allows expatriates to update visa status or exit the UAE without facing fines or legal consequences. UAE expats with residence visas expiry get a 2-month timeline to update their status or leave the country. It ensures a smoother experience for those seeking to rectify their UAE visa expiry status.
Accordingly, it temporarily exempts UAE residence visa violators from financial penalties. It is in line with the UAE’s Federal Law on the Entry and Residency of Foreigners. UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) is implementing measures to ensure smooth execution of visa amnesty.
Impact of UAE residency grace period on business sector
UAE companies can use the amnesty period to help the foreign investors and employees violating the residency laws. Thus, they avoid the financial penalties and administrative burdens arising from the UAE residency violations. Business consultancy firms in Dubai provide you advice on the steps to regularize the UAE residency status of your staff.
They assist you with new UAE visa applications, and deliver in-depth guidance to ensure compliance with modified residency regulations. Moreover, the ICP encourages the UAE enterprises to review the visa status of their employees. Consequently, these companies can utilize the grace period to solve the UAE residency violations without incurring additional costs.
The ICP has a commitment to streamline the process of the UAE visa status correction. Also, it enables the exit from the UAE of the residency violators during the amnesty period. It ensures a smoother experience for those seeking to rectify their UAE residency visa status.
UAE residency violation amnesty as a lifeline for expats
The decision of UAE residency amnesty is timely for overstaying expatriates to correct their visa status. Also, the foreigners who have been duped by agents who promised higher-paying careers can return to their countries. Particularly, it is beneficial for French business owners and other expats who left their homeland due to the financial crisis.
This initiative is a reprieve for those who have found difficult to earn well after the coronavirus pandemic. It is beneficial for the foreign nationals in the UAE having health issues, and struggling without the insurance cover. Several community leaders of expatriates in the UAE are praising the UAE residency violation action grace period.
Understanding the rules about UAE residency overstaying
Expatriates overstaying on an old UAE visa face hefty monetary fines from the authority. UAE did standardize the residency penalties in 2023, reducing the daily overstay fee from AED 100 to AED 50. It is applicable on all violating expat residents, tourists, and visit visa holders.
Knowing about the UAE’s residence visa regulations is crucial for expatriates to avoid penalties. UAE residency visa holders must renew their visas before expiration to avoid fines. Continuous violation of the UAE visa expiry law and persistent residency overstay can result in deportation.
UAE residency validity varies according to the type of visa and sponsorship. Company sponsored UAE visa is valid for 1 to 3 years. Whereas, self-sponsored UAE visa options hold a validity of 5 or 10 years.
Amnesty drives against UAE residency visa violations
The UAE has come up with several visa expiry amnesty drives over the years. UAE residency amnesty drive 2024 enables residents overstaying their visas or illegally entering the country to modify their status. Facilitating them to do so without fear of fines or imprisonment, this follows similar initiatives of 2023, 2013, and 2007.
Dubai government event “A Home For All” in February 2023 did highlight the pressing concern of residency status for residents. The three-day awareness event for UAE residency expiry amnesty was held at the City Centre Deira. Senior official from General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) assured authority’s interest to help people understand correct procedures.
Time and again, GDRFA expresses commitment to resolve the UAE visa expiry and residency overstay cases. Standardization of the daily financial penalty for tourists or residents overstaying their visas to Dh50 is the step. Expatriates with visa expiry get timeline to change their UAE residency status, or leave the country.
Reasons for deportation in the UAE
The executive regulations describe six cases of deportation in the UAE for expatriates. Four reasons come under the ambit of the ICP, while two are administrative. Expats breaching these rules can face deportation from the UAE, even if they have valid residence permits.
UAE expels foreigners upon the issuance of judicial deportation ruling, despite the presence of valid residency. Also, it can occur if the UAE authorities determine that expatriates have no apparent means of earning livelihood. Likewise, it happens when UAE security agencies determine deportation is necessary for public interest, civil safekeeping, or maintaining morals.
The deportation expenses are the responsibility of the residency violator, or the guarantor, or the employer. In case, the foreigner has liquidation interests in the UAE, they can liquidate them after providing an acceptable guarantee. UAE’s Ministry of Interior implements the deportation order with the help of the the General Command of the Police.
Authorities may also deport the dependent family members of the violator, who are not the UAE citizens. With the Federal Public Prosecutor’s approval, authorities detain the deportee for up to 1 month in penal and correctional institutions. Foreigners with previous deportee status can only return to the UAE with the approval of the ICP head.
Types of deportation from the UAE
The executive regulations of the UAE law distinguishes between two kinds of deportation from the UAE.
- Judicial Deportation
- Administrative Deportation
Now, we briefly look upon both classifications of the deportation from the UAE.
Judicial Deportation
The judicial deportation is a process where UAE expels foreigners who get freedom-restricting conviction for felony or misdemeanor. Also known as legal deportation, the court may order expelling ruling instead of a freedom-restricting penalty, in other misdemeanor cases. It is in accordance with Article 121 of Federal Law No. 3 of 1987, amended by Federal Law No. 34/2005 and federal decree law No. 7/2016.
Administrative Deportation
The International Criminal Court (ICCP) issues administrative deportation penalty against foreigners for reasons such as public interest, security, or morals. Also, the Federal Attorney General, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ICP can deport violating expatriates. Regardless, if they have an entry visa, work permit, or residency approval.
If it is required by public interest, security, morals, or public health, or if they’ve no apparent means of subsistence. Deportee foreigners can file a petition to the GDRFA administration in the relevant emirate. They can save themselves from administrative deportation, if they win the appeal on valid arguments.
Conclusion
The ICP has given this grace period for UAE visa violators to regularize their residency status. Otherwise, they can leave the UAE, without facing any legal action or fines. The initiative provides UAE visa violators a new opportunity to regularize their residency status in accordance with the law.
This initiative reflects on the values of compassion and tolerance that the UAE is built upon. The procedure for implementing the UAE residency amnesty is straightforward. Get full support to regularize your UAE residency status by connecting with business advisory firms like KWS ME.
FAQs about UAE residency violation amnesty grace period
These are answers to frequently asked questions about the UAE residency violation and the amnesty grace period.
The ICP states that Emirates ID holder expatriates can renew the residency permits 2 months before the expiration date. However, with special permission of the GDRFA, you can get UAE residency renewal 6 months prior to the expiry date. The ICP advises foreigners must seek residency renewal from the GDRFA in the emirate where they got the visa approval.
You have to submit visa renewal application with the copies of the passport, and valid UAE visa. Attach a letter that explains the reason for renewing the UAE residency before its expiry. Your employers in the UAE and Dubai business consultants can assist in the residency renewal procedure.
UAE residency violators can file for amnesty at the typing centers that are authorized. The user-friendly UAE residency amnesty procedure makes the violation appeal application more easier. Upon the approval, either you can correct your UAE residency status, or can leave the country without fine.
The person with expired residence visa has to apply for a new entry permit, to re-enter the UAE.
Foreigners who are UAE residents can live outside the country for up to 6 months (180 days). UAE authorities automatically cancel the residence visa of the expatriates who exceed this permissible outside country stay period. However, some exceptions for outside country overstay are available in the special cases.
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