UAE Extends Visa Amnesty Program for Expats
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has extended its visa amnesty program until December 31, 2024, responding to high demand from expats seeking to adjust their visa status. Originally set to conclude on October 31, the program allows visa violators to regularize their status or leave the country without incurring fines.
This decision, announced by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP), aligns with the UAE’s 53rd Union Day celebrations and underscores the country’s commitment to humanitarian values, according to Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of ICP.
The amnesty initiative aims to help individuals either regularize their residency or secure an employment contract. Al Khaili emphasized that this extension is the final opportunity for overstayers to rectify their status without facing bans. Following this extension, fines for violators will automatically apply starting January 1, 2025.
The ICP reported a significant uptake in participants taking advantage of the program over the past two months. Employers are advised against hiring overstayers and violators to avoid hefty fines of up to one million Dirhams.
This is the fourth amnesty program initiated by the UAE government since 2007, with the last one occurring in 2018.
