GOOD NEWS FOR NIGERIANS ET AL: The UAE visa amnesty period extended!!

If your UAE visa has expired then you won’t face immediate heavy fines and will be able to leave the country without further punishment during the grace period.

You will also be able to correct your UAE visa status within this time frame without facing a fine or a travel ban. 

The Federal Authority for Identity Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has announced an extension to the two-month UAE visa amnesty period. 

Despite warning violators that there would be no extension to the grace period, the ICP has now changed its mind and extended the amnesty until the end of 2024. Tuesday December 31, New Year’s Eve, will now be the final day violators can correct their UAE visa status. 

Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of ICP, said that the extended deadline came in conjunction with the upcoming 53rd UAE National Day celebrations and that the grace period embodies the humanitarian and civilised values of the country. 

The initial amnesty period, which began on Sunday September 1 proved to be extremely popular. 

Why the UAE visa amnesty has been extended 

While the timing does coincide with a period of national celebration, the main crux of the extension is to respond to appeals from violators who wished to settle their status. 

With an additional two month, those in violation of the UAE’s visa rules have longer to get the necessary paperwork together, settle their status by leaving the country, find employment or modify their residency status. Service centres across the country are believed to have experienced a significant surge in demand particularly in the final days of the original October 31 deadline. 

Al Khaili emphasised that this extension will be the last chance for violators to rectify their status. If you need to travel home then you’ll need a departure permit through the appropriate channels which will give you a window of 14 days to travel with the exit permit. 

If your exit permit expires during the UAE visa amnesty period then you’ll still be allowed to travel but if it expires after December 31 then it will be cancelled with previous fines reinstated and any travel bands reactivated. 

Once the amnesty period concludes, fines will be reimposed on those who remain in violation. 

And those who are currently in violation are warned that the authority will intensify inspection campaigns targeting violators and take legal action against those found in breach after the extension period ends.

The required documents for a UAE residence visa

• A medical fitness certificate (if over the age of 18)
• A recent coloured personal photo with a white background
• A valid copy of your passport
• A valid copy of the sponsor’s passport with a valid residence permit
• Attested birth certificate of the dependent (for children)
• Entry permit
• Emirates ID application receipt
• Housing lease contract or proof of owning a residence
• Medical insurance or health card
• Mother’s residence photo (if a newborn)