Re-entry permit for expats abroad for 6+ months

Eudore R. Chand

ABU DHABI 1 February 2023: The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) announced that it added a smart service for entry permits related to residents who stayed outside the UAE for more than 6 months.

The service was activated as of last Friday (January 27). The authority explained that this service does not apply to residents who hold golden residence permits.

The authority said in a statement to Wam that the new service was launched with the aim of enabling residents who have valid residence permits and were forced to stay outside the country for study, work or treatment for a period of more than 6 months. If they exhaust the specified period for staying outside the country (less than six months), that results in the cancellation of residence from a legal perspective.

The authority explained that the new service allows such residents to re-activate the residency and use it to enter the country, subject to the approval of the authority.

This service includes all residencies approved within the system of services provided by the authority.

It stated that the approval of a permit request for those who stayed outside the country for more than 6 months requires submitting a copy of their Emirates ID and a copy of the passport, and writing the reason for the delay in entering the country during that period, stressing that this service Is limited only to customers from abroad and who stayed outside the UAE for more than 6 months.

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