DUBAI 21 July 2020: It was previously announced that residency visas, entry permits and Emirates IDs that expired after 1st March would be extended until the end of the year. The extension was automatic, and no fines were to be incurred for overstaying the date mentioned on the visa.
All expatriates in the UAE holding a residency visa, visit visa or mission visa could stay within the UAE on their current visa until the end of December 2020. In the event of a residence visa holder being outside of the UAE and their visa expiring after 1st March, their visa validity would be extended until the visa holder was able to enter the UAE.
On 11th July 2020, the United Arab Emirates Cabinet announced the cancellation of this previous decision related to the validity of visas and entry permits for those inside the country from 1st March, until the end of December 2020.
Previous rule is now cancelled, what next?
It depends on the situation and visa status. Different rules apply dependent on whether an expatriate residency holder is in or outside of the UAE and if the visa has been cancelled or has expired. Please see below an outline of the new requirements:
- Expatriates currently inside the country with an expired residency visa (after 1st March 2020) will be granted a three-month grace period from the date of the announcement to renew the residency visa.
- Expatriates holding a UAE residency visa that expired after 12th July 2020 should proceed with the renewal as per the normal process.
- For residency visa holders inside the country with a visa cancelled between 1st March 2020 and 1st July 2020, fines will be applied immediately. It is recommended that these individuals exit the country or change the current visa status.
- For expatriates, whose residency visas were cancelled after 1st July 2020, they will be given a grace period of 30 days to exit the country or change the status onto a new visa.
- For residency visa holders currently outside the UAE for less than 6 months, if their residency visa expired after 1st March, they will be given a one-month grace period from the date of arrival to the UAE to renew the residency visa.
- For residency visa holders who have been outside of the UAE for more than 6 months and have an expired visa, they may be granted a specific grace period which will be determined accordingly once flights resume between the country they are currently in and the UAE. Once they arrive back to the UAE, they may be granted a 30 days grace period to renew their residency visa.
- For individuals currently on a visit visa which has been expired after 1st March 2020, they will be given a three-month grace period to exit the country or change visa status.
What are these heavy fines am I hearing? Does it start from 12th June
At present it is not clear as to whether the fines will be incurred from 1st July or 12th July.
In the case of a cancelled or expired visa, failure to comply with the new regulations could result in an overstay fine of Dh225 for the first day and Dh25 for any subsequent days.
- If the visa was cancelled after 1st March but before 1st July, the fines will begin immediately.
- In case the visa was cancelled after 1st July, there will be a 30-day grace period. Once this has elapsed, these fines will be applied.
- For residency visas expired between 1st March and 12th July and the individual is inside UAE, there will be a three-month grace period before the fines incur.
In the case of an expired visit visa, the expatriate will be granted a three- month grace period from July, after which overstay fines will be incurred at Dh300 for the first day and Dh 100 for any subsequent days.
What are the next steps moving forward?
Moving forwards, it is likely that the visa renewal process will return to normal and the same processes will resume that were applicable pre Covid-19.
It is advisable that those currently on visit visas exit the country, renew their visa or change the status to an employment visa prior to 10th October 2020.
For those on expired visa’s, it is advisable to renew them immediately if expired after 12th July or by 10th October if expired between 1st March and 12th July.
For those on cancelled visas, it is recommended to exit the country or change the status as soon as possible.
Note: The author is Deputy CEO of Pro Partner Group, a leading company setup, local partnership and PRO service provider in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the wider UAE, Oman and Qatar.
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