The Federal Authority For Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) announced in a press conference on Wednesday that individuals who take advantage of the two-month amnesty period starting on Sunday, September 1, will not face any bans or fines.
The ICP specified that the amnesty program includes various visa categories, such as tourist visas and residency visas that have expired. Even individuals lacking proper documentation at birth are eligible for amnesty to correct their legal status.
The ICP emphasized that this is the optimal chance for individuals residing unlawfully in the UAE to either legalize their residency status or exit the country without facing penalties. Those choosing to depart can come back at any time with the appropriate visa. The ICP stated that no overstay fine or exit fee will be charged.
This marks the UAE government’s fourth amnesty program since 2007. Six years have passed since the previous one. It began on August 1, 2018, originally set to last for 90 days until October 31, 2018. However, the federal government prolonged the amnesty program for an additional two months until December 31 that year to give more residency violators the chance to correct their status or depart the country without facing consequences.
