UAE extends exit pass validity as more than 27,000 are given visa amnesty in Dubai

People whose visas expired have until October 31 to make their stay legal or leave

GDRFA officials are urging visa overstayers to legalise their presence in the UAE. Victor Besa / The National

Authorities in the UAE have extended the exit pass validity for those seeking amnesty for their expired visas, giving them until October 31 to leave the country.

Earlier, amnesty seekers had 14 days from when an exit pass was issued to put their papers in order and leave the Emirates.

“We have extended the exit pass validity until the end of the amnesty … that's the end of October,” a senior General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) official told The National.

The exit pass gives visa overstayers enough time to plan their departure without incurring an overstay fine or ban during the amnesty programme. Anyone who has obtained can later re-enter the country if they find a job. “You won't face any ban and can come back anytime,” said Lt Col Salem Bin Ali, GDRFA director of customer happiness department.

Those wishing to stay and look for employment have two months from when they legalise their status to do so. “When you change the status you are in the clear," Lt Col Ali said.

Looming deadline

As the number of people granted amnesty at Dubai's Amer centres touched 27,173, GDRFA officials urged those planning to make their stay in the UAE legal to “hurry” before the October-end deadline.

“Today we are at day 24. Time is running out so we are asking people to hurry up,” Lt Col Ali said. “Some people might think they still have time to sort out their paperwork and change their status, but it's better to get started now.

“We need everyone to be happy and stay legally in the UAE.”

According to the data released on Tuesday, 19,772 people got their status legalised and 7,401 were handed exit passes at 86 Amer centres since the start of the amnesty initiative.

“We are committed to providing full support to anyone looking to regularise their status, whether through the services provided by Amer Centres or through our specialised teams,” said Lt Gen Mohamed Al Marri, director general of GDRFA Dubai.

The statistics for Al Awir Centre in Dubai were not released. An earlier report showed that 2,393 people had filed their applications at Al Awir Centre during the first seven days of the amnesty.

Faral Ally Hamis, from Tanzania, during the second day of visa amnesty at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai in Al Awir area. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National

People wait to be seen at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai.

Officials help direct those waiting during the second day of visa amnesty in Dubai.

Visitors were given free coconut water at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai.

Kashem Samir Hossain, from Bangladesh, during the second day of visa amnesty at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

Officials help during the second day of visa amnesty at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai.

Officials deal with the queues at the visa amnesty at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Al Awir, Dubai.

Maj Gen Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, Deputy Director General of GDRFA, centre, talking to visitors

Officials in the women's section during the visa amnesty

People who have overstayed their residence or visit visas will not be fined

Venus Devera from the Philippines with her 15-month-old daughter Alvia Faith at the General Directorate in Dubai

The two-month initiative is open for people with expired residency and visit visas

Christopher Kyeyunemr, 29, from Uganda, was one of the first people to obtain the exit pass after living illegally for two years

Companies set up their stands to recruit candidates during the visa amnesty

Bachaire Polindao from the Philippines with her 10-month-old daughter Amal Mohamed Mustafa at the amnesty in Dubai

People wait to have their stay in the UAE legalised

Passport validity requirement eased

People with one-month validity on their passports will be allowed to apply for amnesty, authorities have announced.

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security said the earlier requirement for six-month passport validity has been changed to make it easier for visa overstayers as embassies currently take weeks to process new passports or renew travel documents.

Major General Suhail Al Khaili, director general of the ICP, said the amendment to accept passports with one-month validity will only be valid until October 31.

Where to apply for the amnesty

There are locations throughout the emirates where an application for amnesty can be processed.

In Abu Dhabi, people can apply at ICP centres in Al Dhafra, Sweihan, Al Maqam and Al Shahamah and private typing centres that are recognised by the ICP.

Typing centres typically perform administrative services, including application submissions.

In Dubai, amnesty services will be provided at its Amer service centres, and the centre for immigration violators in Al Awir.

Amnesty applications can be made at ICP centres throughout the rest of the Emirates.

Service centres will be operational daily throughout the amnesty from 8am until 8pm.

When does the amnesty end?

The amnesty is scheduled to end on October 31. However, an earlier nationwide initiative that was to run for three months was extended by several weeks.

The ICP said that during the amnesty “violators can regularise their status or leave the country without incurring fines”.

The initiative in 2018 led to long queues at immigration centres as people looked to resolve their residency status.

More than 105,000 people benefitted then from the UAE’s five-month visa amnesty programme.

There were 30,387 people who received exit permits after fines were waived, while 6,288 people received new residency visas and 18,530 people renewed their visas.

Another 35,549 permits were also issued for job seekers while 13,843 people changed their status from illegal to legal.

Watch: A Closer Look: UAE's visa amnesty explained

A Closer Look: UAE visa amnesty explained

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