UAE grants one-month grace period for those with expired visit visas to exit the country

The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) has decided to grant a one-month grace period to those with expired entry permits and visas to exit the country without having to pay any fines.

The grace period will commence from Tuesday, August 11.

The decision was announced on August 10, which was previously set as the deadline to either change the status on visas which had expired after March 1, or for those that possessed these expired visas to exit the country.

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, ICA, issued a decision to extend the deadline for holders of expired entry permits and visas from 11th August, 2020, for one month, to enable them to leave the country and exempt them from all resulting fines.#ICA pic.twitter.com/NLrlZSHf91

— Identity and Citizenship- UAE (@ICAUAE) August 10, 2020

The ICA urged those with expired documents to exit the country within the set deadline to ensure that they do not face any difficulties in applying for an entry permit or visa when they wish to return to the UAE.

This latest exemption comes after the ICA announced on July 12 that it would grant a one-month extension to tourist and visit visa holders in the UAE whose permits have expired after March 1 to either update their visa status or exit the country.

Read: UAE tourists, visitors with expired permits given one month to exit country

Last month, the UAE cabinet issued a directive to cancel a previous decision that automatically extended the validity of residency visas for expatriates – inside or outside the country – which expired after March 1, 2020 until year-end.

Read also: Expired UAE residence visas, ID cards no longer valid until December-end

The authorities subsequently announced a phased renewal process whereby applicants can visit the renewal centres to change their visa status.

While those with residency visas and Emirates IDs which expired in March and April were asked to renew their applications from July 12 onwards, those with documents that expired in May can, as of August 11, submit their renewal applications.

Read more: UAE announces phased renewals of expired residency visas, Emirates IDs from July 12

Authorities have warned that administrative fees or fines will be collected after the deadlines specified.