All visa fines for UAE expats waived

The UAE has decided to waive residency and visit visa fines for all expats whose documents expired in early March.

These individuals have a three-month grace period to exit the UAE starting from May 18th without facing any fines.

Furthermore, those that avail of the initiative and depart from the country would not be barred from returning to the country in the future.

Brigadier General Al Kaabi: As per the directives of UAE President,His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,holders of both residency and visit visas that expired in early March are exempted from fines.They have a three-month grace period to depart UAE starting May 18th.

— UAEGov (@uaegov) May 13, 2020

The directive was issued by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE, and conveyed by Brigadier Khamis Al Kaabi, official spokesman for the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) on Wednesday night.

Al Kaabi added that the decision includes exemption from all fines related to ID cards and expired work permits too.

On March 26, the UAE officials announced that work permits and residence visas will be issued and renewed automatically for labourers employed by companies and support service staff such as domestic workers.

Read: UAE to automatically renew residency visas of domestic helpers, labourers

On April 5, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced a decision to cancel all residency visa fines until the end of the year, similar to the announcement made on Wednesday.

Read also: No fines for residency visa violations in UAE until the end of the year

On April 13, government officials confirmed that residency visas of expatriates, whether they are inside or outside of the country, will remain valid until the end of the year.

Read more: UAE residency visas and Emirates IDs to remain valid until the end of 2020

In 2018, the UAE had launched a five-month visa amnesty scheme during which it had waived off fines worth millions of dirhams.

Read: UAE waives millions of dirhams in fines during amnesty