Everything you need to know about UAE’s amnesty program for illegal residents, visitors

Immigration centers across the UAE have become beacons of hope as the country’s amnesty program commenced on September 1. Over the next two months, these centers will provide a chance for illegal residents and visitors to regularize their status or exit the country without facing penalties.

On the first day of this initiative, skilled expatriates were offered jobs, fines worth thousands of dirhams were waived, and families who had lived without documentation for years could finally obtain identities.

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) announced on Wednesday that no overstay fines or exit fees would be collected under the program. Those who choose to leave the country will not face an entry ban and can return to the UAE with the appropriate visa at any time.

Who is eligible?

The amnesty program is open to a wide range of individuals, including those with expired tourist or residency visas. It also extends to people born in the UAE without proper documentation and those who absconded from their sponsors. However, individuals who entered the country illegally or violated visa rules after September 1 are not eligible. Additionally, those who have been deported from the UAE or other GCC countries will not be able to apply for amnesty.

What is the cost and process?

The entire process of changing your visa status or obtaining an exit permit comes at no cost. All fines previously incurred for overstaying will be waived, and the exit permit will be valid for 14 days. However, if the individual does not leave the country within this period, the previous fines will be reinstated.

Maj Gen Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, deputy director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, urged residents to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

Where to apply

Applicants can apply for the amnesty at various centers across the UAE. In Dubai, all Amer centers and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) center in Al Awir are providing amnesty services. In Abu Dhabi, ICP centers are located in Al Dhafra, Suwaihan, Al Maqa, and Al Shahama. Service centers will operate from 7 AM to 10 PM, with biometric fingerprinting required for processing. Online applications are also available through ICP electronic and smart channels, as well as approved typing centers.

Support for Indian nationals

The Consulate General of India in Dubai has introduced several measures to assist Indian nationals who are overstaying in the country. Indian citizens wishing to return home can apply for an Emergency Certificate (EC), while those looking to regularize their residency status may apply for a short-validity passport. Special facilitation counters have been set up at the Consulate General of India in Dubai and at the Al Awir Immigration Centre, operational from 8 AM to 6 PM starting Monday, September 2.

The UAE’s amnesty program underscores the values of respect for the law, tolerance, and social cohesion. It provides a much-needed opportunity for visa and residency violators to correct their status through a streamlined and compassionate process, enabling them to secure their rights, exit safely, or continue to live and work in the country in accordance with the law.