Posted on July 24 2020

UAE amends rules for visas made during “peak of COVID-19”

By
Anshul Singhal
, Editor

Updated May 10 2023

On July 16, 2020, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship [ICA] stated that the grace period of 1 month – allowing holders of UAE visit/tourist visas that expired after March 1 to leave the UAE within 1 month from July 11, that is, by August 11 – is renewable for another month upon request.

After which, a UAE tourist or visit visa holder will be required to exit the UAE if they are unable to change their visa status into a residence visa. Those overstaying the grace period will be liable to face overstay fines.

On July 11, the UAE government cancelled the previous decision under which validity of tourist visas and entry permits of foreign visitors to the UAE – expiring in early March or due to expire later – was extended till the end of December 2020 for all those that were unable to leave the UAE due to suspension of flights.

As of now, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship is not issuing any tourist or visit visas for the UAE. As per the United Arab Emirates’ Government portal, “Issuance of visit or tourist visas will be considered at a later phase depending on the COVID-19 situation at the local and global levels.”

New UAE visa updates [effective from July 11, 2020]

On July 10, 2020, the UAE Cabinet approved various amendments to rules for visas and Emirates IDs that had been made “during the peak of COVID-19”, announcing the resumption of normalcy in the functioning of the ICA.

Effective July 11, 2020, the UAE Government will be implementing the following amendments –

Cancelling previous decision extending the validity of residence visas that expired in early March or were due to expire soon – for both residents within and outside the UAE – until the end of December 2020

Cancelling previous decision extending the validity of tourist visas and entry permits of foreign visitors that expired in early March or were due to expire soon until the end of December 2020 for those unable to leave the UAE

Cancelling previous decision per which validity of Emirates IDs that had expired in early March were extended till the end of December 2020

Cancelling previous decision for suspension of the collection of administrative fines for violations related to ICA services

Granting 3 months to expatriate residents, citizens, and GCC within the UAE to renew their documents as well as Emirates IDs

From July 12, ICA to resume its regular customer services. Expired residence visas and Emirates IDs to be renewed in phases.

Granting expatriate residents, citizens, and GCC citizens that had spent less than 6 months outside the UAE, a grace of 1 month – from the date of arrival in the UAE – for renewing their documents.

Granting expatriate residents that are outside the UAE with residence visa expired after March 1, 2020, or that had been staying outside the UAE for more than 6 months, a specific period for returning to the UAE from the date of opening of the airspace between the country of their present residence and the UAE.

Collection of administrative fines for violations related to the deadlines as specified in the Cabinet resolution.

Exemption of financial fines for the period prior to the issuance of this decision [for the months of March, April, May, June, till July 11 this year]

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate Overseas, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No. 1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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