Fees and fines to be reactivated on UAE visa services

The UAE Cabinet has approved various amendments to decisions related to the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. These changes include the reactivation of fees and fines for UAE visa services.

The UAE Cabinet announced that a number of measures relaxed by authorities at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic have now been revised in light of the easing of restrictions in the region. The Cabinet’s new decision overrides the previous announcements announced in mid-May which extended the validity of residency visas, entry and residency permits, and ID cards expired after 01 March until 31 December.

The UAE will resume charging fees for visa services from Sunday 12 July, according to the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA). Renewal of Visas and Emirates IDs will need to be processed as below:

Other changes that are now in effect include:

  • The Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) will start collecting fees due for its services from 12 July.
  • A grace period of three months has been granted to Emiratis, GCC citizens and residents in the UAE to renew documents. Date stipulated by the authority is 10 October.
  • Residents who are outside the country, those whose residency visas expired after 01 March, and those who stayed outside the UAE for more than a six month period will be granted a “specific” time period to return to the country effective from the date of opening airspace between the two countries. Such residents will be given one month to renew their visa after arriving in the UAE.
  • For individuals on visit/tourist visas that expired after 01 March, they will now have until 10 August to exit/renew the existing visit visa with no penalties. However, for those who wish to change to an employment visa, fines will be applicable from 12 July 2020 at the time of ‘status change’ processing.
  • Individuals who are on cancelled visa from 01 March will have to pay penalties starting from 01 July, and those on cancelled visas after 01 July will have a grace period as normal which is 30 days from cancellation date.
  • Any visas that expire after 12 July will undergo the normal process of renewal with medical tests, etc.
  • The ICA will collect all administrative fees or applicable fines after the aforementioned deadlines pass.

If you have any questions about how these changes may affect you or your organisation, please get in touch with us on info@linksgroup.com or +971 (0) 4 446 3900.

 

Disclaimer: All information provided in this article was correct at time of publishing. Dates are subject to change without notice, please check with the relevant local authority or your Links Group representative for further information.