UAE Residency Violators Urged To Regularize Status Before Dec. 31 Deadline

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security (ICP) asked people who are violating residency laws in the UAE to quickly correct their status before the deadline on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

The ICP originally gave a two-month grace period from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, but later extended it by another two months. According to the authority, this is the last chance for violators to fix their status, Gulf News reported.

Amnesty Categories include:

• Visa Violators: People who stay in the UAE beyond the allowed time after their visa expires.
• Residency Violators: Individuals whose residency permits have expired, including any grace period, making their stay in the UAE unlawful.
• Administrative or Absconding Violators: Workers who leave their jobs without informing their employer and without a valid legal reason.
• Foreign-born newborns: Babies born in the UAE whose parents or guardians fail to update their residency status within four months of birth.

When the extension ends, fines for residency violations will start again from Jan. 1. The ICP will also increase inspection campaigns with help from other government agencies to take legal action against violators wherever they are found.

The ICP explained that the extended grace period is a final opportunity for violators to correct their status without paying fines, or risk being banned from re-entering the UAE. The ICP recently shared that, during the first week of the grace period, 88% of violators who applied to correct their status chose to stay and work in the UAE, while 12% decided to leave.

The ICP urged residency violators to use the grace period to correct their status by applying through online platforms or authorized typing centers. Visits to service centers were only required for biometric fingerprinting if instructed.

Starting Jan. 1, strict enforcement of laws and fines will begin for those who failed to resolve their status during the grace period. Intensive inspection campaigns, conducted with police and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE), will target violators.

A senior GDRFA Dubai official confirmed that thousands benefited from the grace period by either leaving the UAE without a ban or securing work contracts and legal residency. Many violators found job opportunities during this time, allowing them to start afresh without fines or violations.

Services for Applicants:

• Issuing, renewing, and canceling work permits.
• Addressing absconding complaints for violators with expired work permits or residency visas during the grace period.
• Regularizing the status of violators with absconding complaints, including those under establishments or domestic worker categories.

During the four-month grace period, the ministry waived administrative fines for establishments failing to submit employment contracts or renew work permits. Applications were accepted through the ministry's website, smart app, business service centers, and domestic worker recruitment offices.