Expats living in the UAE illegally can now take advantage of an amnesty scheme to regularise their residency status or leave the country without paying any fines or receieving a re-entry ban.
The general visa amnesty will start on 1 August and end on 31 October, and the Federal Authority has set up nine centres for amnesty seekers across the UAE to visit, with the aim to make the “Emirates free from violators” via this initiative.
The authority made it clear that those who will be leaving the country on the exit passes can return to the country legally. Even those who fled from their sponsors can leave the country without paying any fines or getting any ban on re-entry. There is an exception for those who entered the country through unauthorised means, as a re-entry ban of two years will apply.
If illegal residents want to stay in the country, they can rectify their visa status for a minimal fee and can register at the virtual labour market website of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, to find job opportunities in the country.
The authority also made it clear that wide inspections will be carried out across the country after the amnesty period ends and there will be severe consequences for those who will shelter illegal immigrants.
Brigadier Saeed Rakan Al Rashedi, Director of Residency Affairs at the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship said that all kinds of visa violators - those who overstayed, fled from their company’s sponsors or homes, can apply for the amnesty scheme. He encourages visa violators to apply for the amnesty and assures that the whole process will not take more than two working days provided all the documents have been submitted.
The amnesty centres will be open weekdays from 8am till 8pm and are located in:
- Abu Dhabi - Immigration office in Shahama
- Abu Dhabi - Immigration office in Al Ain
- Abu Dhabi - Immigration office in Al Gharbia
- Dubai- Immigration office in Al Aweer
- Sharjah- Immigration office
- Ajman- Immigration office
- Fujairah- Immigration office
- Ras Al Khaimah- Immigration office
- Umm Al Quwain- Immigration office