‘Overstay fines’ for expired visit visas from 11th September

Beginning 11^th September, tourists or visitors whose visit visas expired after 1^st March will have to now pay ‘overstay fines’.

As revealed by an Amer Call Centre agent, the penalty for overstay is Dh.200 for the first day, Dh.100 each for consecutive day, and Dh.100 as service fee. The exact fine amount would be revealed soon, he added.

However, irrespective of whether the overstay fines are calculated from 11^th September or from the exact date when the visitor’s visa expired, is yet to be ascertained.

“Only immigration authorities will be able to tell how the amount will be calculated, based on visa information,” the agent said.

“No extension of visa validity”

Another agent confirmed that so far there have been no intimation on extension of visa validity.

According to announcement by UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), a one-month extension was announced for visitors whose entry permits expired post 1^st March. The extension began on 11^th August and ended on 11^th September.

"The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship extends the grace period for holders of expiring entry permits, starting from August 11 for a period of one month, with the aim of enabling them to leave the country with exemption from all fines during this period," the ICA had announced earlier in a tweet.

On 10^th July, the UAE had announced the holders of visit or tourist visas that expired after 1^st March, to leave UAE within a month from 11^th July (i.e., 11^th August).

The UAE Cabinet had issued a decision which cancelled all earlier issued resolutions pertaining to the residency of expatriates and validity of visas, ID cards and entry permits. The automatic extension of expired visas and IDs until December this year, was withdrawn.

The Managing Director of Smart Travels, Afi Ahmed said that most of the people who were on visit visa have already availed extensions. As for, those who did not do so, he was unsure if they have already left the country.

"Unlike last time, we didn't have a lot of last-minute applications. A large segment of our customers are Indians. They have all changed their status and many have also applied for the one-month extensions. We have seen a few last-minute applications from members of the Nigerian community," said Harish Kumar, Managing Director, Jubilant Group.