Renew immediately if your UAE visa expired in March or April, Fines explained

The UAE Cabinet has announced the cancellation of its previous decision on the validity of visas and entry permits for those inside the country from March 1, 2020, until the end of December of this year.

The Cabinet has also approved a decision to amend a number of Resolutions related to the identity and citizenship sector and resumption of work with several procedures and decisions adopted when the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread earlier this year, and in conjunction with the return of most activities and government departments to work and support the continuity of businesses.

The decision came after the current situation was studied in detail to ensure that there were no negative effects or repercussions on various sectors.

The Cabinet approved the cancellation of the decision regarding the validity of residency visas for expatriates, who are in or outside the country and if their visas expired between March 1 and March 31, 2020.

The decision on the validity of visas and entry permits for those inside the country from March 1, 2020, until the end of December of this year stands cancelled.

The decision on identity cards that expired on March 1, 2020, being considered valid until the end of December 2020, will also be cancelled.

The Resolution will come into effect from July 11, 2020.

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) will receive applications for renewing expired residency visas and Emirates ID cards in phases.

Starting Sunday, July 12, the authority will receive applications for renewing documents that expired in March and April, the authority said on Saturday.

The residency documents that expired in May will be processed from August 8, while those that expired in June and on July 1-11 will be processed from September 10.

The phase-wise renewal schedule will help implement social distancing at ICA centres as a precautionary measure against the spread of Covid-19.

The UAE Cabinet had on Friday announced a decision to cancel all recently issued resolutions about the automatic extension of validity of residency and visit visas.

Residents in the country have been given a three-month grace period to complete their renewal procedures.

The Council instructed the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship to start collecting the fees due for providing services from July 12, 2020.

The Cabinet also cancelled the decision to stop the activation of administrative fines for violations mentioned in the decisions of the Cabinet that organize the services provided by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship as of 11th July, 2020.

The Cabinet decided to grant three months to UAE citizens, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) citizens, and residents inside the country for renewal of their documents.

It also agreed to grant one month to citizens, GCC citizens and residents from the date of their arrival in the country (who spent less than six months outside the country) to renew their documents.

It also approved granting residents who are outside the country and whose residency expired after March 1, 2020, or who have exceeded a period of six months outside the country, a period to return to the country from the date of opening the airspace between the two countries according to a time frame determined by a decision issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA).

It also endorsed that any administrative fees or fines must be collected after the deadlines specified in this resolution, and no financial fines for the exemption period will be collected. Administrative fees and financial fines will be reactivated on all services provided by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship as of July 12, 2020.

The Cabinet instructed that the current services should be provided through electronic systems as far as possible to facilitate and limit the crowding of customers.

The service departments in the country should consider the renewed electronic identity card in the smart application of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship until the issuance of the identity card.

This step coincides with the return of normality in various fields and sectors, and the return of the international air traffic in a relative manner, as the national carriers in the country announced the launching of repatriations flights.

In conjunction, the government departments prepared to receive clients while applying the best preventive measures and social distancing standards, which enable all segments of society to obtain services safely.

These include the residency extension previously granted to expatriates, who are within and outside the country, and whose visas expired between March 1 and 31, 2020. However, grace periods have been given to complete renewal procedures.  Entry permits and ID cards that have also expired will now be considered invalid.  

Here are the answers to some of your top questions:

Q: My visa and Emirates ID have expired in March, what will happen to the extension given until year-end?

A: The validity of expired visas and entry permits that was extended until the end of December this year has been cancelled. Identity cards that expired on March 1, which were previously considered valid until the end of the year, will now be deemed invalid.

Q: Now that my expired residence visa is considered invalid, how much time do I have to renew my documents?

A: If you are in the country, you have three months to renew your document. Residents and GCC citizens who spent less than six months outside the country will also be given one month for renewal, with the grace period starting from the date of their arrival in the UAE.

Q: What about residents who are outside the country with expired visas and cannot go back yet because flights are not yet available?

A: Residents who are outside the country with visas that expired in March or those who have spent more than six months abroad shall be given a window to return to the UAE from the date of reopening of airspace between the two countries. This will be according to a time frame determined by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA).

Q: Will there be any fines for violations?

A: Yes. Fines will now take effect, as the Cabinet has cancelled the previous resolution that suspended penalties on violations related to residency. It clarified that no fines for the exemption period will be collected. 

Q: When is the deadline for fines and fees that have to be settled?

A: The Cabinet directed the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship to start collecting fees from July 12.

Q: How can I get my documents renewed? 

A: Current services shall be available through electronic systems as much as possible to limit crowding at customer centres. Service departments in the country should consider and accept renewed electronic identity cards in the smart application of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.