fine for overstaying tourist visa in uae

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This page provides information on visa cost, fines for overstaying and rules for modifying visa status.

Visa service fees

Visa charges are stated on each service card on the websites of ICP and GDRFA-D .

Overstaying fines

The  ICP has standardised  the overstaying fines in the UAE. According to the new rules, visit, tourist and residence visa overstaying fees have standardised at AED 50 per day. Those overstaying on a residency visa will have to pay AED 50 each day (AED 50 per day instead of AED 25).

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UAE visa overstay fine: 5 ways to check and pay for your overstay fine

Living in uae.

Dh50 fine per day on visit, tourist or residence visa; here's how to avoid overstaying

Dubai: Whether you are in the UAE on a tourist, visit or residence visa, it is important to always remember the date on which you visa expires. This is because if you overstay your visa, you would be liable to pay fines as determined by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).

Here is how you can find out when your visa expires, and how to check any overstay fines you may have incurred.

When will my visa expire?

Visit or tourist visa.

1. On your visa copy: When you are issued a visit visa or a tourist visa, you typically receive an electronic copy, either on your registered email address, if you apply for it directly through ICP or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA – Dubai) or from the travel agent, if you have applied through an agency.

The last date of the visa’s validity is clearly mentioned on this visa copy as ‘expiry date’, right after the visa number – which is also referred to as the entry permit number - and the date and place of issue.

2. Online: You can also visit the websites of ICP or GDRFA to check the visa validity. Visit either of the following websites:

a. ICP: https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/fileValidity

b. GDRFA – Dubai: https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Public_Th/StatusInquiry_New.aspx

You will then be asked to provide your passport number, visa number and date of birth. Once you enter the details, the system will show you details of your visa, along with the ‘Last Date of leaving the country’.

Residence visa

1. Visa sticker - As a residence visa holder, you can check the date your visa is about to expire by either looking at your residence visa – if you recently renewed your visa, or applied for one, but you may not have a visa stamp on your passport. However, you can still check the digital version of your visa, by following these steps .

• Five reasons why you should download the UAE Pass app

2. Emirates ID - Your Emirates ID would also be a good reference point, to check the expiry date, as the visa and Emirates ID application procedures have been unified . On your Emirates ID, look at the date of expiry. This would be the same date that your visa would also expire.

3. Online: You can also visit the ICP website, to check the date of expiry: https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/fileValidity

You will then be asked to provide your passport number or Emirates ID number and date of birth. Once you enter the details, the system will show you details of your visa, along with the ‘File expiry date’.

You can also avoid getting visa, Emirates ID fines by enabling notifications on your phone. To know more, click here.

Overstay fines – Dh50 per day

The ICP has standardised the overstaying fines in the UAE. According to the new rules, visit, tourist and residence visa overstaying fees have been standardised at Dh50 per day.

How to pay overstay fines

1. Online: You can pay the overstay fines through the following websites: a. ICP: https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/fines/407/step1?administrativeRegionId=1&withException=false b. GDRFA: https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/fines-inquiry-service Simply enter the details of your visa, after which the system will show you the fines that you need to pay. You can pay the fines by using a credit or debit card. 2. Typing centre: You can also visit a typing centre registered with ICP , if you are planning to apply for a new visa or leave the country by paying the overstay fines. You can find the complete list of authorised typing offices in the UAE, through this website: https://icp.gov.ae/en/typing-offices/ 3. Amer centre: Amer centres processes immigration applications on behalf of Dubai's GDRFA. You can find the list of Amer Centres located in Dubai, through this website: https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/customer-happiness-centers# 4. ICP Customer happiness centre

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Home / Overstay fine in UAE

Overstay fine in UAE - 2024 detailed guide

Updated june 14 th , 2023.

This advisory guide covers all the necessary information about overstay fine in UAE to help those who overstaying in tourist visa or cancelled residence visa during 2024.

Table Of Contents

• 2. Over staying fine for visitors
• 3. Overstaying fine for residents
• 4. Where to pay the fine
• 5. How to avoid paying fines
• 6. Fines during Corona-virus
• 7. Modifying visa status
• 8. Is it criminal?
• 9. Overstaying affect my re-entry?

What are overstay fines in UAE & how much is it?

Any visitor overstaying on a pre-paid or on-arrival UAE visit visa will be charged a fine of 50 AED. The overstaying penalty in the UAE has been standardized by the UAE ICP from October 14, 2022. The new regulations set the daily charge for overstaying a visit, tourist, or residency visa at AED 50. Over stayers on resident visas will now be charged AED 50 per day rather than the previous AED 25.

Over staying fine for visitors – Explained

• A. 30 days on arrival
• B. 90 days on arrival
• C. Prepaid visa holders
• D. Indian passport holders with USA Visa, EU Residency visa & UK Residency visa
• E. Mexican passport 180 days on arrival
• F. Brazil 90 days on arrival

Important Note

Individuals staying in UAE with a 30 days on arrival visa are the only ones who having a grace period of 10 days.While prepaid visa holders and others having zero days grace period. If you overstay after your grace period is over or visa validity period over, you will have to pay a fine of 50 AED for the first day of overstaying and 50 AED per day from the second day onwards. Additionally, at the time of exiting UAE you will have to pay for a exit permit of 250-350 AED. If you extend your stay via immigration or a tourism company you will be charged 50 AED per day as overstaying fine.

A 30 days on arrival

If you are a passport holder of the countries mentioned below then you don't require a prepaid visa as you will be eligible for a 30 day visa that will be stamped on arrival at the UAE port of entry (airport, land border or seaport). All you have to do is disembark your flight at Dubai International Airport and head to immigration where your 30 day on arrival visa will be stamped on your passport free of charge.

B 90 days on arrival

If you hold a passport from any of the countries or territories mentioned below, your passport will be stamped with a 90 day multiple entry visa upon arrival at any of UAE's ports of entry. This multiple entry visit visa is valid for a total of 6 months from the date of issue and permits the holder for a stay totaling to 90 days within that time span.

Citizens from European countries mentioned in the above list don't get a grace period. If the individual overstays beyond grace period he will be charged a fine of 50 AED for the first day of overstaying and 50 AED per day from the second day onwards. Additionally, at the time of exiting UAE you will have to pay for a exit permit of 250-350 AED. If you have extended your stay by opting for an inside country visa without exit you will be charged 50 AED per day of overstaying. And above nationals are eligible for a pre-paid visa extension after the 90-day visa on arrival has been used as it’s valid for 6 months.

C Prepaid visa holders

If you hold a passport from Asian, African or other developing countries in the world you need to apply for a entry visa before entering UAE. You can apply for a single entry UAE visit visa or a multiple entry UAE visit visa via an airline or local tour companies.

All prepaid visa holders (single entry or multiple entry - 30 days, 60 days and 90 days) have zero grace period. Overstaying beyond this grace period will incur a fine of 50 AED for the first day of overstaying and 50 AED per day from the second day onwards. Additionally, at the time of exiting UAE you will have to pay for a exit permit of 250-350 AED. If you take a visa extension via your current sponsor or a new tour company you will be fined 50 AED per day of overstaying.

D Indian passport holders with USA Visa or USA Green card holder, EU Residency visa & UK Residency visa

Indian passport holders holding a USA green card or having USA visa, EU residency visa or UK residency visa are eligible for a UAE visa on arrival that is valid for 14 days. It is extendable once for a period of 14 days. The fee for this on-arrival permit is 100 AED and renewal fee is 250 AED and 20 AED service charge.

On the first entry you are eligible for a 10 day grace period after your 14 day stay is completed. You can extend one more time after which you can't extend anymore you have to exit UAE. Another option is to contact a tourism company for a visa change without exit. If the individual overstays beyond the grave period he will be fined 50 AED for the first day and 50 AED per day from the second day onwards. Additionally, at the time of exiting UAE you will have to pay for a exit permit of 250-350 AED.

E Mexican passport 180 days on arrival

If you are a Mexican passport holder you are eligible for a 180 day multiple entry visit visa that is valid for a total of 6 months from the date of issue. This allows you to stay for a total of 180 days in the UAE.

No 10 day grace period is given for Mexican citizens who overstay. Overstay fines are 50 AED for the first day and 50 AED for each day from the second day onwards. Additionally, at the time of exiting UAE you will have to pay for a exit permit of 250-350 AED. If an inside country visa without exit is used to extend the stay then 50 AED will be charged per day of overstaying.

F Brazil passport 90 days on arrival

If you are a Brazil passport holder you get free 90 days on arrival visa that is valid for 365 days where as 90 total days can be used with in an year

No 10 days grace period given for Brazil nationals & Overstay fines are 50 AED for the first day and 50 AED for each day from the second day onwards. Additionally, at the time of exiting UAE you will have to pay for a exit permit of 250-350 AED.

Overstaying fine for residents – Explained

If you are a UAE resident after your residence visa gets expired, you have a 30 day grace period to change your status, apply for a new residence visa or exit the country. There won't be any fines charged during the grace period. If the individual overstays after the grace period, a fine of 50 AED will be charged for the first day and 50 AED for every day from the second day onwards. Additionally, 50 AED will be charged per day after six months of overstaying and 50 AED per day after one year of overstaying. If your new employer is taking a long time to process your residence visa you can apply for a tourist visa with or without exit and get a status change. For more details check our UAE tourist visa extension option for a better idea.

Where to pay the fine

You can settle your overstaying fines at any of the entry ports (airport, land border, sea ports), immigration offices, Amer offices and typing centres. If you are opting for an extension, the tourism company will make the payment for you.

Most UAE residents and visitors are settling their overstaying fines while exiting UAE through the airports, Ports and land borders in any of the 7 Emirates. Every point of entry is equipped with well-trained immigration officers and systemized processes to collect the overstaying fines and help make your exit a hassle-free process.

If you feel like settling any overstaying dues before you leave to make the exit process less time consuming, feel free to make the payments in any of the local immigration offices, Amer offices or typing centres.

30 day or 90 day on arrival visa holders, prepaid visa holders or Mexicans are eligible to extend their stay via a local tourism firm. While extending their stay, they can settle any overstaying fines of the previous visa.After reforms, also visit visa holders who are extending their stay need to make a payment of 50 AED per day of overstay and residence visa holders need to pay 50 AED per day and additional 50-100 AED will be service charge.

How to avoid paying fines

Make sure to adhere to these tips and you won't have to pay any overstaying fines.

• 1. Plan your return trip beforehand. This trick will save you lots of money as you won’t need to pay any overstay fines. Use Visa days calculator to count your days of stay accurately.
• 2. Make use of the Days Calculator Days Between Two Dates and tick the ‘Include end date in calculation’ box. 1 day will be added as UAE immigration counts your date of entry into the country too
• 3. Use the UAE Immigration’s file validity checking systems to confirm your last day of stay after you have entered the country.
• 4. Request your visa provider to send you screenshots from the immigration system to confirm your last day of stay in UAE.
• 5. Get to know your visa type and read the Type of visas in UAE for a better understanding of grace periods and their availability.
• 6. Avoid any travels on the last day of your grace period as delays in flights can postpone your stay resulting in fines being charged. Always travel a minimum of 2 days before your last day of grace period.

Fines During Corona-virus

Any UAE visit visa holders waiting for an announcement for a stay extension for the individuals unable to leave UAE due to airport closures and flight cancellations there won't be any overstaying fines charged. The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship had made a statement on March 23, 2020 that such individuals will be able to extend their stay in the country until situations improve. Source : Khaleej Time

Modifying visa status – Status change

Under the Ministerial Resolution No. 377 of 2014 , visa holders of all types can modify the status of their entry while staying in the country if they wish to get a residency visa. A payment of 550 to 650 AED and compliance to certain requirements and conditions have to be met for successfully modifying visa status into residency visa. However, the applicant must ensure to perform this step before his current visa expires to avoid any fines being charged.

Is it criminal?

In UK, overstaying without a valid reason is a criminal offence under section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971 . In UAE, there is no law that says overstaying a visitor's visa or expired residence visa is a criminal offence. Most of the visit visa holders and cancelled residence visa holders overstay due to reasons like flight cancellations (Now due to corona), delays in processing new visa or employment visa. In most cases the average period of overstaying is between 5 to 15 days. In certain cases, Asian visitors have been scammed into believing that their visit visa is an employment visa resulting in them overstaying for many months. In such an instance, it is regarded as a criminal offence and the individual will be deported upon getting caught. As UAE practices many humanitarian acts, once every one or two years, The UAE visa amnesty requests all individuals who are overstaying to exit the country and waive off their overstaying fines.

Source : UAE visa amnesty: Millions in fines waived off, 88% response rate UAE authorities waive Dh500k in fines to help worker return home 31-year fine worth Dh1.08 million waived for illegal UAE resident

Overstaying affect my re-entry?

We have heard news that overstaying for more than 1 to 2 months could affect any prospective employment opportunities. There are no laws confirmed about how overstaying will affect a visitor’s or resident’s next re-entry. In our experience some individuals who had overstayed and re applied for a new visa were approved while some were rejected. This decision is solely reliant on the Immigration departments’ security team.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i reduce any overstay fines in dubai.

Some applicants are excused due to medical reasons and global issues. Contact the nearest Amer service center or Immigration and apply for a fine reduction by filling in the application.

Can I settle the overstaying fines at immigration and then exit UAE?

Yes, you can do this through any of the 7 emirates’ airports or land borders.

Is there a UAE visa overstay fine calculator?

Yes, you can check Arabiers Visa days calculator which is very similar to the overstay fine calculator.

Fines Inquiry Service

Dear customer,.

Check fines on your file or those under your sponsorship

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Understanding the New Visa Overstay Fines in the UAE

Table of Contents

Overview of the New Visa Overstay Fines

The UAE government has set a standard fine of AED 50 per day for overstaying a visa . This applies to visitors, tourists, and residents who stay in the UAE beyond the validity period of their visa. The new overstay fine policy came into effect on October 14, 2022. Previously, the overstay fine was AED 25 per day for residents.

Now, both residents and visitors face the same AED 50 per day fine for overstaying.  The new standardized overstay fine aims to simplify the penalty system and guarantee consistent enforcement throughout the UAE. This change affects all types of visas, including pre-paid, on-arrival, visitor, tourist, and resident visas.

Categories of Overstay Penalties

There are two main groups of people who have to pay overstay fines in the UAE

Visitors and Tourists

• People who are visiting the UAE on a pre-paid or on-arrival visa, such as tourists, will be charged AED 50 per day if they overstay their visa. This includes anyone in the UAE for short-term purposes like travel.
• Residents of the UAE who have a residency visa, such as a work or family visa, will also be charged AED 50 per day if they overstay their visa.
• The overstay fine is the same amount, AED 50 per day , for both visitors/tourists and residents. The UAE has made the fine the same for everyone to make the system more straightforward.
• Whether you are in the UAE temporarily as a visitor or living there as a resident, it is very important to leave before your visa expires. Staying even one extra day will result in having to pay the AED 50 per day overstay fine.

Grace Periods and Exceptions

The UAE government provides some grace periods and exceptions for visa holders:

Grace Periods

• The UAE typically gives a grace period of 10-30 days after a visa expires.
• During this time, visa holders can either leave the country or apply for a new visa without having to pay any overstay fines.

In some cases, individuals who unintentionally exceed their visa stay due to unforeseen circumstances may be able to request a waiver or reduction of the overstay fines from the immigration authorities.

However, approval for these exceptions is not guaranteed.

The grace periods and exceptions are meant to provide some flexibility for visa holders, but it is still important to ensure you depart the UAE before your visa expires to avoid the AED 50 per day overstay fine.

How to Pay Overstay Fines?

Visa holders can pay their overstay fines online through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security website or in person at authorized centers like Amer Centre. For Dubai visa holders, the fine can be paid through Amer Centre in Dubai, while fines for visas issued by other Emirates must be paid through their respective authorized centers.

Implications and Consequences of Overstaying

Overstaying a visa in the UAE can lead to serious consequences:

• The longer you overstay, the more fines you will have to pay. The AED 50 per day fine accumulates quickly.
• Overstaying may result in a re-entry ban to the UAE, depending on the duration of the overstay. This means you won’t be able to visit the UAE for a certain period.
• In severe cases, overstaying can lead to deportation, imprisonment, and being blacklisted from entering the UAE or other GCC countries in the future.
• Overstaying can cause issues with your job, including termination and difficulties finding future work in the UAE.

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Who is eligible for UAE's five-year multiple-entry tourist visa and how do you apply?

The UAE began issuing five-year multiple-entry visas in 2021, giving tourists more flexibility when visiting the Emirates.

Since March, families visiting the UAE can now apply for the five-year multiple-entry visa as a group.

Before then, each family member needed to apply separately, submitting the same set of documents for each person.

The visa, announced during a Cabinet session in March 2021, encourages longer and more frequent stays in the country for anyone without a residency visa, with multiple entries and stays of up to 180 days.

Now with the latest development there is an option for a family to apply as a group, as confirmed by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security's website.

“It will help relatives travel back and forth and will also attract a lot more tourists without any connection to the UAE so there will be more footfall,” said Haider Hussain, partner at Fragomen, an immigration services company.

“This will enhance travel into the UAE and make life easier for residents and their extended family members,” he said.

“People can stay for six months at one go if they want to."

The entry permit works as a self-sponsored visa as individuals can apply for it themselves and their families directly online and do not need to apply via a travel agency, hotel or relative in the UAE.

The approval process is quick as long as the required paperwork is submitted.

Here are the details and process explained.

Who is eligible for the five-year tourist visas? What are the criteria?

The five-year multi-entry tourist visa is available to citizens of all countries. To be eligible the visitor must provide the following:

• A recent colour personal photo with a white background for the sponsored
• Proof of having a bank balance of $4,000 or its equivalent in foreign currencies for six months
• A valid health insurance document approved in the UAE
• A ticket to and from the country plus proof of place of residence (hotel / residence address)
• Passport valid for at least six months

For each family member included the following is required:

• Proof of a health insurance policy within the country
• A ticket to and from the country
• A passport valid for at least six months

“The six-month bank statement showing that the balance has never gone below $4,000 is key to even be considered,” Mr Hussain said.

“That is the main requirement that needs to be fulfilled, the other requirements are pretty standard. Applications go through scrutiny and extensive review because it is a five-year multiple-entry visa.”

How do you apply?

Applications can be made online via the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security website.

The service cannot be done at typing centres.

Applicants need to log on to the website, select smart channels and visa service then fill in the data and add the required attachments.

“Generally a week’s timeline is what we are seeing in terms of approval coming through,” Mr Hussain said.

Visitors and residents can log in at https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/ to apply.

The application process in Dubai can be done by multinational companies for employees who travel frequently for international business.

How much does it cost?

The ICP website lists costs for all emirates except Dubai as follows:

• Application fee: Dh100
• Issuance fee: Dh500 per person
• Electronic services: Dh50
• Application fee: Dh100 per person
• Electronic services: Dh50 per transaction

Dubai costs are slight different, and listed on the GDRFA as:

• 30-day visit visa fee: Dh300
• 60-day visit visa fee: Dh500
• 90-day visitor visa fee: Dh700

All charges are plus VAT at 5 per cent.

A deposit of Dh2,060 is required, plus additional fees for health insurance and for applying from within the UAE.

Can I extend my visa when I’m still in the UAE?

The initial visa is issued with a 90-day duration of stay in the UAE in a year from the date of first entry. This can be extended once for an additional 90-day period. The maximum permitted duration of stay under this visa cannot exceed 180 days in a year.

Which authority do I approach to issue the visa?

This is a self-sponsored visa foreign citizens can apply for as long as they meet the eligibility conditions. In Dubai, you can approach a Customer Happiness Centre or an Amer Service Centre.

Companies can also issue this visa for international employees once the company registers with Dubai Tourism via their website.

An authorised typing centre, or a government service centre can help a person apply for it to ensure the eligibility criteria is met and the application is successful.

Individuals and families in other emirates can apply online.

How can companies get a five-year visa for international staff?

Dubai introduced a five-year multi-entry visa for employees of international companies based in the emirate to simplify the application and provide easy access to the city for global visitors.

Companies need to register with Dubai tourism, open a file for the company and then start filing for their employees instead of through a tourist agency. The employees will get the same five-year multi-entry visit visa but it will be via the company. This is open to those companies who have been approved.

What are the other tourist visa options?

For anyone not receiving a visa on arrival, a 30 or 90-day single entry tourist visa can be issued by a UAE-registered tourist agency. Cost is between Dh300 and Dh600.

If a tourist overstays, what is the grace period?

There is no longer a grace period for tourists who overstay their visa and fines will be implemented from the first day after it expires.

What is the fine per day for lapsed tourist visas?

Overstaying the permitted stay in the UAE under a tourist visa attracts a fine of Dh50 each day of overstay.

There is an additional fee for an exit permit that must be paid on departure by visitors who overstay.

This story was first published in November 2021 and has been updated to reflect new visa legislation.

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All you need to know about overstay fines in the UAE

• Overstay Fines
• Check UAE Overstay Fine

The UAE is a multicultural country welcoming tourists, families and professionals from around the world. Overstay fines in the UAE are enforced to maintain a well-regulated visa system and ensure legal residency for all.

AT A GLANCE:

• Legal Compliance : Residents must follow specific set of rules for expats in Dubai to stay compliant.
• Public Benefit : These regulations are designed to ensure public safety and security.
• Overstay Fines : Implemented in Dubai and across the UAE to support this goal and maintain order.

GENERAL RULES AGAINST OVERSTAYING IN THE UAE

The UAE welcomes tourists and business professionals from around the world, but it requires all visitors to comply with local laws. Staying beyond your visa period results in overstay fines.

• Overstay Fines : Visitors who exceed their visa period must pay fines.
• Common Concern : “What happens if I overstay my UAE visa?” is a frequent question among expats.
• Legal Consequences : Overstaying in any country is a punishable offense and each country has its own regulations to address it.

OVERSTAY FINES IN THE UAE

Whether you’re in the UAE on a short-term tourist visa or a long-term residence visa, it’s crucial to keep track of your visa expiration date. Apply for a renewal or modification before your visa ends to avoid penalties. Here’s how to renew tourist visa Dubai .

• Standardised Overstay Fines : As of October 2022, the fine for overstaying is AED 50 per day, regardless of visa type. This includes days used to request documents or update information.
• Grace Period for Residency Visa Holders : After visa cancellation, you have a grace period of 60 to 180 days to change your status or leave the UAE, depending on your circumstances. Overstaying beyond this period can lead to arrest.
• Visit Visa Changes : The previous 10-day grace period for visit visas is no longer offered. Now, a fine of AED 50 per day applies from the day your visa ends.
• Renewal Process : If you apply for renewal but fail to upload the correct documents within 30 days, or if incorrect documents are uploaded more than three times, the renewal request will be canceled, requiring a new application.

Remember, UAE visa overstay fines and grace periods depend on the type of visa you hold.

UAE OVERSTAY FINE CHECK

UAE overstay fine check is possible by two ways.

1. GDRFA FINES INQUIRY SERVICE

• Visit the GDRFA Fines Inquiry Service
• Enter personal details. You can search by Emirates ID , passport number, File number, or UDB number.
• Select whether you have an entry permit or are a resident.
• Provide additional information based on your selection, such as date of birth, nationality, emirate of issuance, or gender.
• View your overstay fine.

2. ICP SMART SERVICES

You can also check fine for over stay in the UAE via ICP Smart Services .

• Visit the ICP Smart Services website.
• Go to Fines > Pay fines > Violations of entry permissions or residences > Pay new fine.
• Choose File number or Citizens of Certain Countries.
• File number : Visa File number, date of birth, nationality.
• Passport number : Passport number and type, date of birth, nationality.
• View any outstanding fines.

Now you know how to check and pay overstay fines in the UAE.

FAQS ABOUT THE UAE VISA OVERSTAY FINE

How can i pay overstay fines.

Overstay fine payments can be made in one of the following ways:

• In-person : Happiness centres
• Online : ICA website or smart application

HOW TO CHECK OVERSTAY FINE IN THE UAE ONLINE?

How to check overstay fine in the UAE online is a common question. Here’s how you can do that:

• Visit the ICA website
• Search for violations under the entry permission or residences section
• Enter your personal details to view and pay the fine

WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF THE UAE OVERSTAY FINE CHECK FOR TOURISTS?

UAE overstay fine check for tourists is possible via the GDRFA website.

HOW TO AVOID OVERSTAYING FINES IN THE UAE?

• Apply for a visa status modification before your current visa expires
• Meet the conditions of the new visa and pay the necessary fees

IS THE FINE FOR OVERSTAY IN THE UAE SAME ACROSS EMIRATES?

Yes, Dubai overstay fine amount is the same as the UAE overstay fine amount. The fine is AED 50 per day regardless of the emirate.

CAN I GET THE UAE OVERSTAY FINE REDUCED OR WAIVED OFF?

• Passport copy
• Letter stating reasons for the violation or inability to pay
• Other documents as requested by the Fines Committee
• Fee: AED 15.75

CAN I REDUCE OVERSTAY FINE IN ABU DHABI?

You can apply for a waiver or a reduction for all the emirates by following the process stated above.

Tips to Avoid Overstay Fines

• Check your visa status online regularly
• Apply for visa modifications within the given time frame
• Leave before your visa term ends if you cannot apply for a new visa

Government Efforts

• Amer Centres in Dubai provide clarity on visa and overstay status

For more information on UAE visa rules and regulations, subscribe to MyBayut – UAE’s leading real estate blog.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Hi what is the fine for the over stay in the cancellation visa

Thank you for writing to us.

You can check and pay overstay fines at MOI website ( https://www.moi.gov.ae/en/eservices/eservice.101.aspx )

Have a nice day.

hi sir i am checking my fine

How fine in visa

i need check my uae visa

You can call Amer Centre at 800-5111 (from Dubai) for status check.

Hi.. This is Mohammed zuber, currently I’m on cancelled visa, and my graced period ends on 10/4/2020 As Currently all flights are suspended in India till 14/4/2020, Do I need to pay fine for over stay?

Some visas expiring in March have been extended till the end of the year. However, in your specific case, we would suggest you contact the Indian Embassy since flights for repatriation have slowly started operating. You can call at +9714 3971222 / +9714 3971333.

Hi am called Edward katumba, As per now am staying on cancelled visa and my grace period ended on 17th may 2o20. All flights in my country still closed (UGANDA).Am I entitled for over stay fine

Hi Edward, The UAE government has announced waiving off overstay fines till 18th August if your visa expired before 1st March and 31st Dec if it expired after 1st March. This is a blanket policy. However, we would suggest contacting the Amer Centre (800-5111) to attain clarity for your case. Have a nice day.

Please what is the situation on a resident that overstay doing this period of COVID?

Hi, Thank you for writing to us. If your visa expired in early March, it has been extended till December 2020. Have a nice day.

how to fines check

Hi, Thank you for writing to us. To check overstay fines please visit the MOI website ( https://www.moi.gov.ae/en/eservices/eservice.101.aspx ) Have a nice day.

Can u tell me if am over stay 2 Feb then I have fine or because I want go back home

Hi Rafiq, Thank you for writing to us. Please visit the MOI website to check your overstay status. https://www.moi.gov.ae/en/eservices/eservice.101.aspx Have a nice day.

My visa in Dubai Visa I am holding residence cancel visa where i can pay overstay fine through exit in airport or emigration office, which one is better

Hi Sathies, Thank you for writing to us. The UAE government has announced waiving off overstay fines till 18th August if your visa expired before 1st March and 31st Dec if it expired after 1st March. This is a blanket policy hence you won’t be paying a fine. Have a nice day.

Please what is the situation for someone who came to UAE to find job and his visa expired doing this period of covid 19, in 1st week of this month visa expired will the person pay for overstay ?

Thank you for writing to us. Due to the COVID-19 restriction, a visa extension was announced by the government for visas expiring in March. However, we suggest you call Amer Centre at 800-5111 (from Dubai) for confirmation or get in touch with your country’s embassy.

Hi, what about cancelled visa status? Its gonna be included for the extended for end of the year? And can renew after that! Thanks and more power!

Thank you for writing to us. We suggest you call Amer Centre at 800-5111 (from Dubai) for clarification about your specific case.

My visa end feb 22, 2020, I have penalty? And how to check?

Hi My visit visa expire on April 15 2020. But before in January I was finish my visit visa then I renewal visa now. But that travel agent change my visa status here but there entry permit number same is there he do visa or that’s automatically done by government I don’t understand

Sir What About visitor my visa expire on 04th april please confirm me can my visa valid till december?

My employment visa has been cancelled on dated 06Aprail2020.is it over stay fine will be applicable if I will stay more then 01month..?

Thank you for writing to us. Due to the COVID-19 restriction, a visa extension was announced by the government for visas expiring in March. We suggest you call Amer Centre at 800-5111 (from Dubai) to get clarification about your situation or get in touch with your country’s embassy.

My visa is expiring on may 5 but it updated to 14th of may why it couldn’t update to December 31 as others

Thank you for writing to us. We suggest you call Amer Centre at 800-5111 (from Dubai) to get clarification about your specific case.

My mother in on UAE visit visa, which is expiring on 25th April 2020. Looking at COID situatuion, do I need to extend the visa or is it automatically extended till Dec 2020.

Thank you for writing to us. Due to the COVID-19 restriction, an automatic visa extension was announced by the government for visas expiring in March. However, we suggest you call Amer Centre at 800-5111 (from Dubai) for confirmation or get in touch with your country’s embassy.

Hi I want to know if the visa is automatic renew upon the exception of all visa. Or we need to apply for the renewal? Thank you.

Hi, my host company terminated my contract due to COVID and they have just canceled my visa. I understand that the visa office is not operating at the moment to get a new residence visa – do I still only have 30 days to leave?

Hi. My family visa expired grace period in 18 hi february.2020 We able for new policy is amnisty the fines till end of 2020year?

We suggest you call Amer Centre at 800-5111 (from Dubai) for clarification or get in touch with your country’s embassy.

Dear sir my visa validity Augus2020 but my company close because my panser cancelled my visa march 12th2020 still im now UAE any fine will come please update

Thank you for writing to us. Due to the COVID-19 restriction, a visa extension was announced by the government for residences expiring in March. However, we suggest you call Amer Centre at 800-5111 (from Dubai) for confirmation or get in touch with your country’s embassy.

Please what is situation my residence visa cancel march 24 2020 coz of convid19

Hi, I just want ask my resident visa has been canceled by my company due to this pandemic they canceled it march 26 2020 and now my grace peeiod has ended will I paymy overstay pls? Thank you

Hi Jasmine, Some visas expiring in March have been extended till the end of the year. However, in your specific case, we would suggest you contact your home Embassy or GDRFA (800-5111) and seek confirmation regarding your status. Have a nice day.

my visit visa expires March 15, 2020, how much will be my fine during this covid?

Will there be a possibility that there will be a n amnesty this Yr.. 2020

Hello good sir my emplment viza is cancelld to 12 march and also grace period also finish .my viza also applicable till december .because i dont go back now viza service also suspepded kinldy give me replay

How can I clear my overstay

Hi Derick, Thank you for writing to us. You can pay your overstay fine online via the MOI website. https://www.moi.gov.ae/en/eservices/eservice.101.aspx Have a nice day.

Good afternoon Sir, In my case my visa expired last May 7, 2019 and we put complained to my boss Nov. and Reopened again the complain Jan and March 2020 and when I reopen the complain March 9 I found out that the sponsor file absconded case to me without knowing of my employer and when I spoke to the PRO they said its not my fault but is my employer fault bec my boss not participating with them thats why they put absconded cause to me.. so I can push or put case to my employer… I told them its unfair bec we are victim and bec they file false absconded case… I file withdrawal of absconded complained in Human resources.. and Lucky this April 2 The MOHRE sent me message and they said they already cancel me in Labour and I need to proceed in Immigration for final cancellation… my Question is …. Am I entitled also for a free fine bec they cancel me April 2, 2020 .?

Hi Ferreras, Thank you for writing to us. We would suggest you contact your national Embassy or MOHRE (+971-6-802-7666). Since your case is already under consideration, it would be best that you get official confirmation. Have a nice day.

Hi, our residential visa got cancelled in dubai in march 2020, we could not change our visa status due to COVID-19, now my husband got a new employment visa, is there any chance for us to waive this overstaying fine due to covid-19,

Hi Rabab, The UAE government has announced waiving off overstay fines till 18th August if your visa expired before 1st March and 31st Dec if it expired after 1st March. This is a blanket policy. However, we would suggest contacting the Amer Centre (800-5111) to attain clarity for your case. Have a nice day.

HI , I cancelled my sharjah visa on march 24th ,i read on gulf news mentioning that visa cancelled will be fined and not for expired visa(it will extend till dec 2020). kindly suggest me is there any fine for me or i need to take visit visa kindly suggest

Hi Vishwa, Thank you for writing to us. The UAE government has announced waiving off overstay fines till 18th August if your visa expired before 1st March and 31st Dec if it expired after 1st March. This is a blanket policy. However, we would suggest contacting the Amer Centre (800-5111) to attain clarity for your case. Have a nice day.

Hi my visa expire 6june if I live here without renewal no fine coming

Hi Umer, Thank for your writing to us. The UAE government has announced waiving off overstay fines till 18th August if your visa expired before 1st March and 31st Dec if it expired after 1st March. This is a blanket policy. However, we would suggest contacting the Amer Centre (800-5111) to attain clarity for your case. Have a nice day.

Hi, My wife’s residency visa Dubai visa Expired on 7th March and I cancelled her visa on 5th March but due to this suspension of the flight, she is UAE so I need to pay fine on it for overstay.

Hi Dipesh, Thank you for writing to us. The UAE government has announced waiving off overstay fines till 18th August if your visa expired before 1st March and 31st Dec if it expired after 1st March. This is a blanket policy. However, we would suggest contacting Amer Centre (800-5111) to attain clarity for your case. Have a nice day.

My visa was over last year. Those overstay have a chance to leave the country before 18 August. Can I apply for a Visa and stay in this country?

Hi Chamil, Thank you for writing to us. The 18th August concession is a blanket policy for all individuals. As for reapplication, we would suggest contacting Amer Centre (800-5111) to attain clarity for your specific case. Have a nice day.

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Overstaying Visa Fine UAE for Visit Visa, Tourist Visa, Residence Visa

Main Points

Overstaying Visa Fine in UAE

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security has standardised the fine on overstaying your visa in the country.

As we all know UAE welcomes millions of expatriate residents and visitors. However, it is also important to follow the rules of the country and should always be avoided to overstay if possible.

In case if you overstay, you will be subjected to pay overstaying visa fine. Tourist and visit visa holders who overstay will pay Dh50 a day instead of Dh100. Also, those overstaying on a residency visa will have to pay double, i.e., Dh50 a day instead of Dh25.

If anyone purposely exceeds the grace period, by a further 30 days or more in case of residence visa you may have the chance to face extra penalties with your name added to an immigration blacklist which could prevent you from re-entering the UAE at a later date. The fines also apply to employee’s spouse, children and anyone else who overstays in UAE.

Hence I recommend to avoid overstaying to avoid any serious consequences later on.

How much is the fine for overstaying visa in UAE?

Tourist visa and visit visa overstay fines:.

If you are on a tourist or a visit visa and you are overstayed, you will be fined a certain fee to be paid at the immigration offices or at the airport when exiting.

Tourists and visit visa holders have a grace period of 10 days. Until the 10th day you can leave the country without paying any fines. If a tourist or a visitor overstays beyond the grace period, you will start to incur fines, that gradually increase as the overstay increases:

• AED 200 for the first day of overstay
• AED 50 each consecutive day
• AED 100, as service fees.

Overstay fines for UAE Residence Visa :

In the case if you are on a UAE residence visa or on employment visa and your visa is cancelled or expired you have 30 days’ grace period after visa expiry or cancellation to either amend their status and get another residence visa or leave the country. During the grace period of 30 days you will not incur any fines.

If you overstay after the grace period, you will be fined with

• AED 125 for the first day
• AED 50 for each subsequent day.
• AED 50 per day after six months of overstaying
• AED 100 per day after one year of overstaying

No visit visa extensions without exiting country.

Modifying visa status into residency visa applies after meeting required terms and conditions and payment of AED 550 fee in lieu of leave. However, the applicant must do this before the expiry of his current visa to avoid any penalties.

Human Resource professional and writer.

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What Happens If I Overstay My Tourist or Resident Visa in the UAE?

An interview-format article covering the topic of overstaying your tourist or resident visa in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. Ludmila discusses the aspects of overstaying, like fines, grace periods, exemptions...etc.

Tim Elliot : Hello and welcome to another edition of Lawgical, the weekly series from the Dubai-based law firm, HPL Yamalova & Plewka, still the Gulf Region's first and still the only legal podcast. I'm Tim Elliot. I’m here with the firm’s Managing Partner, Ludmila Yamalova, 18 floors up in Jumeirah Lakes Towers. Ludmila, always good to see you.

Ludmila Yamalova : Hello Tim and great to see you, as always.

Tim Elliot : Now this time on Lawgical we’re talking about visas. The UAE is a pretty welcoming place, but what if you overstay your welcome, your visa, whether you’re a tourist or an expatriate resident?

Now, Ludmilla, the UAE offers visa on arrival for an increasingly expanding list of nations. Plenty of nationalities can now just turn up and get a stamped visa at the airport as they arrive.

Now, we’ll come to expat residents in a few minutes, but let’s start with tourists. What happens if you’re having such a great time here in the sun that you overstay your visa? It’s a situation where pretty simple, you’re fined, aren’t you?

Ludmila Yamalova : Indeed. Unlike the popular belief that somehow if you overstay your visa will lead to some sort of imprisonment, and we have heard a lot of concerns like that; that is not the case. In fact, it really is, as you said, just a matter of a fine. Now the fines can be quite high and depending on the number of days of overstaying, the amount can be quite significant at the end.

With regard to tourist visas, there are different types of overstaying fines. As you said, an increasing number of countries can enter the UAE on a visa on arrival for the most part on arrival, and those visas on arrival are 30 days. There used to be a time when depending on the nationality the visa upon arrival, for example, was either 90 days or 60 days, but now more or less the rule is uniform for all nationalities, and that is 30 days.

Then the 30 days also has a grace period of 10 days. If you leave at 35 days, you will not be fined anything extra. But anything after that, the overstaying fines are as follows: For the first day of overstaying it’s AED 200 which is about $60 dollars per day. Then after that, it’s AED 100 dirhams for each consecutive day, plus there is AED 100 of a service fee or a processing fee if you will.

Imagine if you stayed here for 50 days, it can be a fairly significant amount at the end when you do exit. Just so everyone understands, if you are exiting, let’s say through the airport, and you have overstaying fines, you will not be allowed to leave the country until you’ve settled that amount. You can settle the amount at the airport, so it’s not that you need to go back and pay at a specific immigration centre.  You can pay at the airport, but you will not be able to leave the airport until you’ve paid those fees, so just be prepared.

Those are the fees when you overstay the visa. That being said, there is a way of extending the 30-day visa and for all nationalities, for all visas on arrival, there is a way to extend the visa for an additional 30 days twice. Therefore, ultimately you can stay here for up to 90 days. There are fees to pay for extending the visa but it’s extremely important to understand that you must apply for an extension of the visa prior to its expiration.

Let’s say you have a first 30-day visa on arrival and now on day 35 you want to go and avail yourself of the benefit of extending it for an additional 30 days. At that point, it is too late. In order for you to apply for that additional 30-day extension, you need to do it before the expiration of the first 30 days. If you are still within your 30-day period and now you want to extend the visa, then to do so will cost AED 600 for the extension, so for an additional 30 days you get the AED-600 fee for that, and then after that, you can extend for an additional 30 days for another AED 600.

All in all, you get 60 extra days for AED 1,200. That’s for overstaying and extending tourist visas. Slightly different rules apply for residence visas or for visas of those who currently hold UAE residency and are now either switching jobs or their visas have expired.

Tim Elliot : Let’s talk about the longer-term visitors, people like you and I, expatriate UAE residents who are allowed to live here. The visa is stamped for two or perhaps three years in the passport. In most cases, residence visas are contingent on your employment in the Emirates or being sponsored by a spouse. For example, my first expat visa question, if you like, is what happens to a residency visa once your employment is terminated?

Ludmila Yamalova : That’s a great question, and there is much confusion that surrounds that particular scenario. There is a belief amongst many who have just, for example, received that notice of termination or whose jobs for one reason or another have come to an end, be it by termination or resignation, they believe that the termination amounts as some sort of automatic termination of their visa as well.

But employment and immigration are two separate legal concepts, and therefore, even though residency visas are linked to employment for the most part, from the procedural standpoint, they fall under different laws and different governmental authorities. Just because your employment has come to an end does not mean your visa comes to an end at that point in time.

This is for a number of reasons. If your employment comes to an end, most of the time there is a notice period, and it can be anywhere from one month to six months. Perhaps less likely is six months these days, but certainly, three months is still quite common. Even though you are no longer working, but you are still here, you are, technically speaking, still under an employment visa because your employment relationship has not ended until the notice period has come to an end.

Therefore, even though you’re not going into the office, your employment relationship is still ongoing for let’s say the term of the notice period. If it’s one month, it’s for one month. If it’s three months, it’s for three months. Therefore, all that time your visa remains active. Now let’s say your notice period has ended. Even then, that does not mean that your visa ends.

Ultimately, your visa ends when it expires on its own. So if you have a three-year visa and now you’re in your last month, the visa can expire on its own just by virtue of its term. But the other way for the visa to start basically expiring is when the visa is being cancelled. For example, you have served your notice period and now your employment has officially ended.

That does not necessarily mean that the clock has started ticking or the visa is cancelled. In order for your visa to be cancelled, in fact, you have to, for the most part, hand your passport to your company. Before, you could even hand it to the immigration authorities directly. But now in most cases, you have to hand it over to the company and the company will send it to the immigration authority and will cancel your visa that way. Only then your visa is considered formally cancelled.

In many cases, especially if there is, for example, a court case, some sort of a dispute between the company and the employee, the time between when your employment ends and the time your visa finally is cancelled can be quite significant. It can be years, and we have seen many of those cases. For example, someone is employed and has a three-year visa and the employment relationship is terminated after the first year of employment. Then there is a dispute that ends up being in court, and so during that whole period of time, the employee actually will remain to be on the company’s sponsorship, i.e. their visa, unless parties want otherwise.

You can see the employment has ended long ago, but the immigration relationship continues on throughout the term of the visa, i.e., in this particular example is an additional two years. It’s important to clarify that particular point because there is a lot of confusion about employment and immigration as being one, but as I’ve just shown by way of that example, that’s not the case.

Now, finally, you have handed over your passport to the employee and your visa is now cancelled. Remember, the visa we are now talking about here is a residence visa. It’s not a tourist visa. That’s why different rules apply. Once your visa has been cancelled, again, it’s not to say that right away you have to exit the country. You have a 30-day grace period to stay in the country, and that basically applies to all nationalities. There is no need to be concerned that the minute you receive your passport back you must exit the country. You do have that 30-day grace period with no fines.

Now, if you overstay those first 30 days, then you will be fined for AED 125 for the first day. That is the fine, so AED 125 as compared to the AED 200 for tourists, it is significantly less, almost half.  Then after that, it’s 25 dirhams for every day of overstaying. Again, compared to the tourist visas, that’s AED 100, so it’s four times less. In other words, the overstaying fines for residents are much less than those for tourists.

Tim Elliot : So the grace period is 30 days. Is there a method through which you could extend that grace period? Because if you’ve been terminated in an employment situation, you may have a family dependent on you. You may want to look for another position and stay in the Emirates.

Ludmila Yamalova : Well, other than by paying overstaying fees, no. In fact, if you had a residency visa, then after, as I said before, for overstaying you pay AED 125 for the first day of overstaying, then it’s AED 25 for each day of overstaying. After six months it’s AED 50  for every day of overstaying. We are talking about after six months. After one year, it’s AED 100 for every day of overstaying. These are officially the available fines that are listed on the UAE government immigration website which, to answer your question, in a way, there is a way for residents to continue to extend their visas here by virtue of just paying fines.

Since there are fines that clearly spell out overstaying for more than six months and then even a year, enough cases must exist where the government has clearly laid out additional fines for longer periods of overstaying visas, but other than that, it is just the overstaying of fines, and perhaps, as I mentioned earlier, if you have an employment dispute, then your visa continues on until it expires or until the dispute has been resolved.

Tim Elliot : Okay. There is the classic, what’s referred to the Emirates as the visa run situation. Some nationalities can exit the country and re-enter via, say the Sultanate of Oman. That’s a possibility. You would then re-enter the country on a visit visa for 30 days.

Ludmila Yamalova : Correct. What happens then is if you are a resident, what you were referring to is a visa run for someone, for example, who used to live here as a resident and that visa has come to an end, the 30-day grace period, and then you exit the country and come back. I guess one common way of doing this for a lot of the residents here is going to Oman since it’s so close by, and Oman is a fairly welcoming country for these kinds of purposes.

Then you re-enter the country almost the same day. But then when you re-enter the country, you’re now on a tourist visa. You’re no longer on an expired residence visa.  You’re now on a tourist visa. Your residence status effectively changes, and then it’s the 30-day period that applies which you can extend for an additional 60 days.

Tim Elliot : We’re waiting for details actually, and this is still not stipulated by the Omani authorities, but I think they’re looking to move to the Oman e-visa situation which is an online application before you get to the border. But it is still possible I believe to pay in cash to enter Oman and then come back into the UAE right now?

The thing is with matters like this, Ludmila, in a country where there are so many expatriates and so many different countries, that the advice really, I guess if you want to keep up with the necessary visa procedures is to keep checking with the naturalization and immigration website. That’s kind of the one-stop-shop.

Ludmila Yamalova : For sure. Plenty of information is available. Those websites and the resources are updated quite regularly. They are very detailed in terms of the types of visas and the types of fines and the types of processes that exist. One more thing to add is that if you do want to extend your visas, for example, you do so before the expiration of your original visa. To do so, you go to specialized immigration centers which exist all over the UAE depending on which emirate you’re in and you do it there. It’s fairly simple and straightforward to do so.

(1) You have the information available on the website, and (2) you have these resident immigration centers all over the country where you can actually go to fairly easily and then apply for your visa to be extended.

As you said, the UAE is a very welcoming country, and the processes that exist for helping people extend their immigration status here are becoming more and more – I don’t want to say relaxed – but easier to extend and more and more countries get the benefit of the same treatment than perhaps existed years ago. These rules that we’ve just discussed right now did not apply previously to as many nationalities as they do now.

Tim Elliot : That’s a point actually to make to reiterate, isn’t it, that the UAE is a dynamic place. Things change here, and things can change here relatively quickly, and that applies to immigration and nationalization arrangements as well. You need to keep ahead of that.

Ludmila Yamalova :  You do, and you also need to keep staying informed about any new changes because the changes do happen. Often, in most cases when they do happen, they are announced so there is enough public awareness to at least know that you need to look and make sure that you have the latest information.

But even without that, if you do ever have any concerns about either tourist visas or extending your residency visa, do always make it a point to look at the official websites because things do change, and when they do change, at least they definitely will be reflected on the website.

Equally so, you can actually call the immigration authority. There are call centers, and they’re quite helpful and they will inform, so that’s yet another resource that definitely people need to avail themselves of because the information is there and it does change, so it’s good to be informed.

Tim Elliot : Ludmila Yamalova is the Managing Partner of the Dubai-based law firm, Yamalova & Plewka.  As ever, appreciate your expertise.

Ludmila Yamalova : Thank you.

Tim Elliot : That’s another edition of Lawgical. If you’d like a UAE specific legal question answered, we can try to answer it in a future episode.

This article is a transcription of the  Lawgical with LYLAW podcast episode  published on 11 February 2020.

Written by:

Ludmila Yamalova  | HPL Yamalova & Plewka DMCC

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Immigration

Hire a lawyer to conduct a complete check on a possible travel ban and arrest warrant imposed on you in the United Arab Emirates. Submit the required documents and get results of the check online without visiting UAE government authorities personally.

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Questions & answers (8).

Overstay in the UAE: grace period, fine and immigration blacklist

The grace period for staying in the UAE after visa cancellation

How to retrieve your passport from the employer if you are in labour dispute

Extending the grace period until the end of labour dispute

The penalty for overstay after visa cancellation

Overstaying on a tourist visa and the fines imposed

Issuing a work visa after visit visa expiry and overstay

Identifying the grace period after holding visa cancellation

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Laws & Regulations (3)

Federal Law No. (8) of 1980 Concerning the Regulation of Labor Relations

Ministerial Decree No. (765) of 2015 On Rules and Conditions for the Termination of Employment Relations

Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021 On the Regulation of Labor Relations

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Q: I have unpaid Etisalat bills for 500 AED and a cash advance in DIB, and my visa is already cancelled. Is there any possibility to exit the UAE without paying for both and for overstay?

Q: I want to know, how many days will I stay in the UAE after the cancellation of my employment visa?

Q: I need some help. I was working in a salon since January 2016 (Sharjah visa and a limited contract). I've been working there for 1 year and 10 months. This October 9, 2017, my employer cancelled me without giving my all dues: gratuity, annual leave and even my salary for this month. In May of this year my passport expired, I talked to my employer since April that I want to renew my passport but she said 'No'. On October 19, I filed a case against my employer for retrieving my passport and getting my salary. Last Wednesday we meet in Labour Department and my employer said she will give the passport on November 8, which is the same date when my visa expired. I'm just scared of what will happen if I overstay here.

Q: Q. Visa Cancelled, the grace period is about to finish while there is a pending case in the court against my employer. Good evening. I have cancelled my visa, and the grace period is about to end in a week, while I have a pending case in the court against my employer. Can I get permission for overstay to avoid the fine and blacklisting? Can I engage the services of a law firm if I cannot do it by myself? Politely requesting to assist me, please. I am in a big trouble. Regards, Mike

Q: Sir, my visa was cancelled and 30 days already finished. Do I have a fine for each day of overstay?

Q: Would there be a possibility for a tourist visa holder who overstayed for 3 months to waive his penalty or at least be lessened?

Q: I have been on a visit visa. I found a job with a company. My visa expired. The company is telling me to lie to immigration that they just hired me. They told me that I should cry so immigration has mercy and forgive the overstay. The manager said that I should go to the airport and cry there. I am Ugandan. Please advise me!

Q: Dear Madam, My visa has already expired on 10th Feb and I asked my employer to hold my visa cancellation till 29th Feb. They agreed. So I want to know what will be my grace period to stay in the UAE? Is it till the 10th of March or will I get a grace period of 30 days after visa cancellation from the employer, which is 28th March? Kindly clarify! Thank you!

I believe that there is a similarity between medicine and law, and just as there is a way to ask a question to a doctor to get the most accurate and correct answers from him, which ultimately helps you receive the correct diagnosis, and therefore the correct treatment, there is a way to ask a lawyer.

The provisions of this Law, known as "UAE Labour Law", govern the relationship between employers and employees and other labour matters in the United Arab Emirates. There are special labour related regulations applicable in some of the free zones in the UAE.

This Decree sets the rules and conditions for the termination of fixed-term (limited) or unlimited (not term-bound) employment contract between employer and worker in the United Arab Emirates.

The provisions of this Decree-Law, known as "New UAE Labor Law", govern labour relations in the private sector of the United Arab Emirates. The New Labor Law repeals the previous UAE Labor Law (Federal Law No. (8) of 1980).

Other blog posts by Ludmila Yamalova

Laws on rape in the uae.

An interview-format article covering the topic of rape in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

Amendments to the UAE Company Law

An interview-format article covering the topic of the amendments to the company law in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

Punishments for Juveniles in the UAE

An interview-format article covering the topic of juvenile punishments in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

Influencer Licensing & VAT in the UAE

An interview-format article covering the topic of influencer licensing and VAT in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

Harassment Law in the UAE

An interview-format article covering the topic of harassment in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

This publication is for general information purposes only. It does not purport to provide comprehensive full legal or other advice.

Legal Advice Middle East and the contributors accept no responsibility for losses that may arise from reliance upon information contained in this publication. This publication is intended to give an indication of legal issues upon which you may need advice.

Full legal advice should be taken in due course from a qualified professional when dealing with specific situations.

Grace period

A period immediately after the deadline for the performance of an obligation during which a late fee or penalty, or other action would have been taken as a result of failing to meet the deadline, is waived provided that the obligation is satisfied during the grace period. Grace periods can range from a couple of minutes to a number of days or longer, depending on the context, and can apply in various situations, such as complying with a legal obligation by a specified deadline.

A demonstration of the willingness of a party to enter into a bargain, made in such a way that another individual is justified in understanding that his or her assent to the bargain is invited and that such assent will conclude the bargain. The general rule is that it must be reasonable in the circumstances for the recipient to believe that the communication is an offer. The more definite the communication, the more likely it will constitute an offer.

The demonstration of agreement with the terms and conditions of another person’s offer so that the offer becomes a formal contract between the two parties.

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Rules and Fines for Overstaying in the UAE

Recently, we shared about the new  UAE law on domestic workers  as well as support service workers. We’ve also discussed what the labour law in the emirates has to say about the working hours, official leaves, and vacations  of employees.

Today, we will talk about another important topic: overstaying . Many people come to the UAE on a visit/tourist visa before finding work. However, if they continue to stay in the country even after their visa expires, this is considered as overstaying — which is subject to fines and consequences.

Overstaying in the UAE: Rules and Regulations

Typically, a tourist visa enables people to stay in the UAE for a duration of 3 days to 3 months. If you happen to find work, you will need to change your visa status and get a residence or employment visa. However, if you are unable to do so within this period, you will be fined for overstaying. This amounts to AED 200 for the first day, and AED 100 for each succeeding day.

In any case, check with your company or sponsor regarding the payment of overstay fines. If your residence or employment visa is delayed due to a cause on their part, they can pay the overstay fine for you at the immigration office.

Overstaying while Changing Jobs Overstaying does not only apply to those with visit/tourist visas. If you are in the process of changing jobs — but are unable to apply for a new employment visa — then you could also be at risk for overstaying.

Once your previous work ends and your visa is cancelled, you have 30 days to prepare for your next job. If you still do not have a new employment visa after this grace period, you will need to pay an overstaying fine of AED 125 for the first day, and AED 25 for each succeeding day.

NOTE: The fines also apply to a worker’s spouse, children, and anyone else who overstays in the UAE.

Consequences of Overstaying What happens if you continue to stay in the UAE beyond the grace period, and if you are unable to settle overstaying fees? Any or all of the following things could happen:

• Your name will be blacklisted
• You may face an immigration ban
• You could go to jail for up to 3 months
• You may be issued a deportation order

Re-entering UAE after Deportation After getting deported, it is possible to return to the UAE, but you will need a special permission from the Ministry of Interior . Your deportation order may only be overturned for these reasons: legal rehabilitation, case taken back by employer, court decision passed for deportee, and amnesty law/pardon decree issued (in the case of crime committed by deportee).

As you can see, overstaying in the UAE could lead to serious consequences. Hence, it would be wise to avoid overstaying or settle your fees as soon as possible. This applies to tourists who are thinking of working here as well as to residents who are in the process of changing jobs.

DISCLAIMER: The topics presented in this article are for information-sharing purposes only. They may be used as a personal guide, but they should not be used as basis for actual labour concerns or legal proceedings. To learn more about the UAE Labour Law, visit the MoHRE official website .

UAE: Stranded Indian man who lost vision in one eye returns home

Sunil, a native of Kerala, arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2022 on a visit visa, aiming to secure employment opportunities. However, he was unsuccessful.

Abu Dhabi : An Indian national, who overstayed his visit visa and lost vision in one eye, was repatriated home on Tuesday, July 9, with the help of the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi.

As per a report by Khaleej Times , Sunil ended up surpassing the validity of the visit visa and was diagnosed with glaucoma, an illness that affects the visual nerve in the eye.

Sunil recently sought help from the Indian embassy, facilitating repatriation to Kerala. After completing the paperwork, an air ticket was issued, allowing him to return to his native place.

It is worth noting that the UAE authorities regularly issue advisories to visitors, asking them not to overstay and to renew their visit visa or obtain residency.

In August 2023, the UAE standardised overstaying fines for visit, tourist, and residence visas at Dirham 50 per day.

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UAE: Stranded job-seeker who 'lost an eye' flown home

The embassy paid for his flight ticket and arranged all necessary paperwork.

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A stranded Indian national — who overstayed his visit visa and lost his vision in one eye — was recently flown home, with the help of the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Sunil, who hails from the southern state of Kerala, arrived in the UAE on a visit visa in 2022. “I came looking for employment opportunities. However, I was unable to find a job,” he said.

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He ended up exceeding the duration of his visit visa and adding to his woes, he suffered from glaucoma — a disease that damages the eye’s optic nerve.

Sunil's condition got worse, leading to vision loss. “I lost one eye. I am losing vision in another eye," he said.

With his problems mounting, he sought assistance from the Indian Embassy's officials, who promptly took action.

“I contacted the Indian Embassy. The officials offered timely assistance, including air ticket and exit permits. I thank the embassy officials for their support,” Sunil said.

A spokesperson from the embassy confirmed facilitating Sunil’s repatriation to Kerala after completing the necessary paperwork and formalities.

“He sought help from the embassy. We completed the required exit formalities and issued him an air ticket. Sunil flew to his native place on Tuesday,” the spokesperson said.

The embassy has called on expats to strictly observe the UAE’s rules and regulations.

“The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi is committed to the welfare and assistance of all Indians in the UAE. All Indian nationals are also advised to carefully review the terms and validity of their UAE visas and follow the rules and regulations,” the spokesperson said.

• UAE visit visa: How to pay overstay fines online in six steps
• Dubai: Visit visa holders urged to carry Dh3,000 in cash or credit, return tickets, proof of stay
• UAE: Overstaying domestic worker gets help from authorities; here's what she did
• UAE: Sending your maid back home? How to cancel work permit
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