UAE resumes issuing entry and work permits
On 5 October 2020, Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) allowed government and semi-government companies and establishments in vital sectors to apply for work permits for their employees. It also started to issue work permits for domestic workers.
This is an update to the earlier announcement made on 24 September 2020, when, the UAE decided that it will resume issuing all types of entry permits to the UAE with immediate effect. However, it would not resume issuing work permits, yet.
For more information and clarification, please contact ICA on 600-522-222.
Update: One-month grace allowed to visit and tourist visa holders
Holders of the UAE’s visit or tourist visas that expired after 1 March must leave the UAE within one month from 11 July 2020; that is by 11 August 2020. They can leave without facing fines or violations for the past period.
However, on 16 July 2020, Federal Authority For Identity and Citizenship mentioned that this grace period of one month is renewable for another month upon request, after which a tourist or a visit visa holder needs to exit the UAE if he is not able to change his visa status into a residence visa. Those who overstay the grace period will face overstay fines.
On 11 July, the UAE government cancelled, the previous decision under which the validity of tourist visas and entry permits of foreign visitors to the UAE that expired in early March or were due to expire later was extended until the end of December for those who could not leave the UAE because of the suspension of passenger flights.
Currently, Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship is not issuing any visit or tourist visas. Issuance of visit or tourist visas will be considered at a later phase depending on the COVID-19 situation at the local and global levels.
New Visa updates effective from 11 July 2020
On 10 July 2020, the UAE Cabinet approved several amendments to rules for visas and Emirates ID which were made during the peak of COVID-19 and announced the resumption of normalcy in the functions of Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA).
Accordingly, effective from 11 July 2020, the UAE Government will implement the following new amendments regarding visas and Emirates ID:
- Cancel the previous decision under which the validity of residence visas that expired in early March 2020 or were due to expire later was extended until the end of December 2020, for both residents inside and outside the UAE. (See earlier decision)
- Cancel the previous decision under which the validity of tourist visas and entry permits of foreign visitors to the UAE that expired in early March or were due to expire later was extended until the end of December for those who could not leave the UAE. (See earlier decision)
- Cancel the previous decision under which the validity of Emirates IDs that expired in early March was extended until the end of December. (See earlier decision)
- Cancel the previous decision under which the government had suspended collecting administrative fines for violations mentioned in the decisions of the Cabinet relating to the services provided by ICA.
- Grant three months to citizens, GCCs citizens and expatriate residents inside the UAE to renew their documents and Emirates IDs.
- From 12 July 2020, ICA will resume its regular services to customers. Renewal of expired residence visas and Emirates IDs will be done in phases according to the time plan below:
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Expiry date of residence visas and Emirates IDs
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Date of accepting requests for renewal
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Renewal of residence visas and Emirates IDs which expired in March 2020
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12 July 2020
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Renewal of residence visas and Emirates IDs which expired in April 2020
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Renewal of residence visas and Emirates IDs which expired in May 2020
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11 August 2020
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Renewal of residence visas and Emirates IDs which expired in June 2020
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10 September 2020
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Renewal of residence visas and Emirates IDs which expired between 1 and 11 July 2020
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Renewal of residence visas and Emirates IDs which expired after 11 July 2020
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Not restricted to a specific time
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- Grant citizens, GCC citizens and expatriate residents, who spent less than six months outside the UAE, a grace of one month from the date of their arrival in the UAE to renew their documents.
- Grant expatriate residents who are outside the UAE and whose residence visa expired after 1 March 2020, or who have been staying outside the UAE for more than six months, a specific period to return to the UAE from the date of the opening of the airspace between the UAE and the country of their present residence. This period will be determined by ICA.
- Collect administrative fees or fines for violations relating to the deadlines specified in the Cabinet resolution.
- Exempt financial fines for the period before the issuance of this decision; that is for March, April, May, June and until 11 July).
For more details, contact Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA).
Follow ICA on Twitter for more updates on visas and Emirates IDs.
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