UAE
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security (ICP) has issued a final warning to individuals violating residency laws in the UAE. With just one day remaining, the deadline for residency status regularization or voluntary departure from the country is set for Tuesday, December 31.
This deadline marks the end of an extended grace period, originally scheduled from September 1 to October 31, that was extended for an additional two months to give violators a final chance to correct their status without facing penalties.
The ICP emphasized that after this deadline, penalties for violations will be reinstated starting January 1, 2025.
This will include the imposition of fines and the reintroduction of rigorous inspection campaigns to enforce legal actions against those who fail to regularize their status.
The current amnesty program allows individuals to resolve their immigration status without incurring fines or facing re-entry bans.
The categories eligible for amnesty include visa violators (individuals who have overstayed their visas), residency violators (those with expired residency permits), individuals with administrative violations (such as workers who have absconded from their employers), and foreign-born newborns whose residency status has not been regularized within four months of birth.
According to data from the ICP, 88% of applicants during the first week of the amnesty opted to remain and work in the UAE, while the remaining 12% chose to leave the country.
The government has made it clear that after December 31, 2024, the enforcement of residency laws will resume, and individuals who have not taken the opportunity to regularize their status will face fines.
The ICP has urged all violators to take advantage of this final grace period, submitting their applications online or through authorized typing centers.
Furthermore, the authority has clarified that no further extensions will be granted for status correction, and inspection efforts will be ramped up in the new year to apprehend those who have failed to comply.
Many violators have already benefited from the amnesty, securing job opportunities and obtaining legal residency during this period.
I am a dynamic professional, specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies, Conflict Management and Resolution, and International Relations. My expertise is particularly focused on South Asian Conflicts and the intricacies of the Indian Ocean and Asia Pacific Politics. With my skills as a Content Writer, I serve as a bridge between academia and the public, translating complex global issues into accessible narratives. My passion for fostering understanding and cooperation on the national and international stage drives me to make meaningful contributions to peace and global discourse.
