In today’s news of how coronavirus has impacted the region, the UAE government has announced that all visas, entry permits and Emirates ID cards that had expired after March 1 will now be valid until the end of 2020.
This means, if you were travelling in or through the UAE on holiday before the travel ban was implemented and have overstayed your visit visa time, you’re exempt from any fines that would have ensued.
Brigadier General Al Kaabi: UAE visitors who have remained in the country and their visas expired in early March 2020, will also have their visit visas extended till end of December 2020. #UAEGov
— UAEGov (@uaegov) April 13, 2020
Similarly for expats who hold resident visas and Emirates ID cards and are either stuck abroad or cannot undergo renewal, you won’t be issued any fines.
Brigadier General Al Kaabi: UAE nationals and residents whose Identification Cards expired in early March 2020 will also have their validity extended until the end of the current year. #UAEGov
— UAEGov (@uaegov) April 13, 2020
Colonel Khamis Al Kaabi, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship spokesperson, added that they have received a lot of requests from residents and visitors to join their families in their home countries under the current circumstances, to which he said, “We are working to coordinate these requests. The ICA affirms its absolute commitment to all segments of society, including citizens, residents, and visitors.”
“We also confirm our willingness to receive and attend to all inquiries through the communication channels announced on the official website of the authority.”