Visa violators from visitors who stayed longer than allowed by their visa were given the opportunity to change their status and remain in the country by obtaining a work permit from the federal authority for identity, citizenship, customs, and port security.
The period for changing the status of violators began in early September and ends on October 31.
Application for a new work permit
The authority clarified on its official website that, depending on the establishment's level of subordination, the new employer would need to file for a new work permit from the ministry or the authority if the infringing visitor wanted to join a different company. The offending guest must apply for a departure permission via the authority's systems if he wants to leave, he continued.
Four categories do not require fingerprinting
Four categories have been identified by the authority as not requiring fingerprinting in the event of departure: individuals holding an Emirates ID from the residency category, those who have previously held an Emirates ID, children under the age of 15, and situations in which it is not possible to obtain a decimal fingerprint. Visa holders aged 15 years and older are the categories that are required to provide fingerprints.
The federal authority for identity, citizenship, Customs, and port security has issued media statements urging violators of the law on foreigner residency and entry to use the time limit allotted to them and take the initiative to amend their status, either by leaving or by obtaining a work permit. There are just 27 days remaining in the deadline for violators to do so.
The commission affirmed that violators who choose to change their status by departing the nation within the allotted time frame would not have a deprivation stamp placed on their passports and may reenter in compliance with the rules and regulations governing entry and visas.
She emphasized that those who violate the law and do not resolve their complaints within the allotted time frame would face penalties and fees.
The beneficiary is instructed to review the visa centers issued by the General Directorate of residency and Foreigners Affairs-Abu Dhabi after submitting the departure permit application, she said, with regard to the categories that require fingerprinting. These centers include all service centers that have biometric fingerprint capture devices (Al Dhafra, Sweihan, Al Maqam, Al Shahama). Visas granted by Dubai's General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs: (Al Aweer, Service Center for the surveillance of foreigners and violators). In the remaining United Arab Emirates, visas are granted by the general departments of Foreigners Affairs and Residency (all service facilities where biometric fingerprint capture equipment are placed).
Deadline for settling the status of violators
Regarding a query on its dedicated page regarding the deadline for resolving the status of violators, concerning whether the deadline decision covers infractions and penalties that transpire beyond the deadline's start date of September 1, 2024, the authority verified that it will not profit from the current deadline, which violates residency and visa after September 1, 2024, as well as the runway (notice of suspension from work) after September 01, 2024, as well as cases of deportation limited to individuals deported from the state or the Gulf Cooperation Council member states.
Four groups of people are not required to have their fingerprints taken upon departure: those with an Emirates ID that fall within the residence category, those who have previously obtained an Emirates ID, those under the age of 15, and those in situations where the decimal fingerprint cannot be obtained.