Abu Dhabi, September 5, 2024 – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced a visa amnesty scheme, offering a two-month grace period from September 1 to October 30 for residents with expired visas to either legalise their status or leave the country without facing penalties.
The initiative applies to those with expired residence or tourist visas, allowing them to regularise their stay or return home without incurring fines. However, the amnesty does not extend to individuals who entered the UAE illegally. Eligible residents can adjust their visa status without fees, while those opting to leave will be able to do so without facing a travel ban.
The Pakistani consulate in the UAE has urged Pakistani citizens to take advantage of this opportunity to either legalise their stay or return home with dignity, with the possibility of re-entering the UAE in the future with proper documentation.
As the scheme commenced, hundreds of residents flocked to amnesty centres on Sunday, according to Gulf News, where millions of dirhams in fines were waived by UAE authorities. The scheme allows violators of residency laws to avoid legal action, including travel bans and fines, by either leaving the country or regularising their status during the amnesty period, which ends on October 30.
