Everything has an expiry date and are you ready for yours? Don’t worry I am just talking about your UAE visit or resident visa. Overstaying is another complicated topic as the consequences of overstaying is not known to many people. Importantly, whether overstaying leads to imprisonment, lifelong travel ban and/or fine, it will all be disclosed in following paragraphs, sit tight!
UAE has a population of 10 million and 88% of that population includes expatriates who reside in the country on a limited year visa (up to a maximum of 10 years) or people who come in the country in search of employment on a visit/tourist visa. The said visit visa is issued for a period of maximum 6 months and a failure to leave the country after permitted term will constitute as overstaying.
Rules and Regulations
We all are very aware of the term tourist or resident visa issued by the government of UAE. The former is issued for a specific small period that is from 3 days to 6 months, whereas the latter is issued for a minimum period of 2 years up to 10 years. Any visitor who has visited UAE on tourist visa for seeking employment must alter his visa upon receiving the employment opportunity before the expiration date of tourist visa and failure to do the same will result in overstay fine. The overstay fine is calculated on the number of additional days spent by the tourist from the date of expiration of the visa. The fine on the first day is AED 200 and AED 100 for each additional day.
On the other hand, a resident holding an employment visa must either change his employment visa after the expiry of the existing or leave the country. It is pertinent to note that after the cancellation of the visa, the resident has 30 days additional to stay in the country or change his employment visa. If the resident failed to renew the visa, he will be obliged to AED 125 for the first day and AED 25 on each additional day. Importantly, the fines on overstay visa apply to all sorts of visa whether it is spouse visa, investment visa or child visa.
Aftermath of Overstaying
Are you aware of the consequences if someone extend their stay in UAE beyond a permissible time limit for instance beyond the 30-day grace period offered in resident visa? Lawyers of Dubai have confirmed that the individual may either face immigration ban, imprisonment for a period of 3 months or less, deportation or getting his/her name blacklisted permanently in UAE along with a hefty fine that needs to be paid to the Ministry of Immigration.
Possibility of Re-visiting in UAE
In most cases presented before Immigration lawyers of Dubai, the government of UAE rejects the application for removal travel ban against the individual. Nevertheless, in certain circumstances, an application before the Ministry of interior must be registered seeking special permission for the individual to allow him to revisit the country. Having said that, the special circumstances can only when the employer removes the case against the employee, court decision issued in favor of the deported individual, an application for pardon is accepted by the government and legal rehabilitation.
Considering the seriousness of the situation or consequences of overstay, Dubai lawyers never suggest delaying the overstay and advise the individual to pay off the fine at the earliest or adhere to the expiration date of the visa and respect the laws of UAE.
