The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has given travellers and residents who were stranded during the February–April air-space shutdown one final chance to regularise their immigration status. In a late-night notice on 18 June, the ICP confirmed a 30-day grace period running from 10 June to 9 July 2026. Anyone who benefited from the government’s earlier fine-waiver—introduced when commercial flights were suspended on 28 February—may now 1) exit the country without penalty or 2) submit a new residence or visit-visa application through the ICP or the relevant emirate’s GDRFA portal. No special paperwork is required beyond the normal online filing.
Background: In March the UAE waived all overstay penalties for visitors and cancelled-residence holders who could not leave because of the regional conflict. Although flights resumed in April, thousands of people are still out of status, which prevents them from taking up new jobs, renting property or re-enrolling children in school. Overstay fines normally accrue at AED 50–100 per day, quickly becoming unaffordable for low-income workers.
Practical implications for employers:
• Human-resources and global-mobility teams should audit any staff stuck in the UAE between 28 February and 10 June.
• Where residence visas were cancelled, a fresh application must be lodged during the grace window; otherwise the employee will have to exit and re-enter.
• Dependants whose visas expired during the shutdown must also be regularised to avoid problems at the airport.
![UAE offers 30-day grace period for travellers and residents affected by regional flight disruptions]()
VisaHQ’s online visa and document-processing platform can simplify that task, guiding employers and individual travellers through the UAE’s e-visa application steps and alerting them to deadlines such as this 30-day grace period. For details, visit https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
What happens after 9 July? The ICP states that the "exceptional circumstances have now ceased"; normal fines will resume on 10 July. Companies that fail to act risk sponsoring employees who may already have an immigration violation on record—a red flag for future work-permit renewals. The authority is encouraging affected individuals to use its smart-app or authorised typing centres to avoid last-minute queues.
Regional context: The UAE’s approach contrasts with neighbouring Gulf states that are still insisting on full overstay penalties. By coupling humanitarian relief with a hard deadline, Abu Dhabi hopes to clear the backlog before the summer high-season surge in arrivals begins.
Background: In March the UAE waived all overstay penalties for visitors and cancelled-residence holders who could not leave because of the regional conflict. Although flights resumed in April, thousands of people are still out of status, which prevents them from taking up new jobs, renting property or re-enrolling children in school. Overstay fines normally accrue at AED 50–100 per day, quickly becoming unaffordable for low-income workers.
Practical implications for employers:
• Human-resources and global-mobility teams should audit any staff stuck in the UAE between 28 February and 10 June.
• Where residence visas were cancelled, a fresh application must be lodged during the grace window; otherwise the employee will have to exit and re-enter.
• Dependants whose visas expired during the shutdown must also be regularised to avoid problems at the airport.
VisaHQ’s online visa and document-processing platform can simplify that task, guiding employers and individual travellers through the UAE’s e-visa application steps and alerting them to deadlines such as this 30-day grace period. For details, visit https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
What happens after 9 July? The ICP states that the "exceptional circumstances have now ceased"; normal fines will resume on 10 July. Companies that fail to act risk sponsoring employees who may already have an immigration violation on record—a red flag for future work-permit renewals. The authority is encouraging affected individuals to use its smart-app or authorised typing centres to avoid last-minute queues.
Regional context: The UAE’s approach contrasts with neighbouring Gulf states that are still insisting on full overstay penalties. By coupling humanitarian relief with a hard deadline, Abu Dhabi hopes to clear the backlog before the summer high-season surge in arrivals begins.
