Visitors who benefited from the UAE’s special overstay-fine waiver during March–May flight suspensions have just one week left to regularise their status or exit the country. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) granted a 30-day grace period from 10 June to 9 July, but has confirmed that normal penalties will resume thereafter.
![30-day grace period for stranded visitors ends 9 July: what to do now]()
For anyone unsure about which route to take, visa service platforms such as VisaHQ can streamline the process—whether you need to submit a fresh visit-visa application, convert to residency, or simply book an exit permit. Their UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lists current requirements and offers document-review support to minimise last-minute surprises.
The relief applied mainly to tourists whose visas expired after 28 February, when regional airspace closures disrupted departures. Immigration consultants told Khaleej Times on 1 July that many of those travellers have already left, but a “few thousand” remain, hoping to finalise job offers or residency changes. Affected individuals have three options: (1) convert to an employment or family-sponsored residence visa; (2) apply for a new visit visa through a border-run or in-country change if eligible; or (3) leave before 9 July to avoid fines of AED 50 per day plus service fees. For employers, the deadline is significant. If a candidate currently in the UAE on an expired visit visa misses the cut-off, the company must pay overstay fines before a work permit can be issued. Travel managers should therefore verify visa-status dates for inbound hires right away and budget for express processing. Amer centres and ICP smart apps show real-time fine calculations; visitors should obtain an exit permit online at least 24 hours before flying out to prevent airport delays. Authorities have ruled out any further extensions.
For anyone unsure about which route to take, visa service platforms such as VisaHQ can streamline the process—whether you need to submit a fresh visit-visa application, convert to residency, or simply book an exit permit. Their UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lists current requirements and offers document-review support to minimise last-minute surprises.
The relief applied mainly to tourists whose visas expired after 28 February, when regional airspace closures disrupted departures. Immigration consultants told Khaleej Times on 1 July that many of those travellers have already left, but a “few thousand” remain, hoping to finalise job offers or residency changes. Affected individuals have three options: (1) convert to an employment or family-sponsored residence visa; (2) apply for a new visit visa through a border-run or in-country change if eligible; or (3) leave before 9 July to avoid fines of AED 50 per day plus service fees. For employers, the deadline is significant. If a candidate currently in the UAE on an expired visit visa misses the cut-off, the company must pay overstay fines before a work permit can be issued. Travel managers should therefore verify visa-status dates for inbound hires right away and budget for express processing. Amer centres and ICP smart apps show real-time fine calculations; visitors should obtain an exit permit online at least 24 hours before flying out to prevent airport delays. Authorities have ruled out any further extensions.
