The UAE has made a big change allowing companies to get labour cards for employees who have overstayed their visas without any fines or penalties. This is part of the UAE government’s effort to give people a fresh start and help those who want to stay and work legally.
The two-month amnesty program offers hope for many illegal residents, letting them either leave without penalties or change their visas to residency visas if they get hired.
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UAE Visa Amnesty Kicks Off, No Penalties or Bans
Authorities in Dubai have confirmed that companies in the UAE can now get labour cards for employees who have overstayed their visas without any fines or penalties.
Amnesty and Waiver of Fines
“All fines have been removed from the system for people who have availed amnesty, and those who will come to us to avail the amnesty will see their fines completely waived off,” said Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general of GDRFA, in an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times.
- Objective: Give everyone a fresh start
- Commitment: Help those who want to stay and work legally in the UAE
Government’s Commitment to Smooth Visa Amnesty Process
Al Marri highlighted the UAE government’s commitment to making the visa amnesty process as smooth and easy as possible. Removing fines, which is a big financial burden for many, is a step to encourage people to come forward and fix their residency status.
Public Relations Officers and Immigration Experts’ Confirmation
Public relations officers and immigration experts have confirmed that several companies have been able to get labour cards for overstaying residents who have applied for amnesty without any fines.
- Example:
- Company: Transportation company
- Employee’s Overstay Fines: Over Dh4,000 until August 31
- Service Provider: IDS Documents Clearing Service
- Outcome: Labour card issued after paying just the processing fee
Two-Month Amnesty Program
On Sunday, the UAE started a two-month amnesty, giving hope to thousands of illegal residents. Currently, those who are staying illegally in the country can choose to:
- Leave without any penalties
- Change their visa to a residency visa if they get hired
On Monday, hundreds of people went to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) tent in Al Awir to fix their status.
Expert Advice
Experts have advised all residents to use this chance to get a fresh start.
- Abdul Gafoor, General Manager of Al Mas Businessmen Service:
- Benefits of Amnesty:
- Leave the country without any penalties
- No ban on returning for another job
- Opportunity to move to a company’s visa if hired
- Benefits of Amnesty:
Hiring Opportunities for Illegal Expats
Several businesses have shown interest in hiring undocumented foreign workers who want to stay in the country. Some of these businesses have set up booths at the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) tent where they are accepting resumes and conducting interviews.
- Example: Hotpack
- Deputy General Manager: Mujeeb Rahman
- Objective: Hire skilled and unskilled workers
- Process:
- Overstaying expat gets an outpass
- Go to the company’s counter for interviews
- Apply for offer letter with the Ministry of Labour
- Apply for visa and labour card (takes about a week)
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