AMNESTY IN UAE
AN EXCEPTIONAL HELPING HANDS
Adv. Mohammad Sharafudheen
(Managing Director)
Legal Maxims Consultants, Dubai
Mob: +971 50 5093949
Email: md@legalmaxims.com
A new wave of relief has spread in UAE
with the recent Amnesty Programme
began from August 01 to October 30,
2018.
The significance:
When compare to the previous Amnesties,
the important significance to this
Amnesty drive is that those who are
eligible to this drive can either exit the
country or to regularise their current visa
status. In both the cases, no fines or
penalties are levied, and no entry ban will
be imposed. A new visa for a period of six
months will be provided for those wish to
stay back for finding new job. This time,
there are lot of liberal approach could be
expected from the UAE government when
compare to the past occasions which
cannot be expected any more.
Who is benefitted:
This programme shall benefit the
Residency Law violators and former
residents of UAE, who either overstayed,
entered the country illegally or have been
absconding until the date of July 31, 2018.
However people with pending cases shall
not be entitled for this programme but
those convicted for petty cases shall benefit
from this.
Where & How to get Amnesty
Various centres have been established at
under the General Directorates of
Residency and Foreign Affairs department
across the UAE. The amnesty centres are
open from 8am to 8pm. However, no one
need to visit the Al Aweer Centre as it can
be done through the Amer Centres.
Apart from that there are several social
organizations and social activist are
volunteering to the people who deserved to
get their status legalized.
Absconding cases:
Applicants can also clear absconding cases
and re-new the expired visas or apply for a
new visa. These centres shall provide the
Applicants with necessary guidance for
such process.
This programme exempts all applicable
financial penalties which include fines
relating to Residency, Emirates ID and
labour card violations.
Temporary Visa for job seekers:
Amnesty-seekers looking for a job can
obtain a temporary visa for six-months
period to search for an employment, and
they shall not be subject to any entry ban;
as they can re-enter the country with a
valid visa.
Emergency Certificate:
If any amnesty-seeker intends to exit the
country, an emergency certificate with 21
days validity will be issued by the
immigration authorities.

AMNESTY IN UAE
AN EXCEPTIONAL HELPING HANDS
Support from Governments
Embassies:
The Indian embassy, on the other hand,
have announced to waive the fees on
emergency certificate charges for the
Indian amnesty-seekers.
Pakistan embassy also extending support
to the amnesty seekers by providing
passports relating services free of cost.
Amnesty for war-torn countries
The UAE Cabinet adopted a resolution to
grant extendable one-year permits to the
citizens of countries in which there are
wars and natural disasters– regardless of
their condition of residence. This
programme shall also be beneficial for the
families coming from the war-torn
countries like Syria and Yemen who have
been presently residing in UAE, wherein a
one-year residence visa shall be granted
without any restrictions.
Exclusion from the Amnesty Programme
Those people who have been blacklisted or
pending legal cases against them are not
entitled for this programme. They must
first clear the pending civil or criminal
cases and then apply for their change in
the visa status.
Amnesty for Children
The Children or the dependants of the
amnesty-seeker can be sent to their home
country if their parents are seeking
criminal charges within UAE.
Immigration Ban
If an individual enters the country illegally,
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and then he/she shall exit the country with a
two-year ban from the date of exit and can
re-enter after the completion of the ban
period.
Fees
A fee of AED. 220 is being charged on the
exit permit. For modifications in the
residency visa, a fee of AED.500 will be
charged.
The Amnesty Programme is bound to have
a far-reaching impact to ease penal and
financial burden on all expatriates in UAE.
These new rules reflect the UAE's global
position as a welcoming nation which
extending a helping hand to people in need.
This is the year of Zayed marking 100 years
since the birth of the late Sheikh Zayed bin
Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of
the UAE. The Year of Zayed is specifically
featuring series of events and initiatives in
the UAE including this Amnesty
Programme.
This programme is intended to involve
people of all ages, nationalities, faiths and
backgrounds in the UAE. It is the best
example set forth by the UAE who is one
amongst the GCC Countries in introducing
this Amnesty Programme and thus,
portraying the country’s values to endure
forgiveness, kindness and mercy where the
value of human beings is really considered.
Nevertheless, this golden opportunity must
be made use by those who are eligible to get
the benefits. Each and every deserving
individual must avail the advantages of the
Amnesty programme and also to encourage
others to avail the benefits.
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