At an amnesty centre managed by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai. ARCHIVE

The UAE government has launched an intensified crackdown on visa violators following the expiration of its latest amnesty program on December 31, 2024. Overstayers who failed to rectify their status or leave the country are now at risk of severe penalties. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP), in collaboration with Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), is conducting large-scale field inspections to identify illegal residents. Major General Sultan Al Nuaimi, ICP’s Director-General, issued a stern warning: "There will be no leniency, and there will be no court proceedings. Violators will be apprehended and placed on the banned entry list." Authorities are focusing on residential areas and businesses with high concentrations of overstayers. Employers who hire illegal residents also face severe consequences.

Penalties for visa violators

Individuals caught overstaying their visas face: • Renewed fines (daily penalties continue accumulating) • Immediate deportation • Inclusion on the UAE entry ban list Employers who hire illegal residents face fines ranging from Dh100,000 to Dh1 million under the federal decree law against illegal employment practices. The 2024 amnesty program, which ran from September 1 to December 31, allowed visa violators to either legalize their residency status or leave the country without penalties. This was the UAE’s fourth visa amnesty since 2007. Authorities have reiterated that there will be no exceptions for violators. Deportations have already begun, and those who remain in the country illegally will be placed on the no-entry blacklist, barring them from returning to the UAE in the future. With the UAE tightening regulations, overstaying a visa is no longer an option. Those who have missed the amnesty must immediately exit the country or face legal consequences. ICA/Expat Media
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