New opportunity for residency offenders: UAE grants penalty-free grace period

August 1, 2024

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has announced a grace period of two months for residency offenders to rectify their status starting from 1 September 2024.

The financial penalties incurred will be cancelled so as to be able to rectify their status or leave the country, ICP added.

Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security announces 2-month grace period starting September 1 ,2024, for residents in violation of the residency system. During this period, violators can regularise their status or leave the country without incurring… pic.twitter.com/C7HxBYSH4c
— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) August 1, 2024

This decision offers the residency offenders a new opportunity to amend their status in accordance with the law. This is to be done with consideration of their circumstances and based on the values of mercy and tolerance on which the UAE was founded, ICP said.
Recently, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has identified 14 types of administrative violations related to the Emirates ID card and residency services, adding that the financial fines related to these violations range between Dhs20 per day, amounting to Dhs20,000 for one violation, depending on its type.
The administrative fines related to the ID card are imposed in case of committing two violations: delaying registration to obtain the ID card, and delaying its renewal after 30 days from its expiration date, ICP pointed out, adding that the fine in this case is Dhs20 per day of delay, with a maximum of Dhs1,000.
Regarding fines for violations related to residency and foreigners’ affairs, ICP said these include 6 fines of Dhs500 each, which are imposed in these cases: if the company’s representative submits transactions to the passport employee which do not belong to the company, entering data not belonging to the company via the e-Dirham, the expiration of the representative’s card, not carrying the card when submitting transactions, and violating the work system in service centres.
ICP also indicated that there are 3 fines of Dhs5,000 for these violations: misuse of the system, obstructing the work of the ICP’s employees or not cooperating with them, or failure of system users to pay the financial fees needed to get the service, according to the specified value.
Regarding the violation of inaccurate typing of applications, the fine is Dhs100, while the fine for the violation of providing incorrect data is Dhs3,000 and the violation of issuing visas or entry permits to an establishment which has no activity is Dhs20,000.
Citizens and GCC nationals and UAE residents who could not get or renew their ID cards or the ID cards of their sponsors, on the specified date, can apply for exemption from fines, provided they meet the conditions decided.