My UAE Visa is About to Expire: What Do I Do?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a popular destination for tourists, business travellers, and expatriates alike. If you find yourself in the UAE with your visa expiration looming ahead of you, or if your visit visa is expired, it’s crucial to understand your options to avoid legal issues and ensure a seamless stay. This comprehensive guide will walk you through what to do when your UAE visa is about to expire, covering visa validity, visa renewal processes, and the visa rules you need to follow.
Understanding Visa Validity and Expiry
Types of
Visas and Their Validity
The UAE offers various types of visas, each with different validity periods:
- Tourist Visa: Valid for 14, 30, 60 and 90 days,
extendable twice for 30 days each.
- Transit
Visa:
Valid for 48 to 96 hours, non-extendable.
Signs Your Visa is About to Expire
- Notification from Authorities: The UAE
immigration authorities may send reminders.
- Check Your Visa: Always know the exact visa
validity and expiry date by checking the visa stamp on your passport or
the electronic copy.
Steps to Take if Your Visa is About to
Expire
- Evaluate Your Stay
Determine if you need to renew your visa and extend your stay in the UAE. Your course of action will depend on whether you plan to stay for a short period, a few more months, or indefinitely.
Tourist and Visit Visa Extensions
Tourist and visit visas can typically be extended twice for an additional 30 days each without the need to leave the country.
3. Steps to Extend a Tourist or Visit Visa:
- Online Application: Visit the official websites of the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) or the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA).
-
Required
Documents: Passport copy, current visa copy, passport-sized photograph.
-
Fee
Payment: The extension fee is around AED 600 per extension.
4. Overstay Penalties
If you overstay your visa, you will incur fines and penalties. The current overstay fine is AED 200 for the first day and AED 100 for each subsequent day. Additionally, you may face legal consequences and restrictions on future travel to the UAE.
Steps to Resolve
Overstay Issues
-
Pay
Fines: Settle all fines at the immigration office or at the airport before
departure.
-
Seek
Assistance: If your visit visa has expired and you have overstayed due to
exceptional circumstances, contact the immigration authorities for guidance.
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