Individuals previously exempted due to regional travel disruptions have until July 9 to regularize their status or exit the country without penalties.
DUBAI: The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has announced a final 30-day grace period for individuals who were previously exempted from visa overstay fines due to exceptional regional circumstances. The grace period commenced on June 10, 2026, and will remain in effect until July 9, 2026.
This critical window allows eligible expatriates and visitors to either regularize their residency and visa status inside the country or depart the UAE directly without facing any financial penalties.
The targeted relief applies specifically to individuals who benefited from the ICP’s earlier humanitarian waiver. That initial exemption protected travelers—including visit visa holders, exit permit holders, and residents with canceled permits—who were left stranded and accumulated overstay fines following airspace closures and flight suspensions in the region.
According to the ICP, the exceptional circumstances that originally justified the waiver have now ceased to exist with the restoration of stability and normal travel operations across the region. Consequently, this 30-day timeline serves as the final opportunity for affected individuals to correct their immigration status.
The authority confirmed that beneficiaries intending to leave the UAE can depart directly through exit points without undergoing any preliminary administrative procedures. Meanwhile, those who wish to continue living and working in the country legally must use this period to secure valid employment or residency visas. The ICP emphasized that the move reinforces a culture of legal compliance while upholding the UAE’s humanitarian values.
