UAE amends visa, ID card rules; ICA to start collecting service fees and fines

The UAE Cabinet on Friday issued a number of amendments to the decisions issued recently in the identity and nationality sector.

With the return of normalcy in various fields and sectors and in support of the business continuity, the amendments have been issued, as per an official statement from the UAE cabinet.

"All the decisions related to the residency of expatriates, visas, entry permits and ID cards are stopped with effect from July 11, while the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) has been assigned to start collecting the fees due for providing the services from July 12," a series of tweets on the official handle of the UAE Government said.

A grace period of three months is granted to the Emiratis, GCC citizens and residents in the country for renewal of their documents.

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"A grace period of one month is granted, effective from the date of entering the country, is given to the Emiratis, GCC citizens and residents (who spent less than six months outside the country) for renewal of the documents.

The residents who are staying outside the country and whose residency visas expired as of March 1, 2020, or who have exceeded a period of six months outside the country, are granted a grace period to return to the country, effective from the date of the opening of the airspace between the two countries as per a specific schedule to be determined by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, the Cabinet added.

"Administrative fees or fines shall be collected after the end of the said deadlines. No fines shall be collected during the exemption period. Administrative fees and fines shall be reactivated on all services provided by the authority from July 12."

reporters@khaleejtimes.com