Overstayers in UAE urged to avail of 2-month amnesty program

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The Philippine missions here have issued a joint statement urging overstayers to avail of the UAE government’s two-month amnesty program that will start on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024.

“The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Philippine Consulate General in Dubai strongly encourage all Filipinos in the UAE who have concerns regarding their immigration status – whether as residents, visitors or holder of other visa types – to take full advantage of the upcoming amnesty program,” read the announcement sent to media late yesterday afternoon.

“This initiative offers an invaluable opportunity for our kababayans to regularize their stay in the UAE or to facilitate their return home without facing legal consequences,” the embassy and consulate general further said.

The missions said the program is a fresh start providing all erring expatriates with a chance to rectify their immigration status.

“For those unable to secure legitimate employment within the UAE, this program allows you to return to the Philippines with dignity and the option to re-enter the UAE in the future with the appropriate visa,” the statement also read.

The missions thanked the UAE government for coming up with the program, even as overstayers were urged not to wait until the last minute to register as doing so could result to “unnecessary complications.”

There were no immediately available estimates as to how many Filipino overstayers are there in the UAE.

The missions also assured that embassy and Philippine Consulate General personnel stand ready to assist with consular services, repatriation and other related inquiries.

This is the fourth amnesty thus far implemented since 2007, officials said, the last program was implemented six years ago and was held from August to December.

The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security is the government agency supervising the program’s implementation.

Major General Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, deputy director general of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, was quoted by local media as saying, “All kind of fines will be waived, even if it’s a huge bulk.”

There will also be fees for the processing of change visa status or to obtain an exit permit, officials said. Not covered by the program are people who violated visa rules or fled from their sponsors after Sept. 1, 2024. — BAP, GMA Integrated News