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The Emirati government announced that the grace period for foreign nationals on expired residence permits to resolve their immigration status has been extended until Dec. 31.
Key Points:
Additional Information: The current penalty for overstay on an expired residence permit is 50 AED (about US$14) per day.
BAL Analysis: The initiative aims to provide foreign nationals with a new opportunity to regularize their status. Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security officials stated they will intensify inspection campaigns targeting violators in collaboration with government partners, taking legal action against individuals found in breach after the extension period ends. BAL will provide further updates as information becomes available.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.
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The Emirati government announced the launch of a new National Economic Registry “Growth” platform.
Additional Information: Officials stated the new registry platform is designed to centralize the procedures and requirements for establishing businesses and conducting economic activities in the country into a single national portal. The Ministry of Economy hopes the platform will eventually link to 100 federal and local authorities, increase the number of services provided to 500, reduce service delivery times and eliminate all unnecessary criteria and requirements. The government will regularly update the platform with commercial license information.
The Emirati government announced an eVisa for residents of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and their companions.
Additional Information: As BAL reported, a new GCC tourist visa called the GCC Grand Tours visa is in development that will allow foreign nationals to travel on one multiple-entry tourist visa through the six GCC member states. Additional details are yet to be confirmed, but it is expected that the visa may allow for an extended 30-day tourism stay — longer than the currently permitted maximum — with no additional fees to apply for eligible travelers who hold a passport valid for at least six months. It is expected to launch in late 2024 or early 2025 to boost tourism in the region.
The Emirati government announced that foreign nationals on expired residence permits will now be granted a two-month grace period to resolve their immigration status.
BAL Analysis: The initiative aims to provide foreign nationals with a new opportunity to regularize their status. BAL will provide further updates on the implementation of this new policy as information becomes available.
The Emirati government introduced a new initiative that will assist individuals with applying for health insurance concurrently with their tourist visa.
Additional Information: The government hopes to facilitate greater tourism by easing access to health coverage through automation within the electronic visa application platform. Within the platform, pricing and issuance of insurance packages from all major insurers will be completed. The issuance of the tourist visa is still at the discretion of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs. BAL will provide further updates on the implementation of this program as information becomes available.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization provided a reminder to employers of 50 or more workers to meet their Emiratization targets for the first half of 2024, as compliance monitoring began as of July 1.
Additional Information: The current target is a 1% increase in the number of Emiratis in skilled jobs at companies with 50 or more employees for the first half of 2024. Emiratization targets require these employers to increase the number of Emirati employees in skilled positions by 1% every six months, ultimately achieving a 2% Emiratization by the end of each year. Employers are expected to achieve a 10% Emiratization rate by the end of 2026.
Indian nationals are now required to apply for a pre-approved entry permit to obtain a visa on arrival in the United Arab Emirates.
BAL Analysis: Indian nationals are advised to apply for a pre-approved entry permit before travel to the UAE. Passports and other documents accepted for entry must be valid for a minimum of six months from the arrival date. The issuance of the visa on arrival is at the discretion of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs. BAL will provide further updates as information becomes available.
The Emirati government has provided additional details on the new Gulf Cooperation Council tourist visa as well as announced a new gaming visa to boost tourism.
Additional Information: UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also recently announced an update to its visa exemption policy that allows nationals from 87 countries to enter without a pre-entry visa. The full list of eligible countries can be found here. The government has undertaken several measures recently to expedite and attract foreign travel.
BAL Analysis: The announcement of a Schengen-style tourist visa for the GCC member states is a highly anticipated development. Foreign nationals are currently required to obtain separate tourist visas to travel to these countries, and the governments hope that a unified tourist visa will simplify travel for its citizens and boost each nation’s economies.
The Emirati government has reached an agreement with the Republic of Armenia on a mutual visa-free policy.
Additional Information: The Emirati government has introduced various measures recently to increase inbound travel from foreign tourists. A separate mutual visa-free travel agreement with Uzbekistan was recently announced. The agreement will allow citizens holding passports with at least six months of validity to enter and stay for a period of up to 30 days per visit.
BAL Analysis: The new agreements are designed to help foster stronger ties and make exploration and cultural exchange between other countries more accessible. The Emirati government also hopes to create opportunities for increased tourism to stimulate economic growth.
The UAE’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs has suspended the employment sponsorship visa transfer option across free zones for companies.
Key Points:
Additional Information: There are no changes for a new residence visa application, and the same in-country visa amendment and change status process is still applicable. The suspension applies only to visa transfer applications for company employees operating from free zone to free zone.
BAL Analysis: This suspension creates extra steps in the visa application process. Employees should expect longer processing times before they can begin work, and employers should expect to pay additional fees. Authorities have not yet announced whether the suspension is a temporary or permanent change. BAL will provide updates as information becomes available.