UAE residency visas and Emirates IDs to remain valid until the end of 2020

On Monday, an official within the UAE government confirmed that all visas, entry permits and Emirates IDs will remain valid until the end of 2020.

Brigadier General Al Kaabi explained that residents whose visas expired in early March 2020 will receive an extension of their visas until end of December 2020. This measure applies to both residents inside and outside the UAE. #UAEGov

— UAEGov (@uaegov) April 13, 2020

The residency visa of expatriates, whether they are inside or outside of the country, will remain valid until the end of the year.

Brigadier general Khamis Al Kaabi, spokesperson for the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, said that these documents are valid until the end of December if they happen to expire after March 1, 2020, reported local media.

Read: No fines for residency visa violations in UAE until the end of the year

“We affirm in the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship our absolute commitment to all segments of society, including citizens, residents, and visitors, and our willingness to receive their inquiries through the communication channels announced on the official website of the authority,” said Al Kaabi during a virtual conference with the media.

UAE visitors who have remained in the country and have had their visas expire in early March 2020, will also receive a visa extension until the end of December 2020.

The decision was made as a relief and precautionary measure during the Covid-19 pandemic which has swept across the world.

On April 5, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced a decision to cancel all residency visa fines until the end of the year.

On March 26, the UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship announced that work permits and residence visas will be issued and renewed automatically for labourers employed by companies and support service staff such as domestic workers.

Read: UAE to automatically renew residency visas of domestic helpers, labourers