Abu Dhabi: Citizens of countries exempt from UAE pre-entry visas will now have to pay to renew their visas, according to a new visa fee structure that took effect from August 1.
Under the new system, citizens of 45 countries, including 28 EU countries, Australia, Canada and the United States, will get a 30-day visit visa free of charge, but its renewal for one more month will cost Dh600.
An extension of the visa will entitle visitors to stay in the country for up to 90 days from the entry date.
The visa renewal fee will be waived in the event visitors have been invited by UAE ministries, federal or local departments.
The new measures include study, medical treatment and business visas as well as a visa for people sharing a border with the UAE, such as those living in Buraimi and have business in Al Ain and people who have landed in the UAE in a state of urgency such as a flawed aircraft or medical emergency, said Brigadier Rashid Sultan Al Khadr, Director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Interior.
A new visa fee and fine structure also includes a Dh5,000 refundable deposit collected for cancelling a sponsor’s residence visa without cancelling the visas of the sponsored family members.
The deposit will be refunded once the sponsor adjusts their status.
A Dh3,000 refundable deposit will be collected for sponsorship of each family member for a female investor, while a Dh5,000 refundable deposit will be collected for humanitarian cases determined by the Minister of the Interior.
The new Cabinet decision sets up a fund for the deportation of violators of the residency rules. Resources for the fund will come from deposits encashed after applicants fail to honour their obligations under the law.
A Dh100 fine will be imposed on users of residency department portals who fail to fill in applications accurately, according to the new rules.
Individual applicants who fail to honour any declaration or affidavit will be fined Dh500, while in the case of a corporate applicant the fine will be Dh2,000.
Companies that fail to adjust the legal status of their sponsored workers on time will be fined Dh1,000 for each worker, while failure to report any change in the company’s details to the ministry will cost Dh1,000.
A Dh5,000 fine will be imposed on those who misuse the residency system or submit bogus reports to the residency departments across the country.
Repeat offenders within a year will have their fines doubled, not exceeding Dh50,000.
List of countries exempt from pre-entry visas
