The UAE’s Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has listed multiple scenarios under which visa violators can regularize their status. This is part of the UAE government’s two-month amnesty period that came into effect on September 1.
MOHRE has listed the following scenarios as well as procedures that need to be followed depending on whether the individual intends to stay inside the country or leave.
- Category 1: This refers to residency violators whose residency has expired and who do not hold a valid work permit issued by MOHRE.
- Category 2: This refers to residency violators whose residency has expired and who hold an expired work permit issued by MOHRE under the establishments or domestic workers category
- Category 3: This refers to residency violators whose residency has expired and who hold a valid work permit issued by MOHRE under the establishments or domestic workers category, with a pending complaint of work abandonment filed against them.
- Category 4: This refers to visit visa violators who have overstayed the duration specified by their visit visa.
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Procedures to follow
For the first category of individuals, if the violating resident wishes to work for a new employer, then the new employer must apply for a new work permit through the ministry or the relevant authority, depending on the establishment’s affiliation.
However, if the violating resident wishes to remain with their current employer, the current employer must apply for residency renewal through one of the channels of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security.
If the violating resident wishes to leave the country, he must apply for an exit permit through the authority’s systems.
For the second category of individuals, if the violating worker wishes to remain with their current employer, the current employer must apply for a work permit renewal through MOHRE’s channels, in accordance with the procedures to maintain the contractual relationship.
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But, if the current employer wishes to change the violating worker’s status by either cancelling the permit or reporting work abandonment, the current employer must apply for work permit cancellation through the MOHRE’s channels, or they must submit a complaint for work abandonment.
Moreover, if the violating worker wishes to join a new employer, then the new employer must apply for a work permit issuance.
For the third category of individuals, the MOHRE has listed the following steps: If the current employer wants to reinstate and continue the contractual relationship, and if the violating worker’s permit has expired, then the current employer must apply for a work permit renewal without canceling the work abandonment complaint.
If the violating worker’s permit is still valid, then the current employer must apply to cancel the work abandonment complaint.
However, if the violating worker wishes to join a new employer, then the new employer must apply for a new work permit.
For the fourth category, if the violating visitor wishes to work for a new employer then the new employer must apply for a new work permit through MOHRE’s channels. If the violating visitor wishes to leave the country, he must apply for an exit permit.
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