Coronavirus: UAE Announces Automatic Residence Visa Extension For 3 Months

by Vaishnavi Venkataraman
Coronavirus: UAE Announces Automatic Residence Visa Extension For 3 Months

Keeping in mind the current scenario, the UAE cabinet has relaxed visa extension rules. The new decision comes in line with the government’s measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The decision will benefit citizens, residents and visitors, as well as ensure continuity of work in a few government sectors.

Credits: Gulf News

New Rules By The UAE Cabinet

  1. Residency visas expired on March 1 can be renewed for a renewable period of three months, without additional fees.
  2. Validity of Federal government services including documents and permits, licenses, and commercial records ending on 1 March or within the specified time limit can be extended for a period of three months, from 1 April.
  3. To grant a temporary license for a project to use digital transaction technologies in the work of the notary
  4. Administrative fines for violation of services like Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship approved by the Council of Ministers will be stopped for a period of three months, starting 1 April 1, 2020.
  5. To help residents and citizens to complete judicial transactions

What Else?

Meanwhile, the UAE government also announced a list of fines to ensure residents stay at home, and remain safe. Read this list and ensure you stay safe:

  • AED 1,000 fine for people not maintaining social distancing
  • AED 2,000 for leaving homes for unnecessary reasons
  • AED 1,000 for not wearing medical masks indoors or failure to maintain social distancing when walking on the streets
  • AED 1,000 for motorists who allow more than three persons in the car
  • AED 10,000 for those caught organizing gatherings or social events like a wedding or party. Those attending parties will be fined AED 5,000.
  • AED 50,000 if a quarantined person leaves his home or any other place of quarantine
  • AED 5,000 for those who refuse to undergo medical tests upon requests
  • AED 500 fine for people caught visiting the public places
  • AED 50,000 fine for patients who refuse to get hospitalized or take medicines
  • AED 50,00 fine for violating administrative closure of public places like shopping centers, malls, outdoor markets, gyms, public swimming pools, cinemas, clubs, parks and restaurants dining customers
  • AED 2,000 for violating precautionary measures set by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention by people coming from nations affected by communicable diseases
  • AED 3,000 for failure to observe health measures regarding regulation of roads, markets and other public places exempted from temporary closure
  • AED 3,000 for failure to dispose of clothes, luggage or any temporary structures proved to be contaminated and can’t be disinfected by the standard established methods
  • AED 1,000 fine for unnecessary visits to hospitals and other health facilities
  • AED 3,000 fine for violating provisions of the law when burying or transporting the body of a person who died from a communicable diseass
  • AED 5,000 fine for drivers failing to maintain hygiene and following sterilization procedures in public transportation
  • 10,000 fine for failure to take precautionary measures by the crew on ships