Manama: The UAE Cabinet on Friday revoked its previous decision on the validity of visas and entry permits for those inside the country from March 1, 2020, until the end of December of this year, Emirate news agency WAM reported.
The move comes as part of a series of amendments, which confirmed that all previous decisions related to the residency visas, entry permits, and ID cards are stopped with effect from July 11, the report read.
The Cabinet instructed the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) to start collecting service fees starting from July 12, 2020.
It agreed to furnish a three months grace period to the Emiratis, GCC citizens and residents inside the country to renew their documents.
It also agreed to grant one month to citizens, GCC citizens and residents from the date of their arrival in the country to renew their documents. However, they should spend less than six months outside the country.
Residents who are outside the country and whose residency visas expired as of March 1, 2020, or who have exceeded a period of six months outside the country, will be granted a grace period to return to the country. The grace period will be subject to the opening of the airspace between the two countries according to a time frame determined by ICA, the Cabinet added.
Administrative fees or fines shall be collected after the end of the deadlines. Specified in the resolution. No fines shall be imposed for the exemption period. Fines shall be reactivated on all services provided by the authority from July 12, report said.
The Cabinet instructed that the current services should be provided through electronic systems in order to curb the crowding of customers.
According to reports, cabinet decision coincides with the return of normalcy in various fields and sectors, and the return of the international air traffic in a relative manner.
