Validity of all types of UAE entry visas can be extended

ABU DHABI: The Federal Authority for Identity, Nationality, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has launched a new service through its smart channels, allowing visitors to extend the validity of all types of visas issued to them for 60 days for one time only.

“They can do this only before entering the country,” ICP said.

The fees for extending the validity of a visa are Dhs200, including Dhs100 for the smart services, Dhs50 for the application form and Dhs50 for the Authority and the electronic services offered to customers.

The applicant’s passport should be valid for not less than three months and that he/she should not be in the UAE, in order to have the entry permit issued, the ICP explained.

Applicants can extend validity of their visas through the ICP website and its smart application via the UAE PASS or username.

Ater filling-in the required data, ataching the required documents and paying the fees, the extending confirmation will be sent via the registered email, the ICP said.

Others ways are also available to apply for the service, including the customer happiness centers and the typing centers authorised by the ICP, where an application form should be filled in, and the required documents be atached, followed by paying the fees.

The request will be declined electronically 30 days ater returning it due to incomplete data or documents, if applicant could not meet the requirements within this period.

Furthermore, it will be declined, if it is returned three times due to incomplete data or documents. The fees and financial guarantees (if any) are refundable, if the request is declined.

ICP explained that in case of a visitor will not be able to enter the country before the expiry date of the entry permit, he/she are can extend the expiry date for 60 days one time.

“The fees are refunded through the credit card within a period not exceeding six months from the date of submiting the application, or refunded through the procedures applicable to recover the fees by cheque or bank transfer to banks located within the country only and for a period not exceeding 5 years,” ICP said.

The rules and regulations are subject to change without notice, the ICP added.

Recently, the ICP announced that it added to Its smart channels a service for entry permits related to residents who stayed outside the UAE for more than 6 months.

The Authority explained that this service does not apply to residents who hold golden residence permits.

The Authority said - in a statement - that the new service was launched with the aim of delighting customers and enabling residents who have valid residence permits and were forced to stay outside the country for study, work or treatment for a period of more than 6 months, and then they exhausted the specified period for staying outside the country, which results in the cancellation of residence from a legal perspective.

The Authority explained that the new service allows such residents to activate the residency again and use it to enter the country, subject to the approval of the Authority, noting that this service includes all residencies approved within the system of services provided by the Authority.

It stated that the approval of a permit request for those who stayed outside the country for more than 6 months requires submiting a copy of their Emirates ID and a copy of the passport, and writing the reason for the delay in entering the country during that period, stressing that this service Is limited only to customers from abroad and who stayed outside the UAE for more than 6 months.

In its statement, the Authority affirmed its keenness to develop the system of services it provides to customers and facilitate them by simplifying procedures and digital transformation in providing all services and launching new services that meet the needs of customers and address the exceptional circumstances they are exposed to.

The ICP has also announced recently that UAE residents can apply for a visit visa for a relative or friend from abroad through the UAEICP smart application.

ICP called on all individuals to download the UAEICP application and benefit from the many and varied services offered, including requesting a visit visa for a relative or friend.

“Applying for the issuance of a visa requires logging in through the application using the UAE Pass digital identity, selecting “Start a new service,” clicking on “New Visa,” to display a list containing a visa for several trips, depending on the type of visa desired (for 30 days, 60 days or 90 days), ICP clarified.

ICP added that once the user selects the service of issuing a visitor visa for a relative or friend through the app, according to its duration, all the data of the host individual in the country appear automatically, and he only has to follow completing the steps of submiting the application, entering the visitor’s identification data, then ataching the required documents and paying the prescribed fees.