All you need to know about visa fine waiver for Indians
Indian missions in the UAE on Wednesday announced that Indians whose employment visas expired before March 1 should approach the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the ConsulateGeneral in Dubai for availing of a fine-waiver. Here are answers to all the questions about availing of the faine-waiver.
Q: My resident/employment visa expired before March 1 and my company is not renewing my visa or sponsor is not responding. What should I do?
A: You should send your details and copy of passport and visa at ca.abudhabi@mea.gov.in (for Abu Dhabi cases) and at cons2.
dubai@mea.gov.in (for Dubai and Northern Emirates cases). We will send these details to the UAE authorities who will process for visa fines waiver. Once the visa fine waiver is approved by the UAE authorities, you will be intimated about it and you can leave the country thereafter but before August 17. Q: My visit/entry permit visa expired before March 1. What should I do?
A: The visa fine waiver is applicable for both visit visa as well as resident visas expired before March 1. The procedure to avail of the waiver is same as the above. Q: I don’t have a passport and want to apply for Emergency Certificate (EC). I entered before March 1 or my visa expired before March 1. What will be the process?
A: In case you are not in possession of a valid passport, it is advisable to apply for EC from embassy/consulate at the earliest. Please ensure that you have a copy of the first information report (FIR) of loss of passport, which is required by the airport immigration. Q: My resident/visit visa expired before March 1. I have already booked a ticket in the next twothree days to go back to India. Can I get visa fine waiver?
A: In order to avail visa fine waiver, you are required to send details to embassy or consulate. Approval of visa fine waiver is prerogative of the UAE authorities. It is entirely your choice whether you want to continue your travel plan and pay the fine or reschedule your travel and apply for a visa fine waiver.
Q: Will there be an entry ban on cases for visa expired before or after March 1?
A: As per our understanding, there will not be any re-entry ban to the UAE from India on all such cases whose visa fine waiver was approved by the UAE authorities or who leave the country after payment of residence visa violations. Q: I came on a visit visa and my visa expired after March 1. Can I leave the country without payment of fines?
A: There will be no fine if you are able to leave the country before August 10. Q: My resident visa got expired after March 1. My company is not renewing my visa or sponsor not reachable. What should I do?
A: The waiver was applicable until July 11 for these cases. All resident visa expiry cases should be regularised before October 10. However, resident visa holders are required to complete documentation at the earliest possible.
In case, you are not able to renew your visa after July 10 and leave the country after that, you are liable to pay a penalty of overstaying from July 11 until the date of your actual departure from the country (before August 11) after adjusting expiry of grace period of 30 days.
For example, your resident/ employment visa expired on May 25. You intend to travel on August 1 without renewing your existing residence visa. You are liable to pay a penalty for the period June 24 to August 1. Q: I have been told that I have to leave after I am informed about my visa fine waiver? Will I be able to get flights?
A: There is a lot of Vande Bharat Mission flights and chartered flights operating between the UAE and India.