Introduction
Dubai overstay fines are very common despite the number of available visas available to foreigners.
This publication will address the types of visas available, the per diem cost of overstays, available means to make payment and whether or not the total overstay cost can be reduced.
Types of Visas
The current fine for a day of overtstay in Dubai is AED 50. Back in the days prior to 2022 the fine varied with the type of visa that the overstayer was unilaterally extending, currently a per diem fine of AED 50 applies to each day of overstay.
This implies that whether you enter as a legitimate tourist or you are a resident and your visa expires without a proper renewal you will be facing this per diem fine until you either exit the country or obtain a resident’s visa.
Resident’s visas could be investors, employment, golden visa holders or shorter visas such as the ones under remote working options.
Tourist visas could be:
- On arrival 30 days multiple entry visas for Canada, Japan, China, New Zealand, Singapore, the US or the UK. These visa holders would enjoy a 10 day freebie extension. They would start paying the fine on day 41 in the UAE.
- On arrival 90 days visas for mainly Europe, some Latin and South American countries or Maldives.
- Mexicans can obtain a multiple entry 180 days visa.
To fully verify your options based on your nationality and residency we strongly recommend a visit to the following site.
Calculation of Dubai Overstay Fines
Staying beyond Group A 40 days would precipitate the incurring of fines at the per diem cost of AED 50. Staying beyong the Group B 90 days would precipitate the incurring of fines at the same rate of AED 50 per day. Staying beyond the 180 days of Group C would lead to the application of the same daily fines.
For residents, any day beyond the last day of validity indicated in the Emirates ID will also lead to the application of the daily fine of AED 50.
Based on this common daily fine, an overstay of one week would lead to AED 350, an overstay of two weeks, AED 700, an overstay of a month would lead to a fine of AED 1,500.
If you are a tourist and you unsure of the total calculation you may verify it in the following General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFAD) site here.
How can I pay Dubai Overstay Fines?
There are three ways to make payments of applicable overstay fines in Dubai.
The easiest way to pay the fine adjusted to the day of departure is at the airport, before you are able to exit the country you will be directed to a stand with a TPU to facilitate the payment.
Other means to make payment is electronically through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs here.
The last way to make payment of overstay fines is in any Amer centers or typing centers.
Can I request the Waiver or Reduction of the Dubai Overstay Fine?
Yes it can be requested and its granting is at the absolute discretion of the authority. The request can be done in person at immigration centers or online in the following link.
From experience the application to waive or reduce the applicable fines does not take place immediately and one must be prepared to visit immigration on several occasions. The reasons for the overstay are very important at the time of exposing the case to the authorities.
Conclusion
Dubai in the UAE is an Emirate heavily visited. We highly recommend the full respect for its immigration laws and practice. Deportation or arrest are rare consequences of heavy fines but a possibility. There should always be options with a bit of ahead planning.
We trust that the above is of assistance when evaluating the incurrance, the payment or evaluating the request of a waiver or deduction of a Dubai overstay fine. For more information about UAE law you can visit all our publications in this link as well as the videos of our director Maria Rubert.
**This publication is not intended as legal advice and rather as general information for practical awareness on the topic. Fines do tend to vary regularly. We recommend a personalised opinion at the time that you face a potential Dubai overstay fine.