
The UAE Amnesty Program, originally set to end on October 31, has been extended by an additional two months, now concluding on December 31, 2024, as announced by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Ports Security (ICP). The decision to extend the program was made in response to a significant increase in demand from individuals seeking to regularize their immigration status within the UAE.
Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director-General of the ICP, emphasized that this extension coincides with the UAE's 53rd Union Day celebrations, underscoring the nation's commitment to humanitarian and cultural values. The program, which launched on September 1, offers visa violators the opportunity to rectify their status or depart the country without facing fines or entry bans.
After the conclusion of the amnesty period on December 31, fines for immigration violations will be reintroduced, and the ICP, in collaboration with other government entities, will intensify inspections to identify and take legal measures against non-compliant individuals.
In a recent repatriation initiative led by the Philippine government, 47 overseas Filipinos opted to return home, constituting the ninth group of beneficiaries of the amnesty program. This brings the total number of repatriated Filipinos to 581, highlighting the effectiveness of the amnesty scheme in facilitating the return of individuals to their home countries.