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IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? The United Arab Emirates has opened a three-month amnesty period for foreign nationals who have overstayed their visas or are otherwise in the country illegally.
What does the change mean? Those who are seeking amnesty can either leave the country or regularize their status between now and Oct. 31. Those who choose to leave will be given exit permits valid for 10 days and will not be assessed fines. Those who wish to regularize their status will be eligible for six-month visas that will allow them to remain in the UAE and look for work. Former residents can also take advantage of the program and apply for visas during the amnesty period even if they were assessed an entry ban for previous immigration violations.
Background: The amnesty period, opened by officials Aug. 1, has already proved popular. Those who take advantage of the amnesty period to leave the UAE will have any fines against them waived, but will be assessed a two-year entry ban. Those who remain in the UAE after regularizing their status will be eligible for six-month visas that will allow them to look for work and register on the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization’s portal, although there is no guarantee that a job will be provided. Amnesty tents have been set up in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and foreign nationals in other emirates can take advantage of the program by visiting their emirate’s main immigration office.
BAL Analysis: The amnesty could potentially allow tens of thousands of foreign nationals to regularize their status, obtain six-month visas and look for work. It also exempts foreign nationals from overstay fines or previously assessed entry bans. Companies or individuals with questions about how the amnesty program works should contact BAL.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
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What is the change? The UAE has announced Eid al-Adha holiday dates for government and private offices.
What does the change mean? Government offices will close for the holiday for a full seven days—from Sunday through Thursday, Aug. 19-23, plus the Friday-Saturday weekend—and reopen Aug. 26. The private sector will be open Aug. 19, then will close Monday through Wednesday, Aug. 20-22, and reopen Thursday Aug. 23, subject to employer discretion. Some industries, such as banks, have announced that they will extend the holiday break through Aug. 23 and resume work Saturday, Aug. 25.
Background: Eid al-Adha, or Festival of the Sacrifice, is one of the two major Muslim holidays and marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca and honors Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God. Countries across the Islamic world announce the dates based on local moon sightings or follow Saudi Arabia’s determination.
BAL Analysis: In addition to the government and private office closures, applicants should check holiday observances for embassies and consulates, as they may vary depending on location.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in the United Arab Emirates. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates are expected to implement extended visas to attract top international talent, including scientists, engineers, doctors, investors and university graduates.
Key points:
Additional information: The package of visa reforms was approved by the UAE Cabinet in May and June and is awaiting implementation by relevant authorities.
BAL Analysis: The changes will help the UAE retain highly qualified experts and investors. Students, who currently lose their student status upon graduation, will also be able to remain in the country to seek work or other opportunities. The changes are expected to be implemented before the end of the year and employers should anticipate some processing delays as the government introduces several major reforms.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network partner Sesam Business Consultants in the United Arab Emirates. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
What is the change? Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) is offering 24-hour processing of work and residence visas for 7,500 companies employing 150,000 employees in Jafza and National Industries Park (NIP).
What does the change mean? The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs reached an agreement with JAFZA to provide the streamlined electronic via its recently upgraded digital system.
Background: Even prior to this announcement, the move to online immigration systems in Dubai meant that free zone visas could typically be approved within 2-3 working days. JAFZA is going a step further in putting into place an agreement to allow its visas to be processed within 24 hours. This comes after a recently announced UAE policy change that will allow entities that are 100-percent foreign-owned to operate on the mainland. Under current policy, companies that are wholly foreign-owned may operate in the free zones, but mainland companies must be partly owned by a local entity or partner.
BAL Analysis: As free zones seek to maintain their competitiveness with mainland companies and with other free zones, it is expected that 24-hour visa approval is likely to spread to other free zones and become the norm across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This has been made even easier as the General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs has set up immigration offices dedicated to each free zone. Visa stamping, however, will continue to take longer, as it is dependent upon the completion of in-country processes as well as evidence of valid health insurance.
What is the change? United Arab Emirates authorities have expanded the number of Indian nationals who are eligible for the UAE’s visa-on-arrival program, implementing a change that was approved in September.
What does the change mean? Indian nationals with a valid visa or resident permit for the United Kingdom or a European Union country and a normal passport may now travel to the UAE for business or tourism and obtain a visa on arrival that is valid for up to 14 days.
Background: Last year, the UAE opened its visa-on-arrival program for Indian nationals with United States green cards or visas valid for at least six months. With the new process, Indian nationals holding a valid visa or resident permit for the U.K. or an EU country or a green card or visa for the U.S. are allowed to remain in the UAE for up to 14 days on a visa on arrival. Those who intend to stay longer than 14 days may obtain one 14-day extension for a charge.
BAL Analysis: The expansion of visas on arrival will facilitate travel and reduce processing for more Indian nationals traveling for business or as tourists to the UAE, especially those needing to travel on short notice. Those with questions about what types of activities are permitted on a visa on arrival should contact BAL.
What is the change? The UAE will grant one-year residency to nationals of countries affected by war or other disasters, regardless of their current status in the UAE. Additionally, widows and divorcees will be eligible for one-year extensions of their visas after divorce or death of their husband without needing a sponsor.
What does the change mean? Nationals affected by conflict or natural disasters must apply between Aug. 1 and Oct 31. The program for widows and divorcees will be introduced in the last quarter of 2018.
Background: The UAE Cabinet announced the decisions Monday and Tuesday. The programs are intended as a humanitarian gesture toward tens of thousands of foreign nationals who are living in the emirates and unable to return home due to conflict or natural disasters and to give women time to make plans for themselves and their children after divorce from or death of the head of household. Under current rules, women sponsored by their husbands must depart the UAE if they divorce, and, in the event of the death of their husband, they must leave when their dependent visa expires.
BAL Analysis: The humanitarian program will allow potentially tens of thousands of foreign nationals to gain temporary residency, and will also exempt them from overstay fines. The residency extension for spousal dependents will enable widows and divorcees to maintain their residency for an additional year and stabilize their plans.
IMPACT – HIGH
The Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates has adopted a raft of reforms aimed at boosting economic activity by eliminating bank guarantees for foreign workers and liberalizing a number of visa rules.
Key reforms:
Background: Recent years of reduced oil revenues and recent burdens imposed on companies, including the imposition of a value-added tax, have taken their toll on the UAE’s private sector. These changes are intended to free up money held as guarantees, stimulate economic activity and reinvestment of those funds, and reduce barriers to recruiting foreign workers and doing business.
BAL Analysis: This is the second set of major reforms the UAE has adopted in as many months. While the first allowed foreign companies to set up fully foreign-owned ‘mainland’ entities, this liberalization of visa rules and release of 14 billion dirhams in bank guarantees are additional welcome developments for the business community.
What is the change? Brazil and the United Arab Emirates have implemented a visa waiver agreement.
What does the change mean? Citizens of Brazil and the UAE may travel visa-free between the two countries for up to 90 days per year for business or tourism.
BAL Analysis: The visa waiver will facilitate business travel between the two countries. The UAE has actively pursued visa exemptions, and the number of countries allowing UAE nationals to enter without a visa now exceeds 155.
What is the change? The United Arab Emirates Cabinet has approved new immigration incentives aimed at attracting foreign investors, top international specialists and high-performing students.
What does the change mean? Under the program, the UAE will provide 10-year residency visas to qualifying investors and specialists, a group that could include doctors, engineers, scientific and technical researchers and entrepreneurs, among others. The UAE will also provide five-year residency visas to students and 10-year visas to high-performing (“grade ‘A’”) students. Officials will also review the possibility of providing residency permits to principal visa holders’ children who graduate from a university while in the UAE.
Background: The 10-year visa program has been discussed for some time, and the Cabinet voted to move forward with the plan on Sunday. “The UAE will remain an incubator for creators and destinations for investors,” Sheikh Maktoum said, announcing the Cabinet’s approval. Details must still be finalized, including the eligibility criteria and application process for the 10-year visas.
BAL Analysis: Visas in the UAE are normally issued with validities of one to three years. The change is intended to boost the economy by attracting more foreign investors, specialists and students interested in working or studying in the UAE, by giving them more stability in their immigration status with 10-year validity. BAL will continue following the implementation of the plan and will provide updates to clients as more information becomes available.
What is the change? Paraguay has extended visas on arrival to nationals of the United Arab Emirates.
What does the change mean? UAE nationals may apply for a visa on arrival and pay a $100 government fee at the border without needing to obtain a visa before travel. The visa on arrival is valid for 30 days.
Background: The foreign ministers of the two countries met in March and promised to increase business, economic and trade relations. Last week, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Paraguayan Embassy has agreed to waive visas for UAE nationals.
BAL Analysis: The expansion of visa-free travel for UAE nationals to the South American country is consistent with numerous visa waiver agreements that the UAE has recently reached with other countries, including China, Ireland, Switzerland, Uruguay and Ukraine.