By ArabianBusiness:
Tourists in the UAE who overstay their visit visas could face an absconding case against them, filed by travel agencies and tour operators.
Those who overstay their visa expiration could further be blacklisted and banned from entering the UAE or any GCC if they do not exit after their visas expire.
The new rules for visa charges and fines follow sweeping visa changes last week.
Moreover, they could face a fine starting at AED5,000. Prices can vary according to the emirate’s jurisdiction.
Tourists who arrive in Dubai, have a grace period of 10 days after their visa’s expiry, however they must ensure that the exit the country from Dubai itself.
Absconding cases are charged when a tourist overstays their visa, as the travel agency faces trouble from the governing authority, the agent said.
Extending a tourist visa
Recently, UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Nationality, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has launched a new service through its smart services, which allows visitors to extend the validity of all types of visas issued to them for 60 days.
However, this service can be availed only once, a report by Gulf Today said, citing the ICP. “They can do this only before entering the country,” ICP said.
The fee to extend a visa validity is reportedly priced at AED200, including AED100 for the smart services, AED50 for the application form and AED50 for the authority and the electronic services offered to customers.