Travellers who overstay any type of UAE visa—tourist, visit, residence or a recently cancelled residence permit—now face a single flat fine of AED 50 (about US $13.60) for every day beyond the authorised stay. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) formally switched the country to a “Unified Fine System” on 11 February 2026, and the change was confirmed in public guidance verified on 14 February. Until now, penalties varied widely by visa category and emirate, leaving visitors and HR teams guessing how much an overstay could cost.
The new schedule abolishes Dubai’s former first-day surcharge and the separate fee tables used in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates. Grace periods have also been standardised: tourist and visit-visa holders now receive zero extra days, while cancelled-residence permit holders keep the 30- to 180-day window that depends on their occupational skill level. Fines accrue automatically in ICP and GDRFA databases and are flagged to smart-gate immigration systems at airports and land borders.
![UAE Unifies Visa-Overstay Penalty at AED 50 Per Day Across All Emirates]()
Need help navigating these updated rules or securing the right travel document? VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) enables both individual travellers and corporate mobility teams to check current UAE entry requirements, apply for tourist or business visas, and set up expiry reminders—minimising the risk of incurring the AED 50-per-day overstay penalty.
Overstayers can settle penalties online through the ICP Smart Services portal, the GDRFA Dubai site, or the UAE Pass mobile app. Officials urge travellers to pay at least 48 hours before departure to avoid airport “technical blocks”. If an overstay exceeds 30 days, an exit permit—costing roughly AED 250-300—must be obtained in addition to the daily fine.
For global-mobility managers the flat-rate rule greatly simplifies cost forecasting and employee briefings. Assignment letters and travel policies can now cite one figure nationwide, reducing administrative friction and the risk of employees being black-listed for non-payment. The ICP says the move is part of a broader push to create “predictable, integrated” immigration compliance ahead of the Gulf’s planned unified-visa regime.(uaeplan.ae)
The new schedule abolishes Dubai’s former first-day surcharge and the separate fee tables used in Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates. Grace periods have also been standardised: tourist and visit-visa holders now receive zero extra days, while cancelled-residence permit holders keep the 30- to 180-day window that depends on their occupational skill level. Fines accrue automatically in ICP and GDRFA databases and are flagged to smart-gate immigration systems at airports and land borders.
Need help navigating these updated rules or securing the right travel document? VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) enables both individual travellers and corporate mobility teams to check current UAE entry requirements, apply for tourist or business visas, and set up expiry reminders—minimising the risk of incurring the AED 50-per-day overstay penalty.
Overstayers can settle penalties online through the ICP Smart Services portal, the GDRFA Dubai site, or the UAE Pass mobile app. Officials urge travellers to pay at least 48 hours before departure to avoid airport “technical blocks”. If an overstay exceeds 30 days, an exit permit—costing roughly AED 250-300—must be obtained in addition to the daily fine.
For global-mobility managers the flat-rate rule greatly simplifies cost forecasting and employee briefings. Assignment letters and travel policies can now cite one figure nationwide, reducing administrative friction and the risk of employees being black-listed for non-payment. The ICP says the move is part of a broader push to create “predictable, integrated” immigration compliance ahead of the Gulf’s planned unified-visa regime.(uaeplan.ae)
