The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) issued Policy Circular ICA/2026/03/001 on 5 March, cancelling all visa-overstay fines incurred by tourists, visitors and residents who were unable to depart the UAE because of mass flight cancellations and air-space closures. The grace period applies retrospectively from 28 February and covers fines already paid; affected individuals can seek refunds within 30 days.(timesofvisa.com)
To qualify, travellers must present proof of a disrupted flight—such as airline cancellation notices or unused boarding passes—alongside hotel receipts or other evidence of involuntary extended stay. Applications can be filed at any ICA service centre or via the authority’s hotline (600-522-222). The waiver is a humanitarian gesture designed to ease the financial burden on thousands who found themselves stranded in the world’s second-busiest long-haul hub.
![UAE waives visa overstay fines for travellers stranded by flight suspensions]()
If you need help navigating the waiver paperwork or securing new travel documents, the visa specialists at VisaHQ can guide you step-by-step; their UAE desk (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) assists with refund requests, re-issuance of entry permits and onward visa applications, streamlining the process for travellers and employers alike.
For employers, the policy removes a potential compliance headache. Expatriate workers whose residence or visit visas lapsed during the shutdown can regularise status without penalty, avoiding knock-on effects on payroll, health-insurance eligibility and onward travel plans. Mobility teams should update internal SOPs and advise impacted staff to secure the official ICA confirmation letter once the waiver is processed.
Immigration advisers note that similar relief measures were introduced during the 2020 Covid-19 border closures but stress that the current waiver is linked specifically to the 2026 air-space crisis and is not a blanket amnesty. Overstays unrelated to the disruption will still accrue penalties at the normal daily rate.
To qualify, travellers must present proof of a disrupted flight—such as airline cancellation notices or unused boarding passes—alongside hotel receipts or other evidence of involuntary extended stay. Applications can be filed at any ICA service centre or via the authority’s hotline (600-522-222). The waiver is a humanitarian gesture designed to ease the financial burden on thousands who found themselves stranded in the world’s second-busiest long-haul hub.
If you need help navigating the waiver paperwork or securing new travel documents, the visa specialists at VisaHQ can guide you step-by-step; their UAE desk (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) assists with refund requests, re-issuance of entry permits and onward visa applications, streamlining the process for travellers and employers alike.
For employers, the policy removes a potential compliance headache. Expatriate workers whose residence or visit visas lapsed during the shutdown can regularise status without penalty, avoiding knock-on effects on payroll, health-insurance eligibility and onward travel plans. Mobility teams should update internal SOPs and advise impacted staff to secure the official ICA confirmation letter once the waiver is processed.
Immigration advisers note that similar relief measures were introduced during the 2020 Covid-19 border closures but stress that the current waiver is linked specifically to the 2026 air-space crisis and is not a blanket amnesty. Overstays unrelated to the disruption will still accrue penalties at the normal daily rate.
