The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) has issued a final reminder that its temporary waiver of overstay fines will end at 23:59 on 31 March 2026. The waiver was introduced on 28 February, when large-scale missile and drone attacks on the Emirates forced the closure of UAE airspace and triggered thousands of flight cancellations. During the suspension, foreign visitors who exceeded the validity of their tourist or visit visas, as well as residents who had cancelled their permits in preparation for departure, were shielded from the usual AED 50-per-day penalties.
![ICP confirms 31 March deadline for war-related overstay fine waiver]()
Travellers who are unsure about their current status or need to arrange a fresh UAE visa quickly can turn to VisaHQ for streamlined online processing and personalised support. The platform’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lets users check requirements, submit applications and track approvals in real time, helping both individuals and corporate mobility teams stay compliant ahead of the 1 April deadline.
ICP officials have clarified—through authorised typing centres and call-centre briefings—that the amnesty only covers fines accrued between 28 February and 31 March. From 1 April the automated fine engine in the immigration system will reactivate, and penalties will start to accrue immediately for anyone who is still in the country without valid status. Individuals who intend to stay in the UAE must either complete a “visa-change” procedure (exit to a neighbouring country and re-enter on a fresh visa) or convert in-country to another status such as employment, Green or Golden Visa where eligible. Employers should urgently audit the status of business travellers, assignees and dependants who were caught by the airspace shutdown. Those who exit under the waiver will have their overstay record cleared, enabling them to re-enter the UAE in the future without the red flag that usually accompanies an immigration fine. Companies that fail to regularise staff risk administrative blocks on future work-permit allocations and, in free-zone jurisdictions, suspension of the employer file. For overstayers who cannot secure flights before the deadline, immigration advisors recommend paying overstay fines at the airport on departure to avoid arrest at land borders, and retaining receipts to contest any system errors after leaving. Travellers are also urged to print a copy of their confirmed booking or boarding pass, as airline counters have been instructed not to allow boarding if the flight departs after the waiver expires. ICP’s final-week rush is already visible at Amer and Tas-heel centres, which report queues of up to three hours. Business-travel teams are therefore advised to book appointment slots online where possible and to brief travellers on peak-time congestion at Dubai and Sharjah land-border exit points such as Hatta and Al-Dara.
Travellers who are unsure about their current status or need to arrange a fresh UAE visa quickly can turn to VisaHQ for streamlined online processing and personalised support. The platform’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) lets users check requirements, submit applications and track approvals in real time, helping both individuals and corporate mobility teams stay compliant ahead of the 1 April deadline.
ICP officials have clarified—through authorised typing centres and call-centre briefings—that the amnesty only covers fines accrued between 28 February and 31 March. From 1 April the automated fine engine in the immigration system will reactivate, and penalties will start to accrue immediately for anyone who is still in the country without valid status. Individuals who intend to stay in the UAE must either complete a “visa-change” procedure (exit to a neighbouring country and re-enter on a fresh visa) or convert in-country to another status such as employment, Green or Golden Visa where eligible. Employers should urgently audit the status of business travellers, assignees and dependants who were caught by the airspace shutdown. Those who exit under the waiver will have their overstay record cleared, enabling them to re-enter the UAE in the future without the red flag that usually accompanies an immigration fine. Companies that fail to regularise staff risk administrative blocks on future work-permit allocations and, in free-zone jurisdictions, suspension of the employer file. For overstayers who cannot secure flights before the deadline, immigration advisors recommend paying overstay fines at the airport on departure to avoid arrest at land borders, and retaining receipts to contest any system errors after leaving. Travellers are also urged to print a copy of their confirmed booking or boarding pass, as airline counters have been instructed not to allow boarding if the flight departs after the waiver expires. ICP’s final-week rush is already visible at Amer and Tas-heel centres, which report queues of up to three hours. Business-travel teams are therefore advised to book appointment slots online where possible and to brief travellers on peak-time congestion at Dubai and Sharjah land-border exit points such as Hatta and Al-Dara.
