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United Arab Emirates: New Law on Foreign Nationals’ Entry and Residency Implemented

December 7, 2021

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Country / Territory

  • United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates

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At a Glance

  • The government of the United Arab Emirates has implemented a new law regulating the entry and residency of foreign nationals.
  • The law creates a general framework for the process of visa issuance, renewal, and cancellation and focuses on describing penalties for violations of the applicable immigration regulations.
  • The law does not introduce any major changes to the existing immigration process; however, it is expected that amendments will be introduced along with executive regulations that are likely to be published in the coming months, which are likely to impact visa processes.

The situation

The government of the United Arab Emirates has implemented a new federal law regulating the entry and residency of foreign nationals. The law applies to all jurisdictions in the country, including free zones, and replaces the existing regulations from 1973.

A closer look

  • Enforcement. The new law assigns the responsibility of its enforcement to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (FAICCPS) and grants that agency the right to cancel any visa for reasons including public security or in the case of a breach of the applicable immigration regulations.
  • Conditions explained. The law explains general conditions for detention and deportation, provides a list of general conditions for entry and residence in the UAE, and creates a general framework for the process of visa issuance, renewal, and cancellation.
  • Penalties explained. Most of the new law describes the penalties for violations of immigration regulations. The below table outlines the penalties for common violations:
Violation Sanction
Unauthorized recruitment of a foreign national to work for a third party, or not allowing the recruited foreign national to work
    • A fine of AED 50,000 multiplied by the number of offenders; and
    • Deportation (including possible deportation of the foreign national responsible for the recruitment).
Noncompliance with terms and conditions for issuance, renewal, and cancellation of residence permit
    • Imprisonment for up to three months; and/or
    • A fine of up to AED 10,000; and
    • Deportation.
Unauthorized use of a visa for purposes other than those for which that the visa was issued
    • Imprisonment; or
    • A fine of up to AED 10,000 multiplied by the number of offenders and deportation.

Impact

The law does not introduce any major changes to the existing immigration process yet; however, it is expected that amendments will be introduced with related executive regulations that are anticipated to be published in the coming months. These regulations will likely provide details for processes such as obtaining an entry visa and residence permit, obtaining a visa through a UAE consular post, and obtaining visas for dependents, to name a few.

Background

These changes have been introduced after the implementation of numerous other immigration law reforms, including a new federal labor law affecting private sector companies, and the introduction of a remote working visa. These new laws are expected to support the United Arab Emirate’s economy and status as a leader in global business by making labor and immigration laws more transparent.

Looking ahead

It is expected that further details explaining the acts that constitute a violation and applicable fines, as well as information on the changed processes, will be issued through executive regulations in the coming months. We will report on related developments.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, contact your Fragomen immigration professional or send an email to [email protected]. 

Country / Territory

  • United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates

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