UAE Visa Amnesty: Filipino Expatriates Cautioned About Fraudulent Registration Sites

The Philippine missions in the UAE have alerted their compatriots about fraudulent websites providing misleading information regarding the upcoming visa amnesty set to commence on September 1.

The Philippine Embassy has reported receiving concerning information about counterfeit text messages and emails containing links to sites masquerading as the official portal for amnesty registration.

The Embassy advises everyone to exercise caution when entering sensitive or personal information on dubious websites. It is recommended that personal details be shared only on verified sites.

The UAE Government has yet to release specifics on the two-month visa amnesty programme, according to the mission.

The Embassy reassured that it will maintain coordination with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and other relevant agencies. Official advisories and announcements will be shared with the public as soon as they are available.

During the previous amnesty in November 2018, the Philippine government allocated approximately Dh7.8 million for exit fees (Dh221 each), absconding case clearances (Dh521), and airfares (Dh1,500) for returning Filipinos.

Additionally, $100 (Dh365) was provided per person (excluding minors) as "humble welfare assistance."

Streamlined Process

Plans and procedures for the visa amnesty programme were discussed by immigration officials last week. Smart systems will be introduced to streamline the process.This will be the fourth amnesty programme conducted by the UAE government since 2007.

The previous amnesty – held six years ago – was initially scheduled for 90 days until October 31, 2018 but was extended by the federal government for an additional two months, until December 31 to give more residency violators the opportunity to regularise their status or leave the country without penalties.

In 2007, around 342,000 residents across the UAE took advantage of a two-month amnesty, and in 2012/2013, more than 60,000 migrants availed of the service nationwide.

In 2018, the GDRFA reported that 105,809 residence visa violators applied for amnesty in Dubai. Millions of dirhams in fines were waived during the five-month scheme, which concluded on December 31, 2018.

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