Last updated: 24 October 2026
The overstay fine in the UAE is AED 50 for each day you stay after your visa or residence permit expires or is cancelled, and the same rate applies to visit, tourist and residence visa holders in every emirate. Residents first get a grace period of 30 to 180 days depending on their category, while visit visa holders should not count on any grace period at all.
This guide covers the current rate, the grace period that applies to you, how to check the fine on the ICP or GDRFA Dubai website, how to pay it or ask for a reduction, what happens when you leave, and which amnesties and waivers have already ended. The amount shown on your own file is the figure you pay, and the authority confirms the final amount.
Overstay fine UAE: current rates at a glance
ICP lists one flat daily rate for every kind of overstay. Its service cards for visas, residence permits and fine payment all show AED 50 per day, and an ICP announcement on 25 June 2026 repeated the same figure for visitors.
| Situation | Fine | When the fine starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visit or tourist visa expired | AED 50 per day | The day after the permitted stay ends, unless your permit type has its own grace period |
| Residence visa expired | AED 50 per day | The day after your residence grace period ends |
| Residence visa cancelled | AED 50 per day | The day after your residence grace period ends |
| Exit permit expired | AED 50 per day | The day after the exit permit expires |
| Newborn registration not completed in time | AED 50 per day | Listed by ICP in the same fine category |
| Entered on an entry permit but residence not finished within 60 days | Overstay fines apply | After 60 days from the date of entry |
The rate has been the same for visitors and residents since 2023. Before that, visitors paid AED 100 a day and residents AED 25. ICP’s service cards state a daily rate and do not list a maximum, so a long overstay keeps adding up until you settle it.
Grace periods for residence visa holders
After a residence permit expires or is cancelled, you get a grace period before the fine starts. ICP sets four lengths, and the one you get depends on your residence category.
| Grace period | Who gets it (ICP categories) |
|---|---|
| 180 days | Golden, Green and Blue Residence holders and their family members; widows or divorced women of residents; students after finishing their studies; foreign passport holders who are relatives of UAE citizens |
| 90 days | Skilled workers in levels 1 to 3, and property owners |
| 60 days | Residence permits issued with a guarantor or host |
| 30 days | All other categories |
The grace period counts from the date the permit expired or was cancelled. Use it to renew, move to a new sponsor or leave the country. In practice, most employees on a standard work visa fall into the 30-day group, so check your category with ICP or your employer before you assume you have longer.
Family members on a resident’s sponsorship need their own permits handled first. ICP requires their permits to be cancelled before the sponsor’s own residence is cancelled, or put on hold for a limited period with fees.
Visit and tourist visas: do not count on a grace period
Plan to leave or extend on or before the last day of your permitted stay. ICP’s visa card says the fine starts the day after the grace period for your type of entry permit ends, but for visit visas there is no general grace period to rely on, and the fine can begin the day after expiry.
Most visit visas are valid for 30 to 90 days. ICP says most can be extended once or more, as long as the total stay stays within the allowed limit, which is 180 days for some types. The extension has to be approved before your current permit runs out.
If you came in on an entry permit to start a job or join family, the clock works differently. ICP gives you 60 days from the date of entry to finish the residence procedures. If the residence permit is not completed in that time, overstay fines apply.
How the overstay fine adds up
Multiply the number of days past your grace period by AED 50. Count from the day after the visa expired, or after the grace period ended for residents.
| Days overstayed | Fine at AED 50 per day |
|---|---|
| 1 day | AED 50 |
| 7 days | AED 350 |
| 30 days | AED 1,500 |
| 90 days | AED 4,500 |
| 180 days | AED 9,000 |
| 365 days | AED 18,250 |
Two examples. A visitor whose 30-day visa ended on 10 March and who leaves on 17 March has overstayed 7 days and owes AED 350. An employee in the 30-day category who is still in the UAE 40 days after the visa was cancelled has about 10 days of fines on the file, roughly AED 500.
How to check your overstay fine
Check the fine on the website of the authority that issued your visa. Visas issued in Dubai are handled by GDRFA Dubai; visas issued in the other emirates are handled by ICP.
Dubai visas: GDRFA Fines Inquiry
- Open the GDRFA Dubai Fines Inquiry service.
- Choose how to search: file number, UDB number, Emirates ID or passport number.
- Enter your nationality, file type, place of issue, date of birth and gender, as the form asks.
- Complete the security check and press Submit to see the fines on your file or on people under your sponsorship.
If the system cannot match your details, GDRFA customer service is on 8005111.
Other emirates: ICP smart services
- Go to the ICP smart services website and log in with UAE Pass.
- Open the service Payment of visa or residence violation fine.
- Review the details the system pulls from your file. The fines on your visa or residence file are shown before you pay.
To check your expiry date first, use Public Services and then File Validity on the same ICP site. Search by file number or passport details, choose Residency or Visa, and enter your UID, file number, Emirates ID or passport number with your date of birth. The result shows the file status and the issue and expiry dates.
For questions about an ICP file, call 600522222 inside the UAE or +971 600522222 from abroad.
How to pay and settle an overstay fine
You can pay online with a card or in person at a service centre. ICP’s terms say you must pay the fines on your file before your status can be adjusted or before you leave the UAE.
| Channel | For which visas | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ICP smart services website | ICP files (outside Dubai) | UAE Pass login; ICP lists a smart services fee of AED 100 |
| ICP customer happiness centres and authorised typing centres | ICP files | Useful when you are also applying for a new visa or cancelling one |
| GDRFA website and smart app | Dubai files | Available 24 hours; no service fee, only the fine |
| Amer centres | Dubai files | Take a ticket, submit the request and pay; GDRFA expects about 48 hours |
| Hatta land port | Dubai files | Listed by GDRFA as a channel for fine collection |
Paying the fine is only one part of settling your status. You then renew the visa, change to a new visa or sponsor, or leave the country. If you are moving to a new job, expect the old fines to be cleared before the new visa goes through.
Paying a large fine in instalments
Since 14 October 2025, ICP’s Easy Payment initiative lets customers with outstanding fines or fees pay in instalments. The minimum amount is AED 500, and you need a credit card from a participating national bank, including FAB, Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq, ADIB, RAKBANK, Dubai Commercial Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Emirates Islamic and CIB.
You pay the full amount on the ICP website, then ask your bank to convert it into a plan. Holders of Visa credit cards can choose an instalment period of 3 to 12 months directly in the UAEICP app.
Asking for a fine waiver or reduction
GDRFA Dubai runs a service that lets violators ask for their residency fine to be waived or reduced. A Fines Committee decides each case, so there is no fixed outcome.
- What to submit: a copy of the violator’s passport, a letter explaining the reasons for the violation and why you cannot pay, and any other documents the committee asks for.
- Where: Amer centres, or GDRFA’s Al Aweer centre.
- Fee: AED 15.75 when the sponsor is an individual.
For an ICP file outside Dubai, call 600522222 and ask which channel handles a fine review for your case. Many expats in the UAE wait until the fine is large before asking. Apply as early as you can and attach any proof that explains the delay, such as medical records.
Leaving the UAE: airport and land borders
Settle the fine before you head to the airport or border. ICP’s terms make payment a condition for leaving, so an unpaid overstay will hold you up at departure.
- Check the fine on ICP or GDRFA a few days before your flight.
- Pay online or at a service centre and keep the receipt, on paper and on your phone.
- Carry your passport and the visa copy or cancellation paper with you when you travel.
When you leave by land or sea, ICP also collects an exit fee. Its service card lists a fee of AED 30 for this, and UAE nationals, GCC citizens and visitors who arrived on tourist ferries are exempt. This card covers land and sea ports only.
Amnesties and fine waivers: what ran from 2024 to 2026
No general amnesty is running as of October 2026. The last general amnesty closed on 31 December 2024, and the 2026 waiver for travellers stranded by flight disruptions has also ended.
| Programme | Dates | Who it covered | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE visa amnesty | 1 September to 31 October 2024, extended to 31 December 2024 | Residency violators who wanted to regularise their status or leave | Ended; fines were re-registered for those still in violation |
| Airspace closure waiver | Fines incurred on or after 28 February 2026 | People unable to leave: visit and tourist visa holders, exit permit holders, residents who had cancelled their residence to depart | Followed by a final 30-day window |
| 30-day grace period | 10 June to 9 July 2026 | Those already exempted under the airspace waiver, to settle their status or leave without fines | Ended on 9 July 2026 |
If you overstayed during the airspace closure and did nothing before 9 July 2026, check your file now. Treat any message or social media post promising a new amnesty with care until it appears on icp.gov.ae, gdrfad.gov.ae or WAM.
The Emirates ID fine that often comes with it
An overstay often comes with a second fine on the Emirates ID, because the card expires with the residence visa. ICP gives a 30-day grace period after the card expires, then charges AED 20 a day up to AED 1,000. Our Emirates ID status check guide explains renewal tracking and the late fine in detail.
Common mistakes that lead to overstay fines
- Assuming a visit visa has a grace period. Leave or extend before the expiry date shown on the visa.
- Counting the grace period from the wrong date. It starts on the expiry or cancellation date, not the day you stop work.
- Guessing your residence category. The difference between 30 and 90 days is AED 3,000 in fines. Confirm your category.
- Letting the 60-day entry permit window pass. Medical tests and biometrics take time; start the residence process soon after you land.
- Checking the wrong authority. A Dubai visa shows on GDRFA; a visa from any other emirate shows on ICP.
Frequently asked questions
What is the overstay fine in the UAE per day?
The overstay fine in the UAE is AED 50 per day for visit, tourist and residence visa holders in every emirate. ICP charges it from the day after your permitted stay ends, or from the day after your residence grace period ends. A 10-day overstay therefore costs AED 500, and paying online through ICP adds a smart services fee.
Is there a grace period after a UAE visit visa expires?
No, you should not count on a grace period after a UAE visit visa expires, and the AED 50 daily fine can start the day after the expiry date. ICP lets most visit visas be extended once or more within the allowed total, but the extension must be approved before the current visa runs out. Leave or extend on time.
How long can I stay in the UAE after my residence visa is cancelled?
You can stay 30 days after your residence visa is cancelled if you are in ICP’s general category, which covers most employees. Permits issued with a guarantor or host get 60 days, skilled workers in levels 1 to 3 and property owners get 90 days, and Golden, Green and Blue Residence holders and some other groups get 180 days.
How can I check my overstay fine in Dubai?
You can check your overstay fine in Dubai on the GDRFA Dubai Fines Inquiry page. Search by file number, UDB number, Emirates ID or passport number, then enter your nationality, date of birth and the other details the form asks for. For visas issued in other emirates, use the ICP smart services website with UAE Pass instead.
Do I have to pay the overstay fine before leaving the UAE?
Yes, you have to pay the overstay fine before you leave the UAE, because ICP’s terms make payment a condition for departure or status adjustment. Pay online through ICP or GDRFA, or at a typing centre or Amer centre, a few days before you travel. Keep the receipt with your passport so you are not held up at departure.
Is there a visa amnesty in the UAE in 2026?
No, there is no general visa amnesty in the UAE as of October 2026. The last one ran from 1 September 2024 and was extended to 31 December 2024. In 2026, ICP waived fines for people stranded by the airspace closure and gave them a final window from 10 June to 9 July 2026, which has also ended.
Key takeaways
- The overstay fine in the UAE is AED 50 per day for visitors and residents alike.
- Residents get 30, 60, 90 or 180 days of grace after expiry or cancellation, depending on their category.
- Visit visa holders should leave or extend before the expiry date; there is no grace period to rely on.
- Check Dubai visas on GDRFA and visas from other emirates on ICP smart services.
- Fines must be paid before you leave or change status; ICP’s Easy Payment allows instalments from AED 500.
- No general amnesty is running; the 2024 amnesty and the 2026 airspace waiver have ended.
Sources
- Payment of visa or residence violation fine, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
- Cancellation of residency permits, ICP
- Visa Cancellation, ICP
- Collection of exit fees at land and sea ports, ICP
- Frequently asked questions, ICP
- ICP waives overstay fines for those affected by airspace closure, ICP (4 March 2026)
- Fines Inquiry Service, GDRFA Dubai
- Exemption from fines for violators of Residence Law, GDRFA Dubai
- General provisions for the residence visa, The Official Portal of the UAE Government (u.ae)
