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UAE Visa Overstay Fines

The daily rate, who gets a grace period, how to check what you owe and the fastest ways to pay or regularise without leaving the country.

Based on the unified federal fee schedule in force since October 2022

Quick answer

UAE overstay fines are AED 50 per day for visit and residence visas alike. Residence visa holders get a grace period after expiry or cancellation — 60 days for most Dubai residence visas, up to 180 for some categories — while visit visas have none. Check and pay on GDRFA Dubai or the ICP portal, at an Amer centre or at the airport on exit.

What Overstaying Costs

The 2022 reform replaced the old per-visa-type rates with one flat daily fine.

AED 50/day

Flat overstay fine

Same rate for visit and residence visas

Day 1

When it starts

The day after expiry or the end of your grace period

0

Visit visa grace days

Tourist and visit visas must exit or extend by expiry

A month of unnoticed overstay is AED 1,500; six months tops AED 9,000. Set a calendar reminder two weeks before any visa expiry — extensions and status changes are far cheaper than accumulated fines.

Grace Periods After a Residence Visa Ends

When a residence visa is cancelled or expires, fines do not start immediately. The window depends on your visa category — these are the commonly applied bands.

Most Dubai employment and family visas

60 days from cancellation or expiry (GDRFA Dubai)

Golden, Green and Blue Residence

180 days, including family members (ICP)

Skilled workers (levels 1–3) and property owners

Up to 90 days on ICP's federal list

Widowed or divorced residents, students after graduation

180 days on ICP's federal list

Grace periods are set by category in the executive regulations and can differ case by case — always confirm your own window on GDRFA or ICP rather than assuming the maximum. If your job has just ended, the visa cancelled action plan walks through the full 30-day sequence.

Check, Pay or Regularise

Five steps from “am I overstaying?” to a clean immigration record.

  1. 1

    Check your visa status

    GDRFA Dubai website or app for Dubai-issued visas; the ICP smart services portal (icp.gov.ae) for visas from other emirates. Search with your passport number or file number — the result shows expiry and any fines already accrued.
  2. 2

    Calculate what you owe

    The portals display the exact balance at AED 50 per day. No estimation needed — what you see is what you pay.
  3. 3

    Decide: exit or regularise

    If you are leaving, book the flight and pay on departure. If you are staying, a status change or new visa can usually be processed from inside the UAE once fines are settled — through your employer or sponsor online first; a typing centre is optional assisted help.
  4. 4

    Pay the fine

    Online via GDRFA or ICP with a card, in person at an Amer centre in Dubai, or at airport immigration when you exit. Keep the receipt until your next entry or visa stamping.
  5. 5

    Confirm the record is clear

    Re-run the status check after paying. A zero balance and valid status protect your next visa application, bank account and job change.

Official Channels

  • GDRFA Dubai — gdrfad.gov.ae and the GDRFA app for Dubai-issued visas
  • ICP smart services — icp.gov.ae for visas issued by other emirates
  • Amer centres — in-person visa services across Dubai, 800 5111
  • GDRFA call centre — 8005111 from inside the UAE

Overstay Fines FAQ

How much is the overstay fine in the UAE?+
AED 50 per day of overstay, applied to visit visas and expired residence visas alike since the October 2022 fee unification. The counter starts the day after your visa or grace period expires.
Is there a grace period after my UAE residence visa expires?+
Yes. After a residence visa is cancelled or expires there is a grace period before fines begin — 60 days for most Dubai residence visas according to GDRFA Dubai. ICP's federal rules give 180 days to Golden, Green and Blue holders, widows or divorced women of residents and students after their studies, 90 days to skilled workers at levels 1–3 and property owners, and 30 days to some other categories. Confirm your exact window with GDRFA (Dubai visas) or ICP (other emirates) because it depends on visa type.
Do visit visas get a grace period?+
No. Visit and tourist visas must be exited or extended by their expiry date — the old 10-day buffer no longer applies. Fines start accruing the day after expiry.
How do I check if I have overstay fines?+
For Dubai-issued visas use the GDRFA Dubai website or app with your passport or file number. For visas issued by other emirates use the ICP smart services portal (icp.gov.ae). Both show the fine amount before you pay.
Where do I pay UAE overstay fines?+
Online via GDRFA Dubai or the ICP portal, in person at an Amer centre in Dubai, or at the airport immigration counter on departure. Card payment is accepted; keep the receipt until you have exited or your new visa is stamped.
Can I change my visa status without leaving the UAE?+
In most cases yes — a status change from visit to residence (or a new visit visa in some cases) can be processed inside the country once any fines are settled. Your sponsor files online via GDRFA/Amer; a typing centre is an optional assisted route. No airport exit run is required for standard cases.
Will an overstay fine get me banned from the UAE?+
Paying the fine and exiting or regularising normally closes the matter. Long unpaid overstays can escalate to immigration bans or blacklisting, so settle fines before they compound rather than waiting for an amnesty.

Sources

Reviewed by the DubaiExpatHub editorial team — last checked .

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Not legal advice

DubaiExpatHub is an information portal, not a law firm or government entity. Our tools and content do not constitute legal advice. Always verify critical information with the relevant authority (RERA, DHA, MOHRE, etc.) or a licensed professional.