UAE Offers 30-Day Visa Grace Period: June – July 2026 (ICP)

The UAE's Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has announced a 30-day grace period running from 10 June to 9 July 2026 for travellers and residents who were previously exempted from visa overstay fines because of regional flight disruptions. The window gives eligible individuals a final, no-penalty opportunity to either regularise their legal status inside the UAE or depart the country under standard procedures.

Who qualifies for the grace period?

The decision applies to everyone who benefited from the earlier ICP exemption issued in March 2026 — when airspace closures and flight suspensions from 28 February 2026 onward left many people unable to leave the UAE. Specifically, it covers:

• Visit and tourist visa holders whose visas expired during the disruption.
• Holders of departure / exit permits who could not travel.
• UAE residents whose residency was cancelled but who were unable to leave the country in time.

What you can do during the 30 days

According to ICP, beneficiaries do not need to take any additional preliminary steps to access the grace period. Inside the window you have two clear options:

• Stay in the UAE — regularise your residency or employment status to continue living and working in the country legally.
• Leave the UAE — depart directly through normal exit procedures without incurring overstay fines.

Why this grace period was issued

ICP said the move reinforces compliance with UAE immigration laws while recognising that the exceptional circumstances behind the original fine waiver have now ended. "The circumstances that necessitated the exemption from fines no longer exist in light of the stability currently prevailing in the region," the authority noted, adding that the earlier waiver reflected the UAE's humanitarian approach to supporting visitors and residents during emergencies.

What happens after 9 July 2026?

Once the grace period closes, the standard overstay regime resumes in full — daily overstay fines apply from the day after expiry, and unpaid fines can block re-entry or trigger future-visa restrictions. Affected travellers are urged to act inside the 30-day window and to follow ICP's official channels for any updates.

Need a fresh UAE visa?

Sources: Khaleej Times and Gulf News, 18 June 2026.