Abu Dhabi: Although ID cards will be compulsory for expatriates across the country to renew their residence visa from January 1 next year (2012), no late fee will be applicable in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai in the beginning, a top official clarified on Thursday.
No blanket late fee across the country will be imposed on expatriates registering for ID card along with visa renewal from January 1, 2012, Dr Ali Al Khoury, Director General of Emirates Identity Authority (Emirates ID) told Gulf News.
Gulf News sought clarification on an announcement on Wednesday which said there would be "late fee for anyone across the UAE, over the age of 15 years, applying for a residence visa renewal without ID card registration, effective January 1, 2012 as per the Ministerial Decision No: 25 for 2011." Al Khoury explained that it was an error and late fee will be applicable on expatriates gradually in four phases in various emirates.
Penalty
As Gulf News reported yesterday, the late fee will be Dh20 per day up to a maximum of Dh1,000 for the delay in registration of ID cards, delay in renewing ID cards (30 days after expiry) and delay in reporting any change in personal data (30 days after the change). However children under 15 years of age (of Emiratis and expatriates), are exempt from the late fee until October 1, 2012.
The late fee will be applicable for expatriates in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman, and all expatriates working in the government sector across the country from December 1. The late fee will be applicable for expatriates in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai emirates from February 1, 2012, April 1, 2012 and June 1, 2012 respectively. But those who renew their visa in these three emirates from January 1 , 2012 have to first apply for ID cards, Al Khoury said.
Visa medical tests in all Preventive Medicine Centres (PMCs) in those three emirates will be linked with the ID card registration by the end of this year, he said.
The late fee will be applicable to Emiratis after October 31.
- Dh20: fee per day for late registration
- Dh1,000: maximum amount of late fee
