UAE: Tourists Overstaying Visas May Face Blacklisting and Banning

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), travel agencies and tour operators are filing absconding cases against tourists who overstay their visit visas, according to reports by Khaleej Times.

The agents claim that if a tourist does not leave the country within five days after their visas have expired, they may be blacklisted and banned from entering the UAE or any other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country.

Circulars from Travel Agencies

Circulars from various travel agencies have been circulating online, warning tourists of the consequences of overstaying their visas.

One such circular states that “with immediate effect, overstay of even one day will be absconded without any notice” and encourages tourists to either extend their visas or exit the country.

Another circular serves as a final reminder to visitors who have stayed with an expired visa, warning that if they overstay for more than five days, they will be blacklisted and banned from entering the UAE or any other GCC country.

However, these circulars are from private travel agencies and not from the official immigration authorities in the UAE.

Why Absconding Cases Are Being Filed

According to Libin Varghese, the operational director of Rooh Tourism, the reason why absconding cases are being filed is that when a visitor travels to the UAE on a visit visa of 30 or 60 days, the travel agency sponsors the visitor.

If the visitor overstays their visa term, the travel agency may incur losses and face trouble.

In such cases, the fine for overstaying is applied to the travel agency and they must retrieve the fine amount from the visitor.

Penalties for Overstaying

The penalties for overstaying are not limited to fines imposed on travel agencies. Their visa application portals may also be blocked, making it difficult for them to offer services to new tourists.

In addition, tourists who overstay may need to pay an outpass fee to exit the country, along with the fines, which can be a burden on travel agencies. To mitigate these problems, travel agencies have been given the option to file absconding cases against tourists who overstay their visas.

Also Read: UAE Cuts Visa Overstay Fines from Dh100 to Dh50 Per Day

Bottomline

Tourists who overstay their visas in the UAE may face serious consequences, including being blacklisted and banned from entering the UAE or any other GCC country. This is due to the difficulties and losses that travel agencies may incur if a visitor overstays their visa term.

In light of these consequences, tourists are encouraged to either extend their visas or exit the country if their visas have expired.