Can I get my overstay fines waived after a case was recently closed?

Since the case is now officially closed and the travel ban lifted, you're eligible to regularize your status.

Overstay fines can be reduced or waived in certain cases, especially if:

- The overstay was due to a pending legal case beyond your control.

- You can show proof of good faith (e.g., trying to renew the visa but were blocked due to the case).

Please send your WhatsApp number so we can assist you step-by-step in drafting the waiver request and speaking to immigration authorities on your behalf.

1. Overstay Due to a Past Case:

Since the complaint against you has been settled, and you just received a message from Dubai Public Prosecution confirming the lifting of the travel ban and closure of the case, this is very positive.

2. Requesting Fine Waiver or Reduction:

You can submit a formal request to the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP) or the relevant Residency Licensing Office to ask for a waiver or reduction of the fines related to your overstay.

Your request should include:

- A copy of the Public Prosecution’s letter confirming case closure and travel ban removal.

- Any documents proving your lack of prior knowledge of the complaint.

- Explanation of the reasons for the delay in visa renewal.

3. Practical Steps:

- Visit the relevant residency licensing office (ICP or Dubai Residency Department).

- Submit your fine waiver/reduction request with a full explanation of the circumstances.

- In some cases, you may need to follow up with the courts or hire a lawyer to assist in the process.

Hello,

In the UAE, overstay fines accrue daily once a visa (residency or visit) expires. However, the authorities do allow individuals to request an exemption or reduction under special circumstances, such as:

- Medical emergencies,

- Legal cases or travel bans (as in your case), or

- Administrative delays beyond your control.

Since your case involved a pending complaint and travel ban, and you only learned about it after attempting to renew your visa, you have valid grounds to file a request for a fine waiver or reduction.

You can visit or contact the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA) and apply for a fine exemption or reduction. GDRFA may take several days to review your request.

If approved, they may:

- Waive the fine entirely, or

- Reduce it to a fixed amount.

Under UAE law, you can formally request a reduction or waiver of fines if there are valid reasons, such as a lack of knowledge about the case at the time.

This process requires careful follow-up with the relevant authorities.

Dear Questioner,

Thank you for sharing the details of your situation!

Based on what you've described, you may be eligible to request a waiver or reduction of your overstay fines, as UAE authorities can consider exceptions where the delay in visa renewal was due to a legal complaint or travel ban beyond your control.

You can file this request through the GDRFA or ICP Smart Services portal, including your Dubai Prosecution letter confirming case closure, along with your passport and a written explanation of the circumstances.

If needed, we can assist you with preparing this submission or, alternatively, explore the legal route of filing a formal petition, as UAE laws do provide discretion in humanitarian or exceptional cases.

Please let us know if you’d like to schedule a consultation to proceed with this.

Best regards,

Dear Sir,

If the reason for overstaying your residence permit is a complaint filed against you, you can submit a request to the competent authority to exempt you from paying the fine, stating the reasons for the violation and that it was due to circumstances beyond your control because of the closed complaint.

Dear Questioner,

Thank you for reaching out!

We understand your current situation regarding the overstay issue caused by the unresolved complaint, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention.

Now that the travel ban has officially been lifted and the case is closed, there may be legal avenues available to you to request either a waiver or a reduction of the overstay fines, especially given that your visa renewal was hindered due to circumstances beyond your control.

We can assist you with the following:

- Review of Your Case: We will carefully examine the details and timeline of your complaint, travel ban, and the related overstay period.

- Petition for Fine Waiver or Reduction: Based on our review, we can help prepare and file a formal request with the relevant UAE authorities (e.g., GDRFA or ICP) for fine reconsideration due to justifiable delay.

- Legal Representation: If needed, we can represent you before the appropriate government departments or courts to advocate for your case.

If you would like to proceed, we invite you to schedule a legal consultation. During this session, we will assess your legal standing in detail and outline the best possible course of action.

Please let me know your preferred time for an appointment, or feel free to contact me directly via WhatsApp or Email.

Kind regards,

Mohammad Salah

Legal Consultant

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for reaching out and explaining your situation!

It’s clear that your overstay was not intentional but caused by circumstances beyond your control, especially since the case was already settled but not properly updated in the system until now.

In such cases, there may be a possibility to apply for a fine waiver or reduction, particularly if you can show valid reasons like lack of prior notification, delayed system update, and proof of settlement.

We can prepare and submit a formal request along with supporting documents to the relevant immigration authority, and where necessary, make representations to the Public Prosecution or General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs to support your case.

I’d be glad to assist you in preparing the request and guiding you through the process to minimize your liability.

Please feel free to reach out to me directly on WhatsApp or by phone so we can discuss your matter further and work towards a resolution.

Submit a mercy request to the General Directorate of Residency to be exempt from the fine.

Thank you for contacting us via Legal Advice Middle East!

Your situation involves an overstay caused by an unresolved complaint that was only recently cleared, and we've handled several cases nearly identical to yours.

In one of them, our client was unaware of a pending case that blocked their visa renewal, resulting in overstay fines.

We successfully petitioned the authorities for a fine reduction and partial waiver, based on official proof that the delay stemmed from a legal issue now resolved.

You have strong grounds to request a fine reduction or even a full waiver, especially since the travel ban and complaint were out of your control and only recently lifted by Dubai Prosecution.

The key step is to prepare a formal request to immigration authorities, supported by:

- A copy of the Dubai Prosecution letter showing case closure,

- A personal explanation letter confirming your unawareness and intent to comply, and

- Evidence of your efforts to renew your visa earlier.

We can assist you in drafting this full submission in Arabic, representing you before the immigration authority, and following up with the relevant department to maximize your chances of approval.

To guide you precisely, we would need to review the prosecution letter and your visa history. Our team is fluent in Arabic, English, Russian, Hindi, and Chinese and ready to act swiftly on your behalf.

Dear Questioner,

Thank you for reaching out to us, and we appreciate your trust in seeking legal assistance.

Regarding your current situation:

Since the case has now been officially closed by Dubai Public Prosecution and the travel ban has been lifted, the next step is to resolve your visa status and the fines incurred due to the overstay.

In such situations, it is possible to submit an official request to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) to:

- Request a full or partial waiver of the fines, based on the exceptional circumstances.

- Or request a reduction of the total fine amount, provided that you can demonstrate that the delay was beyond your control.

To support your application, we recommend preparing the following documents:

- A copy of the Dubai Prosecution decision confirming case closure and lifting of the travel ban,

- A letter explaining that you were unaware of the complaint due to a lack of formal notification,

- A Copy of your passport and visa, and

- Proof that you attempted to renew your visa as soon as you became aware of the issue.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your query!

Since your overstay was due to a pending legal case and the travel ban was only recently lifted, you may request a waiver or reduction of your overstay fines.

In Dubai, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has discretion to review such cases, especially when the overstay was beyond your control.

Recommended steps:

1. Prepare Documentation: Gather all relevant documents, including the Dubai Prosecution letter confirming the closure of your case and lifting of the travel ban, as well as any evidence showing your attempts to resolve the issue.

2. Visit GDRFA: Go to the nearest GDRFA branch and submit a formal request for a fine waiver or reduction. Clearly explain your situation and provide supporting documents.

3. Explain Your Circumstances: In your application, mention that you only became aware of the case when you tried to renew your visa and that the delay was not intentional.

4. Follow Up: GDRFA will review your request and may grant a partial or full waiver, or a reduction, based on your circumstances.

If you need assistance drafting your request or require legal representation, please let me know. I am available to support you through this process.

Best regards,