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The overstay fine in Dubai is AED 50 for each day you remain after your permitted stay or grace period ends. The same daily rate applies to residence, visit and tourist visas. On a residence visa the fine starts the day after your grace period, which ICP sets at 30, 60, 90 or 180 days depending on your category.
How the calculator works
The calculator above uses the ICP rule: days since your visa expired or was cancelled, minus your grace days, times AED 50. It needs three things from you.
Your case. This sets the grace period. Pick the line that matches your residence type, or the visit visa line if you came in as a visitor.
The expiry or cancellation date. For a residence visa this is the expiry date on the permit, or the date the sponsor cancelled it, whichever came first. For a visit visa use the last day of your permitted stay. If you do not know the date, the visa status check tools show it.
The date you leave or fix your status. The calculator fills in today. Change it to your flight date, or the day your new visa or status change goes through, to see the total on that day.
The result is an estimate. The amount GDRFA or ICP actually charges is the one that counts, so check it on the fines inquiry before you pay.
Grace periods by category
| Residence category | Grace period (ICP) |
|---|---|
| Golden, Green and Blue residence holders and their families | 180 days |
| Widows and divorced women of residents | 180 days |
| Students after finishing their studies | 180 days |
| Foreign-passport relatives of UAE citizens | 180 days |
| Skilled workers, levels 1 to 3, and property owners | 90 days |
| Permits issued with a guarantor or host | 60 days |
| All other categories | 30 days |
Source: ICP residence cancellation service page, checked .
Where the sources disagree
GDRFA Dubai's own service pages for cancellation, renewal, family visas and retiree visas state a grace period of 60 days after expiry or cancellation. The u.ae government site talks of grace periods "of up to 6 months" and gives family dependants 6 months. ICP's table above gives 30 days to the general category.
What to do with that: plan around the shortest figure that could apply to you. If you are in the general category, assume 30 days. If you hold a Dubai visa and need to rely on more, ask GDRFA directly before day 30. The calculator lets you switch categories so you can see the difference.
Visit and tourist visas
No official page we checked gives a grace period for visit or tourist visas, so the calculator counts 0 days. ICP's page for the 5-year tourist visa says the fine starts after a grace period but does not say how long it is. If you are on any visit visa, treat the day after your stay ends as day one of the fine.
Checking and paying the fine
Check. GDRFA's Fines Inquiry Service is at https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/fines-inquiry-service. Search by file number, UDB number, Emirates ID or passport number. It also asks for nationality, file type (resident or permit), the emirate that issued the visa, date of birth and gender.
Pay with GDRFA. The "fine collection for violators of residency law" service has no service fee: you pay only the fines. It runs online 24 hours a day, and Amer centers take payment too. Our list of Amer centers in Dubai shows the nearest one.
Pay with ICP. ICP's "payment of visa or residence violation fine" service runs on ICP smart services with UAE Pass, or at ICP customer happiness centers. ICP lists a AED 100 smart services fee.
Paying the fine does not end the matter. ICP's page says you must then either adjust your status or leave the UAE.
Leaving: the departure permit
If you are leaving after an overstay, ICP issues a departure permit for violators once the fines are paid.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Application fee | AED 200 |
| Smart services fee | AED 100 |
| Documents | Passport, photo, ticket departing within 7 days |
| Validity | Leave within 7 days of issue |
Source: ICP departure permit service page, checked .
If you miss the 7 days, the permit has to be cancelled and you apply again. Book the flight before you apply, and pick a date you can keep.
Staying: stop the clock
The fine keeps adding up until your status is fixed. Your choices depend on where you stand:
- Your residence visa expired and the sponsor will renew it. See visa renewal in Dubai.
- Your visa was cancelled and you have a new sponsor or job. A status change inside the country avoids leaving. See visa change inside the UAE.
- Your employer is cancelling your visa. Agree the cancellation date with them, since your grace period starts from it. See visa cancellation.
A different fine: time spent outside
Overstay is about staying too long inside the UAE. The opposite also has a rule. A residence visa is nullified automatically when the holder stays outside the UAE for more than 180 days in a row, with some exceptions. Residents who apply to return after more than 6 months away pay AED 100 for every 30 days or less spent outside, and must enter within 30 days of approval.
