The Federal Authority for Identity and Nationality (FIDA) has invited all tourists coming to the UAE who are planning to visit this summer to avail themselves of the facilities and incentives offered by the state, in particular to exempt their companions under the age of 18 from visa fees during the period from 15 July to 15 September each year.
The Authority said that these facilities include children under the age of 18 provided that they are accompanied by parents or one of them who come to the country under tourist visas, regardless of the validity of the visa, whether short or long.
The Authority announced that it will launch next week a campaign to identify the exemptions granted to tourists and how to obtain them during the said period. This will include the distribution of explanatory leaflets at the country’s airports and border ports and through the concerned authorities such as the state’s tourism agencies, national carriers, travel and tourism offices, Social Media.
The Authority explained that those wishing to benefit from these facilities can apply through the Authority’s electronic channels (https: // smartservices.ica.gov.ae) or through its smart application (ICA uae echannels) and within the category (family tourism visa) and to fill in the data of the parents and then add the children and their data through the system that will show the applicant during the application period that the son or daughter under the age of 18 is exempt from fees.
The Authority said that tourists wishing to visit the country can apply for family visas through their travel and tourism offices, as well as through the offices of UAE national carriers (Emirates, Etihad Airways, Flydubai, Air Arabia) and benefit from the exemption.
On the other hand, the Board called upon parents residing in the State to take advantage of the decision to renew the residence of their dependents after completion of their university or secondary education or the age of 18 years, under which the sponsor is granted a residence for one year for an additional year, The date of his or her graduation at the university, or the general secondary school certificate or the age of 18.
The Commission noted that the guardian no longer needed to apply under the humanitarian cases, which previously required the deposit of a financial guarantee of 5000 DHS, where applications are currently submitted normally through all the outlets provided by the Commission, including electronic channels, Printing offices or general residence and foreign affairs departments in the UAE, all the service centers of the Authority and in the issuance or renewal of residency for the children and a fee of AED 100 for one year residence and the same for the renewal of another year.
She explained that the benefit of this decision requires the submission of supporting documents, which include attaching the certificate of general secondary education or graduation certificate or the information from the university where the son studied, whether inside or outside the country duly certified for those who completed their secondary or university.
