Many Filipinos in the UAE who overstayed and couldn’t find new jobs are hurrying to complete their documents so they can go back to the Philippines before the amnesty program ends this Thursday, October 31, 2024.
The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai are working hard to process repatriation papers as more Filipinos request help to return home.
“We have so many last-minute applications for travel documents,” said Ambassador Alfonso A. Ver, explaining the surge of requests.
The amnesty program, which started on September 1, 2024, allows overstayers to leave the UAE without paying hefty fines and penalties, which can amount to tens of thousands of dirhams. For example, a year of overstaying would normally cost about AED18,250 in fines. This amnesty gives them a clean slate and a chance to come back legally in the future or stay if they secure a job.
There are even cases of children who couldn’t get birth certificates because they were born to mothers who overstayed. In just the first 12 days of the amnesty program, 146 cases like this were recorded in Dubai alone, said Labor Attaché John Rio Bautista.
Some Filipinos, however, have been scammed by people falsely promising to help with job papers. These scams left some stuck in the UAE, unable to leave or work.
As the amnesty period ends, there is hope for more people to get help and return home, though there may not be another extension. Ambassador Ver praised the UAE government for this “very generous” program.
