UAE amnesty: Illegal expats hope to provide schooling, healthcare for children

Many families living illegally in the UAE and opting to take the visa amnesty are choosing to return to their home countries with the hope of providing their children with educational opportunities and better future.

These residents are hopeful that by returning to their home countries, they can finally send their children to school. The visa amnesty scheme, which began on September 1, offers a reprieve from overstay fines and exit fees for undocumented expats. They can also return to the UAE any time with the right visa.

Many parents, although they may not want to, are taking advantage of this opportunity to leave because they hope it will stabilize their children's lives. Rachel Ashaba is among those struggling with this difficult decision.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Rachel lost her job and faced significant challenges as flights were grounded and borders were closed. She also gave birth to her first daughter, Paloma, during this challenging time.

Despite her documents expiring, the 30-year-old Ugandan expat continued living in the UAE due to difficult conditions back home.

Rachel's situation grew more complicated when she became pregnant again. With no access to healthcare, she delivered her second child in her own room in 2022. The arrival of her new baby brought joy but was overshadowed by fear and uncertainty.

“It was very hard for me to see my kids like this and not know what their future looked like,” Rachel told Khaleej Times at the GDRFA tent in Al Awir.

Now, Rachel is getting ready to leave Dubai with her two daughters, marking a bittersweet transition as they head to live with her father in Uganda. She hopes that the move will provide her daughters with the chance to start school and enjoy the stability of legitimate documentation.

“Paloma is so excited to see her grandpa and my family back home,” Rachel said. “She even asked to have her hair braided for this occasion and chose purple because it’s her favourite colour.”

The visa amnesty scheme has already received nearly 20,000 applications in its first week alone in Dubai.

While Rachel prepares to leave, 88 per cent of expats who applied during the first week of the initiative opted to remain in the UAE, according to the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP). The Al Awir Service Centre has seen about 2,400 amnesty seekers.

Among them is Konchhxog Tamang Yanjan, a Nepali expat who has been living in Dubai for seven years. Three years ago, his wife lost her job, and without the means to secure a visa for her, she became an illegal resident. The financial strain of mounting hospital bills following the birth of their first son, and the pressure of supporting his family, has prompted Yanjan to view this as an opportunity to start anew.