The United Arab of Emirates (UAE) has decided to offer a three-month amnesty to expatriates who have been living in the country illegally.

The three-month general amnesty for expatriate in the country will begin on August 1, local daily Gulf News reported on Friday. Official announcement of the proposed amnesty called ‘Protect Yourself via Rectifying Your Status’ will be made soon.

The amnesty will give the violators of residency permit options either to get the legal status by paying nominal fees or leave the country voluntarily without facing any legal action, the daily quoted Brigadier Saeed Rakan al-Rashedi, acting director general of Foreigners Affairs and Ports Department at the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship, as saying.

The UAE cabinet recently decided to allow people overstaying their visa to leave the country voluntarily without a “no entry” passport stamp. Likewise, the UAE authority has also said that they would be introducing a new 6-month visa for migrant workers who have already overstayed their visa but wish to work in the country, the newspaper reported.

According to the United Nations data of 2013, the UAE had the fifth-largest international migrant stock in the world with 7.8 million migrants out of its total population of 9.2 million. A majority of its immigrants that come in the form of labour force come from countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal.

Nearly 62,000 illegal residents had benefitted under the similar amnesty offer that the UAE had extended in 2013. The proposed amnesty is believed to relieve thousands of expatriates from various countries, including Nepal. It is estimated that more than 100,000 Nepali workers are living in the Gulf emirate. But there is no data on the exact number of Nepalis who have violated the residency law and working illegally there.

The general amnesty will also provide relief to individuals who have entered the country illegally as they

can voluntarily exit the country without getting “no entry” stamp for two years if they could arrange a valid return ticket.

Urging violators of the residency permit and their sponsors to take advantage of the amnesty, Brigadier al-Rashedi said it was the better offer than previous one as it offers an opportunity for the offender to get a job without having to leave the country.However, al-Rashedi has warned: “Those missing this opportunity will face legal consequences which include prosecution and fines.”