Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Mohammed Alaa, Staff Reporter

The Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) has affirmed that the entry permit for UAE residents abroad has a validity period of 21 days from the date of issuance of the permit, during which an airway ticket can be booked at any time during the validity period. The FAIC, however, emphasised the necessity not to buy or book airway tickets before obtaining the entry permit.

The FAIC is coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for returning approximately 200,000 residents with valid residency visas abroad. Earlier, the return of approximately 31,000 residents was agreed between March 25 and June 8, 2020, the FAIC said, noting that priority was given to humanitarian cases and relatives.

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As for the procedures followed to obtain approval to return, individuals are required to register with the ‘Residents’ Entry Permit’ service on the FAIC’s website https://smartservice.ica.gov.ae, the FAIC said, adding that all requests submitted would be answered within 48 hours.

After obtaining the approval based on an email received from the FAIC, individuals would be able to complete the procedures for booking return tickets on national carriers or other airlines flying to the country, the FAIC said.

COVID-19 tests would be conducted for the residents as soon as they arrive into the UAE, where they would be quarantined for 14 days and bear the incurred costs, if any, the FAIC said.

Residents would also be required to use any of the approved apps related to tracking their health status in order to maintain their safety and the safety of their society.

The UAE will keep exerting intensive efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic at the internal and external levels in these exceptional circumstances, the FAIC said.