Key takeaways
- Employing, housing or sheltering someone who is in the UAE illegally costs AED 50,000, with prison as well for a repeat offence, and the fine multiplies for each person (Decree-Law Art. 25).
- Using or sheltering an infiltrator (someone who entered illegally) means at least 2 months in prison and AED 100,000, multiplied per person up to AED 5 million (Art. 25).
- Forging a visa or residence, or knowingly using a forged one, carries up to 10 years in prison and deportation (Art. 24).
- A false statement to get around the law means up to 6 months in prison and/or AED 5,000 to AED 10,000 (Art. 23).
- Misusing a visa for a purpose other than the one it was granted for means prison or at least AED 10,000, per person (Art. 27).
- A company is fined at least AED 50,000 if its staff commit these crimes for it, and can be closed for up to 6 months (Art. 28).
- Courts cannot suspend these sentences or give a judicial pardon (Art. 32).
This chapter explains the criminal penalties in the UAE’s immigration law. They mostly target people who help others break the rules: employers, landlords, transport operators and forgers. Each article is quoted from the official text and explained simply. For a real case, speak to a UAE-licensed lawyer.
Illegal entry and transport
Arriving illegally on a carrier: removal at the owner’s cost
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021
“the owner of the means of transport shall bear the costs of deportation.”Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, Article 19
In plain English
If a foreigner arrives in breach of the law, ICP can order them deported and require the driver, pilot or captain who brought them, or any vehicle of the same owner, to take them away. The owner of the transport pays for it.
This is why airlines and transport firms check documents so strictly before boarding.
Harsher laws still apply; illegal entry is a crime
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021
“Any Foreigner who is arrested in the State after illegally infiltrating or entering it shall be punished with imprisonment.”Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, Article 21
In plain English
- Article 20: if another law has a harsher penalty for the same act, that harsher penalty can still apply.
- Article 21: a foreigner who enters the UAE illegally (an “infiltrator”) is sent to prison, then deported, and any money they earned from work while here is confiscated.
Smuggling people in or out
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021
“The same penalty stipulated in the preceding Clause shall be imposed on whoever guides, instructs, or assists in any form of assistance an infiltrator”Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, Article 22(2)
In plain English
A driver or captain who brings a foreigner into or out of the UAE illegally, or tries to, faces temporary imprisonment (a serious prison term). So does anyone who guides or helps an infiltrator in any way. The court confiscates the vehicle or boat used, and orders the foreigner deported. These cases go to the Federal Supreme Court (Art. 33).
Lies, forgery and misuse of visas
False statements
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021
“imprisonment for a period not exceeding six (6) months and/or a fine not less than five thousand (5,000) AED and not exceeding ten thousand (10,000) AED”Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, Article 23
In plain English
Giving a false statement to get around the immigration law means up to 6 months in prison and/or a fine of AED 5,000 to AED 10,000. The court can also order deportation.
Example
Declaring a false relationship to get a family visa, or false salary details, can bring this penalty, on top of the visa being refused.
Always give true details. If something in your file is wrong, correct it through the proper process rather than working around it.
Forged visas and documents: up to 10 years
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021
“A penalty of imprisonment not exceeding ten (10) years shall be imposed on whoever forges a visa or residence permit, or any official document on the basis of which these visas or permits are issued”Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, Article 24(1)
In plain English
- Forging a visa, a residence, or any official document used to get one (a degree, a salary certificate, a marriage certificate): up to 10 years in prison.
- Knowingly using a forged document gets the same penalty.
- The court must order the foreigner deported. These cases go to the Federal Supreme Court (Art. 33).
Only use documents from the real issuing authority, attested through the official chain. Fake “attestation agents” put the user of the document at risk. See our document attestation service.
Misusing a visa
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021
“whoever exploits, assists, participates in or facilitates, by any means, a visa in a manner inconsistent with the purpose for which it has been granted”Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, Article 27
In plain English
Using a visa for a purpose other than the one it was granted for, or helping someone do so, means prison or a fine of at least AED 10,000. The penalty multiplies with the number of people involved, and the court orders the foreigner deported.
Example
Bringing people in on visit visas so they can work is a classic case. Both the organiser and the workers are exposed.
Match the visa to the real purpose. For work, use a work permit and employment visa; our employment visa service handles it properly.
Employers, landlords and companies
Employing or sheltering people illegally: AED 50,000 and more
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021
“A fine of fifty thousand (50,000) AED shall be imposed on anyone who employs, harbours or provides a place of residence to an Foreigner in violation of the provisions of this Law by Decree.”Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, Article 25(1)
In plain English
- Employing, harbouring or housing a foreigner who is here illegally: AED 50,000. If it happens again: prison and AED 50,000.
- Bringing a worker in and then not employing them, or letting them work for someone else without the legal procedure: the same penalty, multiplied per worker.
- An employer who reports that the worker has left, following the Regulation’s procedure, is exempt from that penalty. The official translation adds that AED 10,000 and the worker’s travel ticket are deducted from the fine. The Arabic text governs how this deduction works.
- Using or sheltering an infiltrator (someone who entered illegally): at least 2 months in prison and AED 100,000.
- Fines multiply per person employed or sheltered, up to AED 5,000,000.
- If part of a farm or estate is used to shelter violators, the court orders that part demolished or removed.
- The court always deports the violating foreigner, and also deports a foreign employer or host on a repeat offence.
- A farm or estate owner who did not know is exempt.
- Courts cannot reduce these penalties for mitigating circumstances.
Example
A small company employs three people whose visas were cancelled and who never regularised their status. On the first offence it faces AED 50,000 for each of them, AED 150,000 in total.
Employers: check every worker’s status before they start, and report absences within 48 hours (Regulation Article 6). Our guide for employers when an employee stops coming explains how, and our company penalty calculator shows your wider compliance exposure. Landlords: know who lives in your property.
Companies are liable too
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021
“The court may order the closure of the place in which he carries out his activity for a period not exceeding six (6) months”Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, Article 28
In plain English
If a company’s representatives, directors, agents or employees commit any of these crimes for the company or in its name, the company is fined at least AED 50,000, multiplied by the number of violations. The court can also close the business for up to 6 months.
Immigration compliance is a board-level risk, not only an HR task. Our corporate PRO services keep company files compliant.
Unpaid fines and other violations
Not paying fines
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021
“Anyone who fails to pay the fine referred to in Articles (11) and (12) of this Law by Decree shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding three (3) months or a fine not exceeding four thousand (4,000) AED”Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, Article 29
In plain English
- Article 29: not paying the overstay fine (Art. 11) or the newborn fine (Art. 12) can lead to up to 3 months in prison or a fine of up to AED 4,000. The court can also order deportation.
- Article 26: in the official English it refers to “the fine referred to in Article (8)”: up to 3 months in prison or up to AED 10,000, with possible deportation. Article 8 of the Decree-Law does not itself set a fine, so check the Arabic text for which fine this means.
An unpaid overstay fine is not just a debt; it can become a criminal matter. Settle it, and regularise, as soon as possible. Our overstay fine payment service handles both.
Any other violation; attempts; no suspended sentences; which court
Federal Decree-Law 29/2021
“the provisions of the Articles relating to suspension of execution, replacement of penalty, and judicial pardon, contained in the Penal Code, shall not apply.”Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, Article 32
In plain English
- Article 30: any other breach of the law, its Regulation or resolutions, where no specific penalty is set, means at least 1 month in prison and/or at least AED 10,000, multiplied per violator.
- Article 31: attempting any of these crimes, or helping, inciting or conspiring in them, gets the same penalty as committing it.
- Article 32: for these crimes the court cannot suspend the sentence, replace it with another penalty, or give a judicial pardon.
- Article 33: smuggling (Art. 22) and forgery (Art. 24) cases go to the Federal Supreme Court; the others go to the ordinary courts.
Immigration penalties are strict and cannot be softened by the usual court options. Prevention (correct visas, correct documents, timely reporting) is the only safe strategy.
Quick reference: penalties at a glance
| Offence | Penalty | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Entering illegally (infiltration) | Prison, deportation, confiscation of earnings | 21 |
| Smuggling people in or out, or helping an infiltrator | Temporary imprisonment; vehicle confiscated | 22 |
| False statement | Up to 6 months and/or AED 5,000 to 10,000 | 23 |
| Forging or knowingly using a forged visa or document | Up to 10 years; mandatory deportation | 24 |
| Employing, harbouring or housing a violator | AED 50,000 each; prison plus AED 50,000 on repeat | 25 |
| Using or sheltering an infiltrator | At least 2 months and AED 100,000 each (max AED 5m) | 25 |
| Misusing a visa’s purpose | Prison or at least AED 10,000 each | 27 |
| Company liability | At least AED 50,000 per violation; closure up to 6 months | 28 |
| Not paying the overstay or newborn fine | Up to 3 months or up to AED 4,000 | 29 |
| Any other violation | At least 1 month and/or at least AED 10,000 | 30 |
UAE immigration crimes and penalties: frequently asked questions
What is the fine for employing someone illegally in the UAE?
AED 50,000 for each person under Article 25 of Federal Decree-Law No. 29 of 2021, with imprisonment as well on a repeat offence. For infiltrators the penalty is at least two months in prison and AED 100,000 each, up to AED 5 million.
What is the penalty for a fake UAE visa or forged document?
Up to 10 years in prison for forging a visa, a residence permit or any document used to obtain one, and the same for knowingly using it. The court must order the foreigner deported (Article 24).
Is housing an illegal resident a crime in the UAE?
Yes. Article 25 fines anyone who employs, harbours or provides a place of residence to a foreigner in violation of the law AED 50,000, with prison as well if it happens again.
Can a company be punished for immigration violations by its staff?
Yes. Article 28 fines a company at least AED 50,000 per violation when its representatives, directors, agents or employees commit these crimes for it, and the court may close the business for up to six months.
Can immigration sentences be suspended in the UAE?
No. Article 32 says the Penal Code provisions on suspending a sentence, replacing a penalty and judicial pardon do not apply to these crimes.
What happens if I do not pay my overstay fine?
Article 29 allows up to three months in prison or a fine of up to AED 4,000 for not paying the overstay or newborn fine, and the court may order deportation.
Please note. Quotes are from the official English translation on the UAE Legislation portal, checked on 30 September 2026; the Arabic text in the Official Gazette prevails, especially where the English translation is unclear (as noted for Articles 25(3) and 26). Examples are illustrative. This page is general information, not legal advice. For any criminal matter, consult a UAE-licensed lawyer.
