Filipina expat Ruth, aged 46, expressed her gratitude for the UAE amnesty program, which will now grant her one-year-old child an identity. Ruth delivered her baby at home in July 2023. Due to her illegal status since 2020, she was unable to secure her son's birth certificate and passport. Despite her expired visa, Ruth's passport remains valid. She formerly worked as a cleaner until her visa was revoked four years ago during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. A new employer has now agreed to hire her.
"Thanks to the UAE amnesty initiative, my baby and I can now regularize our stay here in the UAE," Ruth shared with Khaleej Times. On the first day of the two-month amnesty program, September 1, officials from the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi provided her with guidance on the necessary procedures. Ruth must first report her child's birth to Abu Dhabi's Department of Health (DoH) and apply for late registration to obtain a birth certificate attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mofa). She will then complete an online form and email it to the Philippine Embassy (abudhabipe.civilregistry@dfa.gov.ph), which will subsequently apply for her baby's passport.
Officials emphasized that birth registration not only establishes identity and parentage but is also a fundamental human right. The birth certificate is crucial for obtaining a passport, which is necessary for applying for a residence visa in the UAE. Ruth, accompanied by her partner Paulo, added: "For the past year, we've been unsure about our child's future due to his undocumented status. We couldn't even take him to a clinic without identification. How could we enroll him in school or access basic services without documents?"
In the UAE, expatriates must have their birth certificates attested by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) and Mofa. Birth certificates stamped by DoH or Dubai Health Authority (DHA) are recognized as equivalent to Mohap's seal. Residents have 120 days from their child's birth to secure the necessary documents, including birth certificates, passports, Emirates ID, and visas. Failure to finalize the residence visa within 120 days results in a Dh100 per day fine, and the child will be barred from leaving the country. However, Ruth and her baby's fines will be waived due to the amnesty. The program extends to all visa types, including tourist and expired residency visas, and allows those born without documents to rectify their status.
