The UAE’s amnesty programme is providing a fresh start for undocumented residents, including a Filipina mother who has been living in the country illegally since 2020. Ruth, a 46-year-old former cleaner, gave birth to her baby boy at home in July 2023 but could not register his birth or obtain a passport due to her undocumented status.
Thanks to the amnesty initiative, Ruth’s one-year-old son will finally have an official identity. “Thanks to the UAE amnesty initiative, my baby and I can now regularise our stay here in the UAE,” Ruth said in a Khaleej Times report.
Under the guidance of officials from the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi, Ruth began the process of legalizing her and her son’s status on the first day of the amnesty programme, which started on September 1. She will need to report her child’s birth to Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health and apply for late registration to get a birth certificate, which will be attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following this, the Philippine Embassy will help secure a passport for her child.
The amnesty allows people like Ruth to clear their immigration violations without penalties, giving them a chance to stay legally in the country. “In the past year, we’ve been uncertain of our child’s future because he’s undocumented,” she shared, highlighting the challenges of not having proper identification, which included difficulties accessing basic services like healthcare and education.