Do you have an active case in the UAE courts? Here’s how to get your passport back

Do you currently have a case ongoing in UAE courts? If so, the Public Prosecution may have seized your passport.

However, you can apply for a passport through the Ministry of Justice website at moj.gov.ae if you need to leave the UAE immediately or for any other reason. Depending on the circumstances and the judge’s ruling, the passport may be released or not.

So, if you find yourself in a scenario where you must leave right away, here is everything you need to know about the legal steps involved in getting your passport back from UAE courts.

When is a passport seized?

The passport is typically taken for specific reasons, most often in connection with criminal prosecutions. Additionally, the person acting as the guarantor for the person who is subject to a travel ban because of an ongoing non-serious criminal prosecution may have their passport confiscated.

In criminal cases, passports are taken to make sure parties don’t leave the country. This justification typically ends when the case is resolved, the defendant is found not guilty, they serve their time, pay their punishment, or reach a settlement.

When can one request a passport?

In circumstances where your passport has been taken due to an ongoing case or because you have acted as a guarantee for another individual involved in a court case, you may need to request it from a UAE court.

A person may bring a witness to ensure his safe return if they are a defendant in a minor police case, which is typically resolved with a fine, and they need to leave the United Arab Emirates for an urgent matter. When the person returns to the UAE, the guarantor will hand over his passport and then demand it back.

Someone else may guarantee the accused person’s appearance and return to the court or police by submitting his passport in criminal proceedings in order to free them until the conclusion of the trial.

The guarantor is then entitled to request the return of his or her passport in the event that the accused is found not guilty. In the event that the accused is found guilty, the request cannot be made until the guilty party has been brought before the court or police.

Also Read: Have you lost your passport in Dubai? Learn how to get a lost passport certificate

How to apply to receive a passport through MOJ?

You may go to the appropriate legal authority or [apply through] the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) website, depending on the kind of case in which the passport is presented.

The applicant must have a case documented in the UAE’s Public Prosecution system and also be present before the court to acquire the passport, according to the MOJ website, moj.gov.ae.

Documents required

These are the necessary paperwork that must be included with your request:

• A comprehensive passport release request;
• The Judicial Authority has acquired a passport (for guarantors only)
• Original Emirates ID and a copy of your passport.

Steps for requesting a passport’s retrieval online

The measures you should take to get your passport back if it was taken away in connection with a case are as follows:

1. Click on “Start Service” at this MOJ link: https://www.moj.gov.ae/en/services/services-categories/general/request-to-recover-a-passport.aspx.
2. The link will then take you to the “Receiving of Passport” service provided by the UAE Public Prosecution. Select “Proceed” from the menu.
3. You must first register for an account with UAE Public Prosecution online before continuing with the application. Enter your date of birth to finish the account setup by logging in with your UAE Pass account. The registration for the account will then be finished.
4. The application form will then be available to you.
5. Enter the case details listed below:

• Case number
• Case year
• City
• The prosecution/court’s name
• Reserved place [Emirate]

6. Next, decide whether you are a party in the case or not. You should select “not a party in case” if you are a guarantor.
7. After selecting “not a party in a case,” you must indicate your relationship to the person, such as sponsor or attorney.
8. After that, click on submit after uploading the necessary documents.
9. Make the Dh20 application fee payment. The processing of the application will take an hour, according to UAE Public Prosecution.
10. The judge will then complete the passport application and either grant or deny the request.

You must go to the authorities with a copy of the ruling in order to reclaim your passport when an order is made for its release.