How to Check UAE Visa Status

The United Arab Emirates is a top-rated tourist destination for many reasons. Considered one of the safest countries in the world, the UAE miraculously combines its rich culture with highly developed infrastructure. With various landscapes, including lovely sand beaches, deserts, mountains, and modern cityscapes, you can truly enjoy one of the greatest shopping destinations in the world. In addition, you can experience a range of activities like water sports, hiking, camping, or visiting the famous Ferrari Park.

Clearly, the UAE has a lot to offer tourists, however, if you are planning to visit this beautiful country for more than 30 days, you will need a valid Dubai visa.

Keep reading to know more about the UAE visa validity, how to check visa status, and the visa expiry date.

Types and Status of UAE Visa

For a legal stay in the United Arab Emirates, foreign citizens need to obtain a visa. Its type depends on the purpose of the visit. However, citizens of member nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council have freedom of movement in the UAE. GCC nationals (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) only have to show a government-issued ID card.

To date, the three most common types of visas available to tourists are the next.

1. Tourist visa

The UAE tourist visa is the most common type of entry permit to the United Arab Emirates. It is suitable for travelers who travel with the intention to relax, see the country, and get acquainted with its sights.

The minimum period for a tourist visa to the UAE is 30 days. It can be single or multiple. Citizens of more than 70+ countries do not need to apply for a UAE visa in advance.

Remember, that is possible to extend the visa. It can be extended twice for 30 days without leaving the country.

To travel with the whole family, you should provide documents separately for each family member. To apply for a tourist visa to UAE, you need:

A passport and its copy;
Personal photo.

2. UAE employment visa

The UAE work visa is issued to foreigners who want to enter the country for the purpose of employment. At the same time, you can work only in the company that issued the invitation. The validity of such a document is 2-3 years.

To obtain a permit, prepare the required documents to confirm the existence of a contract or a job offer from a company located in the Emirates. The General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners can grant you an employment visa. The employer will submit the visa application on behalf of the employee. When obtaining a work visa in the UAE, the employer also pays the full cost of the issuance.

3. Student visa

Only students over 18 years old can get a UAE student visa. It is valid for 1 year, then renewed annually as long as the applicant is in the student status. To get it, you need to provide a document on enrollment for study from an accredited university or college. The applicant may be the student himself, his parents, or a sponsor in the form of an educational institution. Subject to high academic performance, the UAE study visa can be extended immediately for 5 years.

There are also more narrowly focused visas, including:

UAE investor visa;
Visa for remote work;
Visa for retired residents;
Visa for patients;
Temporary visitor visa.

How to Check Visa Status in UAE

If you are unsure whether your UAE residence visa is due to expire or whether it is still valid, Dubai immigration officials offer simple-to-use online visa service providers, which allow non-residents to access the information in a matter of seconds.

Check the Dubai visa status via the GDRFA service

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) is the organization that handles all rules, applications, questions, and issues about UAE visas. The only city that currently offers a separate webpage for checking the status of your UAE visa online is Dubai.

Here's how to use the GDRFA website to check the status of your UAE visa:

Visit the GDRFA official website, search for “services”, then “residency services”;
Select “Status Adjustment”;
Using the issuance year, enter your residential file number. You can find the resident file number on the visa page of your passport;
Enter your first name and gender;
Write down your date of birth;
Enter the Captcha if needed and click “Submit.”

If all of your information is correct, the details about your visa validity will show up below. The data will contain your name, date of birth, nationality, gender, and the date your UAE visa expires.

Additionally, you can use the GDRFA Dubai mobile application to do the same procedure.

Check the visa expiry date by ICP service

If you have a residence visa issued from one of the following emirates: Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, or Fujairah, then you can check your visa validity on the website of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP):

Visit the website;
Select how you wish to search for your visa validity:
1. By a file number;
2. Via passport information.
Choose the type of your visa;
Type in any of the following details to check your identity:
1. Emirates Unified Number;
2. File number (you can find it on the visa sticker on your passport)
3. Emirates ID number;
4. Passport number.
Enter your date of birth;
Click ‘Search’.

You will receive the following information on your visa:

File number;
UID number;
File status;
File issuance date;
File expiry date;

Alternatively, you can contact ICP customer service by phone 600522222 or by visiting the website with any questions on the categories, issues, and validity of your visa.

Conclusion

We hope the information is helpful to you. Do not forget to extend your UAE visa before it expires. Overstay fines will be assessed if you continue to reside in the nation after your visa has expired.

FAQ