You can check your UAE visa status for free through one of three official channels depending on where your visa was processed: ICP Smart Services (Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, or Fujairah), the GDRFA portal or DubaiNow app (Dubai only), or the UAE Pass app’s Documents tab. Here’s exactly how, plus what each result means.
ICP or GDRFA — Which One Do You Need?
The single most common mistake when checking a UAE visa status is using the wrong authority for your emirate. There isn’t one national portal — it splits by where the visa was actually processed.
| If your visa was processed in… | Use this authority | Official portal |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, or Fujairah | ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security) | smartservices.icp.gov.ae |
| Dubai | GDRFA (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai) | smart.gdrfad.gov.ae, or the DubaiNow app |
If you’re not sure which one issued your visa, check the sponsor’s emirate on your entry permit or ask your employer/sponsor — it’s whichever emirate your residence visa application was actually filed in, not necessarily where you live day to day.
Method 1: Check Your Visa Status via ICP Smart Services (Abu Dhabi & Other Emirates)
What You’ll Need
- Your passport number and expiry date
- Your nationality
- If you’re tracking a still-pending application instead of an issued visa, you’ll also want your request/application number — see how to find your UAE visa number if you don’t have it on hand.
Step-by-Step: Search by Passport
- Go to smartservices.icp.gov.ae.
- Open Smart Services, then select File Validity.
- Choose Search by Passport Information.
- Confirm the visa type as Resident (or the type that matches your case).
- Enter your passport number, expiry date, and nationality, then complete the captcha.
- Submit to see your current visa status and validity.
Tracking a Pending Application (If You Have a Request Number)
If your visa is still being processed and the passport search above doesn’t show a result yet, use ICP’s separate Application Tracking tool instead — enter your request (application) number and complete the human verification to see where it stands.
Method 2: Check Your Visa Status via GDRFA (Dubai)
GDRFA runs two separate lookup tools, and which one you need depends on whether your visa has already been issued or is still being processed.
If Your Visa Is Already Issued: File Inquiry
For an existing, already-issued Dubai residence visa or permit, GDRFA’s File Inquiry tool only needs your personal details — no application or transaction number required:
- First Name (as it appears in English)
- Gender
- Date of Birth
- Nationality
- File Number or Visa Number (or your UID)
If Your Application Is Still Pending: Status Inquiry
For a Dubai visa application that hasn’t been issued yet, use GDRFA’s Status Inquiry tool instead, which needs details from your application receipt:
- Your application number
- Your transaction number
- The payment date shown on your receipt
Your visa service provider, typing centre, or sponsor/employer should have given you these when the application was submitted.
- Go to GDRFA Dubai’s Status Inquiry page.
- Choose File Inquiry or Status Inquiry depending on whether your visa is already issued or still pending, per the two options above.
- Enter the required details exactly as shown on your documents.
- Submit to view your current status.
Using the DubaiNow App
You can also track a Dubai-issued visa’s status and validity from the DubaiNow app without visiting the website separately.
- Download DubaiNow: App Store or Google Play.
- Log in with your UAE Pass or DubaiNow account.
- Open the residency/visa services section and search using your application details.
Method 3: Check Your Visa Status via the UAE Pass App
If you already have a verified UAE Pass account, your visa may appear automatically once it’s linked to your Emirates ID.
- Download UAE Pass: App Store or Google Play.
- Log in to your verified UAE Pass account.
- Open the Documents tab.
- Your current visa (if already issued and linked) will appear alongside your Emirates ID and other government documents.
This works best for visas already issued and linked to your profile — for a pending application, use Method 1 or 2 above instead.
How Much Does a UAE Visa Cost?
Checking your status is free on every official channel above. The visa itself carries a government fee that depends on duration and where it’s processed. GDRFA’s own published fees for a single-entry tourist visa, as of September 2026:
| Visa | Base Fee | VAT + Knowledge/Innovation Dirhams | Approx. Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry tourist visa, 30 days | AED 200 | ~AED 30 | ~AED 230 |
| Single-entry tourist visa, 60 days | AED 300 | ~AED 35 | ~AED 335 |
An additional AED 500 fee applies if the sponsored person is already inside the UAE at the time of application, and valid UAE medical insurance is a mandatory condition (no separate fee is published for it on GDRFA’s fee page). Fees for residence and long-term (Golden) visas vary by category and sponsorship type, and there’s no single flat figure that applies to every case — use the official fee calculator on ICP’s website or GDRFA’s website for your specific visa type before applying.
Understanding Your UAE Visa Status Results
| Status | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Received | Your application has been submitted and is in initial checking. |
| Under Processing | Your application is actively being reviewed. |
| Issued / Active | Your visa has been approved and is currently valid. |
| Rejected | Your application was denied — see the next section for what to do. |
| Cancelled | The visa has been formally cancelled. See our guide to UAE visa cancellation and checking your grace period afterward if this applies to you. |
| Expired | The visa’s validity period has ended without renewal. |
My Visa Was Rejected — What Are My Options?
Common reasons a UAE visa application gets rejected include incomplete or incorrect information, issues with supporting documents (such as bank statements for financial sponsorship), invalid photos, or a prior immigration record. If your visa was employer-sponsored, it’s worth having your employer or PRO contact the immigration office directly to confirm the specific reason before you reapply — a generic resubmission without knowing what went wrong risks repeating the same mistake. If you believe your documents were correct, double-check them against the official checklist for your visa type on ICP’s or GDRFA’s website before submitting again.
Common Issues When Checking Your Visa Status
- “My status search returns nothing.” This is most often because you’re searching the wrong portal for your emirate (see the comparison table above) — a Dubai-issued visa will not show up on the ICP site, and vice versa. Double-check which authority actually processed your visa before assuming there’s a problem with your application.
- “I’m being asked for an application/transaction number I don’t have.” On GDRFA, that means you’re on Status Inquiry (for pending applications) when your visa is actually already issued — switch to File Inquiry instead, which only needs your name, gender, date of birth, nationality, and file/visa number. On ICP, the passport-only search (Method 1 above) doesn’t need a request number at all — try that first.
- Checking a work permit instead of a residence visa. If your actual question is about a linked work permit rather than the residence visa itself, see how to check your UAE work permit status instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I should use ICP or GDRFA?
It depends on which emirate actually processed your visa: ICP covers Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah; GDRFA covers Dubai only.
What’s the difference between GDRFA’s File Inquiry and Status Inquiry?
File Inquiry is for an already-issued Dubai visa and only needs your first name, gender, date of birth, nationality, and file/visa number. Status Inquiry is for a pending application and needs your application number, transaction number, and payment date instead.
Can I check my UAE visa status without an application number?
Yes — ICP’s “Search by Passport Information” tool only needs your passport number, expiry date, and nationality, and GDRFA’s File Inquiry tool (for an already-issued visa) only needs your personal details, not an application number.
How much does a UAE tourist visa cost?
Per GDRFA’s published fees, a single-entry 30-day tourist visa is AED 200 plus VAT and Knowledge/Innovation Dirhams (about AED 230 total), and a 60-day visa is AED 300 plus the same add-ons (about AED 335 total). An extra AED 500 applies if the sponsored person is already inside the UAE when applying.
Is there a fee to check my UAE visa status?
No, checking status through ICP, GDRFA, DubaiNow, or UAE Pass is free. Only the visa application itself carries a government fee.
What should I do if my UAE visa application was rejected?
Check with your sponsor or employer for the specific rejection reason before reapplying, and review the current document checklist on ICP’s or GDRFA’s website to avoid repeating the same issue.
Once your residence visa is issued, most residents also need to apply for an Emirates ID — see how to apply for your Emirates ID online — and you can later check your Emirates ID status online the same way. If your concern is specifically about a travel restriction rather than a pending visa, see how to check your UAE travel ban status.
