Not sure which UAE visa route applies?
Use our free UAE Visa Eligibility & Document Checker before you apply. It gives general route guidance and a practical document checklist without asking for passport numbers.
Last reviewed: 15 October 2026
Which Portal Do I Use? ICP vs GDRFA by Emirate
UAE visa status isn't checked on one single national website — which portal you use depends on which authority issued your visa.
| Emirate | Authority | Portal | App | Inputs accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | GDRFA Dubai | smart.gdrfad.gov.ae | GDRFA DXB | Application number, file number |
| Abu Dhabi | ICP (federal) | smartservices.icp.gov.ae | UAEICP | Passport number, UID, file number, Emirates ID |
| Sharjah | ICP (federal) | smartservices.icp.gov.ae | UAEICP | Passport number, UID, file number, Emirates ID |
| Ajman | ICP (federal) | smartservices.icp.gov.ae | UAEICP | Passport number, UID, file number, Emirates ID |
| Umm Al Quwain | ICP (federal) | smartservices.icp.gov.ae | UAEICP | Passport number, UID, file number, Emirates ID |
| Ras Al Khaimah | ICP (federal) | smartservices.icp.gov.ae | UAEICP | Passport number, UID, file number, Emirates ID |
| Fujairah | ICP (federal) | smartservices.icp.gov.ae | UAEICP | Passport number, UID, file number, Emirates ID |
Source: u.ae — Track visa application and validity.
Method 1: Check Status on the ICP Portal (Passport Number)
This method covers visas issued in every emirate except Dubai.
- Go to the ICP file validity page at smartservices.icp.gov.ae.
- Choose how to search: passport information or file number.
- Select the visa type — "Visa" for a visit/tourist visa, or "Residency" for a residence visa.
- Enter your passport number (or file/UID number) and your date of birth.
- Complete the captcha and click Search.
- Your file number, UID, current status, issuance date and expiry date will display.
Method 2: Check Your Dubai Visa Status on GDRFA (File Number)
Dubai-issued visas sit outside the ICP system — use the GDRFA Dubai status inquiry page instead.
- Go to the GDRFA status inquiry page at smart.gdrfad.gov.ae (toggle to English in the top bar if it loads in Arabic).
- Choose a search mode: Application (if you just submitted and have a payment reference) or File (if you already have a Dubai file number).
- For a File search, enter your first name in English, your file number, nationality and date of birth.
- Complete the captcha and click Search.
Method 3: Check Status Using Your Emirates ID (Residents)
If you already hold a UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, the ICP file validity page also accepts your Emirates ID number as the search identifier, alongside your date of birth — select "Residency" as the visa type in Method 1, then choose the Emirates ID option instead of passport number. Dubai residents should use their Emirates ID on the GDRFA Dubai portal (Method 2) instead, since Dubai-issued residence visas aren't on the ICP system.
Method 4: Check Status Using the Official Apps
Both authorities offer mobile apps that mirror their web portals and use the same search fields described above:
- UAEICP (iOS and Android) — for ICP-issued visas outside Dubai. Search the App Store or Google Play for "UAEICP" specifically; several unofficial look-alike apps exist.
- GDRFA DXB (iOS) — for Dubai-issued visas, published by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs–Dubai.
Method 5: Check by Phone or at an Amer Centre
If the online portals return no result, or you'd rather confirm by phone or in person, contact the relevant authority directly:
| For visas issued by | Contact |
|---|---|
| ICP (Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, UAQ, RAK, Fujairah) | 600522222 (toll-free) |
| GDRFA Dubai / Amer centres | 800 5111 (within the UAE) · +971 4 313 9999 (outside the UAE) |
Source: u.ae; Amer centre number cross-checked via Gulf News' visa-status guide.
Checking Status by Visa Type
Tourist / Visit Visa
Use Method 1 (ICP) or Method 2 (GDRFA Dubai) with your passport number or file number. The result's status field shows whether the visa is still under processing, issued, or has expired.
Employment Visa
Employment (work) residence visas are tracked the same way as any residence visa — select "Residency" and search by passport number, UID, file number or Emirates ID on ICP, or by file/application number on GDRFA Dubai if your employer is Dubai-based.
Residence Visa Validity
To check how much longer your residence visa is valid, run the same file-validity search; the result includes both the issuance date and the expiry date. If your visa has already lapsed, see our guide to the UAE visa grace period before you travel or renew.
Visa Cancellation Status
A cancelled residence or employment visa shows a "Cancelled" status with the cancellation date. If you were on a sponsored visa, cancellation also starts your grace-period countdown — covered in the grace period guide linked above.
What Each Status Means
| Status | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Submitted / Under Processing | Application received, queued for review | Wait — no action needed |
| Under Review | An immigration officer is reviewing the file | Wait; recheck every 12–24 hours |
| Additional Documents Required | The officer needs more information | Check your email/sponsor and submit promptly |
| Issued / Approved | Visa granted; e-visa or sticker issued | Download, save and print your visa |
| Rejected | Application was not approved | Check the rejection reason before reapplying |
| Cancelled | Visa cancelled by the sponsor or holder | Note your grace period if you're still in the UAE |
| Expired | Visa validity period has ended | Renew or exit before any overstay fine accrues |
Exact wording varies slightly between the ICP and GDRFA Dubai portals, but the categories above cover what both display.
What to Do When Your Visa Is Approved
- Download the PDF visa document from the email you were sent (or from the portal, if issued directly)
- Save a backup copy to Google Drive or iCloud
- Print one physical copy to carry while travelling
- Double-check that your name, passport number, entry type and expiry date match your passport exactly
- If any detail is wrong, contact the issuing authority — or support@evisa-uae.org if you applied through us — before travelling
"No Record Found" and Other Common Errors
If the portal returns no result, work through this checklist before assuming something is wrong:
- Wrong nationality selected — double-check it matches your passport exactly
- Passport renewed after you applied — search using the passport number that was valid when you applied, not your new one
- Application not yet submitted by your sponsor or agent — confirm it was actually filed
- Used a passport number where a file number was required, or vice versa — try the alternate identifier
- Checked a Dubai-issued visa on ICP, or a non-Dubai visa on GDRFA — confirm which authority actually issued it
- Captcha or session timeout — refresh the page and re-enter the captcha carefully
- Typo in the passport or file number — re-enter it character by character, including any leading zeros
If you applied through us, don't search for your evisa-uae.org application reference on the ICP or GDRFA portals — it won't be recognised there. Instead, track your UAE eVisa application using the reference number and email address from your confirmation email. That page also shows the pre-submission stage that happens on our side before your application reaches ICP or GDRFA. Once your visa is issued, the methods above confirm the government's own record of it.
Before you submit an application
Once you understand the route discussed above, verify the current rule with the relevant official authority and use the checker to confirm your document readiness.
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Start My Application →Frequently Asked Questions
For visas issued outside Dubai, go to the ICP file validity page at smartservices.icp.gov.ae, choose the passport-information search, enter your passport number, nationality and date of birth, then complete the captcha. For Dubai-issued visas, use the GDRFA Dubai status inquiry page at smart.gdrfad.gov.ae instead.
Sharjah visas are issued by the federal authority, not a separate Sharjah portal. Use the ICP file validity page at smartservices.icp.gov.ae with your passport number, file number, UID or Emirates ID plus your date of birth.
Abu Dhabi visas, like Sharjah and the other non-Dubai emirates, are checked on the federal ICP portal (smartservices.icp.gov.ae) or the UAEICP app, not a separate Abu Dhabi-specific system.
Employment (work) residence visas are tracked the same way as any residence visa: select "Residency" on the ICP file validity page (or use the GDRFA Dubai portal if your employer is Dubai-based), then search by passport number, UID, file number or Emirates ID.
Use the same file-validity search on ICP or GDRFA Dubai. The result shows your visa's issuance date and expiry date, so you can see exactly how much validity is left.
Run the same passport-number or file-number search on ICP or GDRFA Dubai. A cancelled visa shows a "Cancelled" status with the cancellation date, which also marks the start of your overstay grace period if you're still in the UAE.
The government portals reflect the immigration authority's current record as soon as an officer updates the file, so there's no fixed delay you should wait out. If you applied through evisa-uae.org, our own tracking page also shows the pre-submission stage before the application reaches ICP or GDRFA.
Yes, as long as you have that person's passport number (or file number/Emirates ID) and date of birth. The portals don't require the visa holder to be the one logged in or searching.
Yes. The ICP file-validity search, the GDRFA Dubai status inquiry, and the UAEICP and GDRFA DXB apps are all free government services with no charge to look up a status.
The most common causes are: a mismatched nationality selection, a passport renewed after the application was submitted, the application not yet filed by your sponsor, using a passport number where a file number is needed (or the reverse), or checking a Dubai visa on ICP instead of GDRFA (or vice versa).
Yes. The ICP file-validity search and the GDRFA Dubai status-inquiry page both work as guest lookups with just your passport or file number and date of birth — no account or UAE Pass login is required for a basic status check.