Check your UAE visa status using only your passport number — GDRFA Dubai for Dubai-issued visas, ICP Smart Services for the other six emirates. No login or Emirates ID required for the basic check. The two databases don’t share records, so checking a Dubai visa on ICP (or the reverse) returns “no record found” even when your visa is completely valid — confirm which authority issued your visa before assuming anything is wrong.
Which Portal Applies to UAE Visa Check
| Visa Issued In | Use This Portal |
|---|---|
| Dubai | GDRFA Dubai (gdrfad.gov.ae) or DubaiNow app |
| Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, Fujairah, UAQ | ICP Smart Services (smartservices.icp.gov.ae) or UAEICP app |
If you’re unsure which applies, check the emirate stamped on your original entry permit — that’s the issuing authority, regardless of where you currently live or work.
How to Check on Each Portal
On ICP: open the File Validity service, enter your passport number, nationality, and passport expiry date exactly as printed, then submit. Results show visa type, file number, issue date, and expiry date.
On GDRFA Dubai: open the Visa Status service, enter passport number, nationality, date of birth, and gender — or search directly by File Number/UID if you have it. Phone support is available at 600 522 222 for ICP-side queries.
If your application is still being processed rather than already issued, tracking works differently — use your application/PRAN number rather than your passport number, since an in-progress file won’t show up in the standard issued-visa search.
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Checking From the Official Apps
DubaiNow covers Dubai-issued visas — open the app, go to the visa/residency services section, and search using the same passport details as the website. UAEICP covers the other six emirates — same File Validity search, same required fields, just inside the app instead of a browser. If neither app shows your record, the website version is usually more reliable — app service names and required fields change more often than the main portals.
Your UID (Unified Number), if you already have one, is often faster than a full passport search — it’s a single lookup field rather than passport number plus nationality plus expiry date, and it works on both ICP and GDRFA where applicable.
What Each Check Actually Tells You
This basic status check confirms your visa is active and shows its expiry date — it does not cover fines, travel bans, or absconding status, which are separate, specific checks.
| You Want to Know | Check This Instead |
|---|---|
| Is my visa active and when does it expire? | This page |
| Do I have unpaid overstay/visa fines? | UAE visa fine check |
| Am I subject to a travel ban? | Travel ban check |
| Has my employer reported me absconding? | Absconding status check |
Once you see a result, the status wording tells you what to do next. “Active” means no action needed. “Expired” means renewal is overdue. “Under Review” applies to pending applications, not issued visas, and simply means wait. “Cancelled” needs immediate attention — that status alongside continued UAE presence is what triggers overstay fines, not the expiry date alone.
Pro tip: Check your visa status a few weeks before any travel or renewal deadline, not the day of — if the wrong portal gives you a false “no record found,” you’ll have time to identify the correct authority instead of discovering the confusion at the airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check my UAE visa status online?
Use GDRFA Dubai for Dubai-issued visas or ICP Smart Services for the other six emirates, entering your passport number, nationality, and expiry date. No login or Emirates ID is required for the basic check.
Why does my UAE visa check show “no record found”?
Most commonly because you’re checking the wrong portal — GDRFA and ICP hold separate, non-shared databases. A Dubai visa checked on ICP (or vice versa) returns no record even when the visa is completely valid.
Can I check a Dubai tourist visa’s validity the same way?
Yes. Tourist and visit visas issued in Dubai check through the same GDRFA Visa Status service as residence visas, using your passport number or file number.
Last verified: September 2026
Reviewed by: UAEwow Content Team
Source: General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) – Dubai; Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
