Dubai Visa Check: How To Check Your UAE Visa Status Online

If you have applied for a Dubai visa or already hold a UAE visa, you can usually check the status online through official UAE government portals.

For visas issued in Dubai, start with GDRFA Dubai. For UAE visas issued through other emirates or federal channels, use ICP Smart Services. The UAE official government portal explains that visa application status and validity can be checked through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, known as ICP. It also directs Dubai visa holders to GDRFA Dubai services for Dubai-issued visas.

This matters because many travellers search for “Dubai visa check,” but not every UAE visa is issued by Dubai. Using the wrong portal can make it look like your visa does not exist, even when the real issue is that you are checking in the wrong system.

If you are preparing travel documents before your trip, you can use Outbound Visa’s Free Visa Tools to keep your passport, visa, and entry requirements organized.

Dubai Visa Vs UAE Visa: What Is The Difference?

Many travellers say “Dubai visa” when they actually mean “UAE visa.” Dubai is one emirate in the United Arab Emirates, so the right visa-check portal depends on where your visa or entry permit was issued.

In simple terms:

GDRFA Dubai lists a Visa Status service for verifying entry and residence permits, establishment cards, and related documents. It also provides an Application Status Tracker where applicants can use details such as application reference number and email to track an application.

If your visa was arranged by an airline, hotel, travel agency, employer, or sponsor, ask them which authority issued it before checking.

How To Check Dubai Visa Status Through GDRFA

Use GDRFA Dubai if your visa, entry permit, or residence permit was issued by Dubai.

You may need details such as:

• Application Reference Number

• Transaction Number

• Payment Date

• Email Used In The Application

• Emirates ID, If Applicable

• Passport Details, Depending On The Service

Dubai’s official portal says that to check visa application status, users may need the application number, transaction number, and payment date. It also notes that GDRFA Dubai allows users to track visa validity or visa application status online.

A simple process usually looks like this:

1. Go to the official GDRFA Dubai website.

2. Choose the visa status or application tracking service.

3. Enter the required details exactly as shown on your application or receipt.

4. Submit the request.

5. Review the status, validity, or application update shown by the system.

Make sure the spelling, passport number, application number, and email match the details used in the original application. A small typo can lead to no result.

How To Check UAE Visa Status Through ICP

Use ICP Smart Services if your visa or entry permit was issued through federal UAE channels or another emirate outside Dubai.

The UAE government portal says visa application status and validity can be checked on the ICP website. ICP also lists services for application status, residency permits, visa services, identity services, and related immigration services.

You may need details such as:

• Passport Number

• Passport Expiry Date

• Nationality

• Application Number

• Request Number

• Emirates ID, If Applicable

• Unified Number, If Applicable

The exact fields depend on the service you use. If you are checking a visit visa, residence visa, or entry permit, choose the service that matches your document type.

Can You Check Dubai Visa Status By Passport Number?

Sometimes, yes, but it depends on the portal and the type of visa.

Some UAE visa validity checks may ask for passport number, passport expiry date, and nationality. Other services may require an application reference number, transaction number, payment date, or Emirates ID.

If passport number alone does not work, it does not always mean your visa is invalid. It may simply mean you need to use a different official portal or enter an application reference instead.

This is why you should keep every document related to the application, including:

• Payment receipt

• Application reference number

• Transaction number

• Sponsor confirmation

• Email confirmation

• Entry permit copy

• Passport copy used for the application

Dubai Visa Check For Tourists

If you are visiting Dubai as a tourist, your visa may have been arranged through an airline, hotel, travel agency, UAE-based sponsor, or official visa channel.

Before checking, ask:

• Was the visa issued by Dubai/GDRFA?

• Was it issued through another UAE emirate or federal system?

• Do you have an entry permit number?

• Do you have a sponsor or agency reference?

• Was the visa already approved or still under process?

Tourists should not rely only on screenshots sent by unofficial agents. Use the official GDRFA or ICP system where possible to confirm that the visa or entry permit is valid.

If your visa was arranged by a third party and you cannot verify it, ask the provider for the application number, issuing authority, and official status proof.

Dubai Visa Check For UAE Residents

If you are a UAE resident, checking visa status can help you confirm:

• Residence visa validity

• Expiry date

• Renewal timing

• Emirates ID-related status

• Overstay or fines risk

• Sponsor or dependent visa status

GDRFA Dubai’s services include visa status checks, fines inquiry, and unified number search, while ICP provides federal identity, visa, residency, and application services.

Residents should check visa validity before travelling outside the UAE, renewing documents, changing jobs, or sponsoring family members.

Common Dubai Visa Status Messages

Status wording can vary by portal, but these are common meanings:

Do not assume approval until the official portal or your sponsor confirms the visa has been issued. If your travel date is close, check the status early so there is time to fix problems.

What To Do If Your Dubai Visa Status Does Not Appear

If your visa status does not appear, do not panic immediately.

Try these steps:

1. Check whether you are using the correct portal: GDRFA for Dubai or ICP for federal/other emirate cases.

2. Re-enter your passport number, expiry date, nationality, and application number carefully.

3. Check whether the visa was submitted recently and may not be active in the system yet.

4. Ask your sponsor, airline, hotel, employer, or agency for the application reference.

5. Use the official help or contact option on the relevant portal.

6. Avoid paying another agent before confirming what happened.

The most common issue is not always rejection. Sometimes the applicant is checking the wrong portal or using the wrong reference number.

How To Avoid Fake Dubai Visa Check Websites

Visa status checks require personal information, so be careful where you enter your passport details.

Use only:

• Official GDRFA Dubai Website

• Official ICP Smart Services

• Official UAE Government Portal

• Official Dubai Government Portal

• A Verified Sponsor Or Authorized Channel

Avoid websites or social media accounts that:

• Promise instant “guaranteed” visa approval

• Ask for full passport details without showing official authority

• Use unofficial payment links

• Claim they can erase fines or overstays instantly

• Use WhatsApp-only communication

• Refuse to provide an application reference number

A real visa check confirms status. It does not guarantee approval or replace official immigration records.

If you are unsure whether a website is safe, compare similar cases in the Outbound Visa Forum.

Dubai Visa Check Before You Fly

Before travelling to Dubai or another UAE emirate, check:

• Your Visa Or Entry Permit Is Approved

• Your Passport Details Match The Visa

• Your Name Spelling Is Correct

• Your Passport Is Valid For Travel

• Your Visa Has Not Expired

• Your Entry Dates Match Your Travel Plan

• Your Sponsor Or Agency Has Shared The Official Reference

• You Are Checking Through GDRFA Or ICP, Not A Random Website

• Your Return Or Onward Ticket Is Ready, If Required

• You Have Hotel Or Host Details

If your case is more complex, such as a previous UAE overstay, cancelled residence visa, sponsor issue, unclear entry permit, or rejected application, Visa Concierge can help you review the situation before you travel. For simple document preparation, Smart VisaAssist can help you check your basic readiness.

FAQ

How Can I Check My Dubai Visa Status Online?

You can check Dubai-issued visas through the official GDRFA Dubai portal. For UAE visas issued through federal or other emirate channels, use ICP Smart Services or the UAE official government portal.

Is Dubai Visa The Same As UAE Visa?

Dubai is part of the UAE, but the checking portal depends on where the visa was issued. Dubai-issued visas are usually checked through GDRFA, while other UAE visa services may be checked through ICP.

Can I Check Dubai Visa Status By Passport Number?

Sometimes, depending on the service. Some checks may require passport number, passport expiry date, and nationality. Others may require application number, transaction number, payment date, or Emirates ID.

What Details Do I Need To Check Dubai Visa Status?

You may need your passport number, passport expiry date, nationality, application reference number, transaction number, payment date, email, Emirates ID, or unified number, depending on the portal.

What If My Dubai Visa Status Shows No Record?

Check whether you are using the correct portal, re-enter your details carefully, and ask your sponsor or visa provider for the official application reference. If the visa was recently submitted, it may also take time to appear.

Can I Check UAE Visa Validity Online?

Yes. The UAE official government portal says visa application status and validity can be checked through ICP. Dubai-issued visas can be checked through GDRFA Dubai.

Is It Safe To Use Third-Party Dubai Visa Check Websites?

Be careful. Since visa checks involve passport and personal data, use official government portals whenever possible.

Does A Valid Dubai Visa Guarantee Entry?

No. A valid visa or entry permit allows you to travel and seek entry, but final entry decisions are made by UAE immigration authorities at the border.

Bottom Line

To check a Dubai visa, use GDRFA Dubai if the visa was issued in Dubai. For UAE visas issued through other emirates or federal channels, use ICP Smart Services.

Keep your passport number, application reference, transaction number, and sponsor details ready before checking. If the system shows no record, the issue may be the wrong portal, wrong details, or a pending application — not always a rejection.

For safe travel, verify your visa through official channels before flying and avoid fake “instant visa check” websites that ask for personal data without clear authority.

Sources

UAE Government Portal — Track Visa Application And Validity
https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/track-visa-application-and-validity

Dubai.ae — Check Your Visa Validity And Track Your Application
https://www.dubai.ae/living/residency/check-your-visa-validity-and-track-your-application

GDRFA Dubai — Visa Status
https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/node/14321

GDRFA Dubai — Application Status Tracker
https://gdrfad.gov.ae/en/form/application-status-tracker

ICP UAE — Federal Authority For Identity, Citizenship, Customs And Port Security
https://icp.gov.ae/en/

ICP Smart Services
https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/