UAE & Dubai Visa Check by Passport Number
Track your UAE visa application from the UAE on the official ICP (Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship) page — what reference you need, what each status means, and how long it normally takes.
Check your UAE visa status now
ICP (Federal Authority for Identity & Citizenship)
Visas issued through Dubai (GDRFA) can also be checked at gdrfad.gov.ae.
The link opens smartservices.icp.gov.ae — the authority's own domain. We are not affiliated with it and it never charges to view a status.
Can I check my UAE visa status by passport number?
Yes. The ICP smart-services portal lets you check a UAE visa or entry-permit file by passport number and nationality — no application number is needed. Dubai-issued visas can also be checked on the GDRFA site the same way.
How to check your UAE visa status — step by step
- Open the ICP smart-services portal linked below and choose "File validity" (or the GDRFA Dubai site for a Dubai-issued visa).
- Select the search type — passport information is the easiest — and enter the passport number, nationality and date of birth exactly as in the passport.
- Complete the on-screen verification and submit.
- The result shows the visa or permit status and its validity dates. Save a screenshot for your records.
What each UAE visa status means
Channel: UAE Federal Authority (ICP) / GDRFA Dubai. These are the stages you will actually see, in order.
The immigration file is being checked. Most tourist entry permits are decided within a few working days.
The entry permit or visa is issued and valid for the dates shown.
Refusal reasons are not always displayed; a sponsor or typing centre can request the reason.
The permit is no longer usable — you will need a new one before travelling.
How long does a UAE visa take?
For applications from the UAE, processing is usually 2 to 5 working days for a tourist entry permit. The status page only updates at the fixed points above, so days without change are normal inside that window.
Status hasn't changed?
If you applied through a sponsor, airline or typing centre, they receive the updates first — ask them before assuming something is wrong. Public holidays in the UAE pause processing.
Still unsure? Message our visa team on WhatsApp — we read these portals every day.
Dubai visa or Abu Dhabi visa? Which portal checks which
The UAE has two immigration systems, and a file only shows up on the one that issued it. The emirate named on your entry permit decides where you check:
| Visa issued in | Check it on | Official link |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | GDRFA Dubai (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs) status inquiry | smart.gdrfad.gov.ae |
| Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah | ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) application tracking, or "File validity" for an issued permit | smartservices.icp.gov.ae |
A Dubai-issued visa searched on the ICP site returns nothing, and the other way round. If you are not sure which emirate issued the permit, the sponsor, airline, hotel or agency that applied will know; a visa bought through Global Visa Shop is a Dubai (GDRFA) file unless we told you otherwise. Searching in Hindi or Urdu for "Dubai ka visa check" lands on the same two portals: there is no third one.
Three ways to track an ICP application
- Your own ICP account: if you applied yourself, open "My Applications" or "My Requests" and the file is listed with its stage.
- Smart Services tracking without a login: choose application tracking and enter the application number. ICP application numbers begin with 010; the receipt or the confirmation email carries it.
- Call centre: ICP answers visa enquiries on the toll-free number 600 522 222 inside the UAE. For Dubai (GDRFA) files call 800 5111 inside the UAE or +971 4 313 9999 from abroad.
No application number? Use "File validity" on the ICP site, or the GDRFA inquiry page for Dubai, with the passport number, nationality and date of birth exactly as printed in the passport. That route only finds a permit that has already been issued, so a file still under processing may not appear until it is approved.
What the status page tells you once the visa is issued
An approved permit shows its issue and expiry dates; those are the dates the validity check reads back. What you may hold depends on the visa type: the 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa allows 90 days per visit and can be extended for a further 90 days; the GCC-resident eVisa is a 30-day entry permit that can be extended once for 30 days; standard 30- and 60-day tourist permits are issued through ICP or GDRFA and sold by airlines, licensed travel agents and hotels. UAE embassies do not issue tourist visas, so a status check on an embassy site will never find one. Overstaying after the expiry date attracts a fine that is settled at the immigration office or the airport on exit; the amount is set by ICP and is not shown on the status page.
Sources: u.ae (UAE Government portal), pages "Track visa application and validity" and "Tourist visa"; ICP FAQ "How can I track the status of my visa application?". Checked 22 October 2026.
Check other visa statuses
Bahrain visa status
Jordan visa status
Kuwait visa status
Oman visa status
Qatar visa status
Saudi Arabia visa status
UAE visa status — common questions
Can I check my UAE visa status by passport number?
Yes. The ICP smart-services portal lets you check a UAE visa or entry-permit file by passport number and nationality — no application number is needed. Dubai-issued visas can also be checked on the GDRFA site the same way.
How long does a UAE visa take after I apply from the UAE?
Processing is usually 2 to 5 working days for a tourist entry permit. The status page will not move every day — it only updates at a few fixed points, so a quiet week is normal.
Can I check a UAE visa without an application number?
Yes — on the ICP portal choose passport information and enter the passport number, nationality and date of birth. Dubai-issued visas can also be checked on the GDRFA site the same way.
My UAE visa shows "in progress" for more than a week. Is that normal?
It can be, especially around Eid and the year-end. Applications submitted through a sponsor or typing centre are also updated on their side first, so ask them before contacting the authority.
My visa was issued in Dubai. Do I check it on ICP or GDRFA?
GDRFA. Dubai runs its own immigration system, so a Dubai-issued visa or entry permit is only found on the GDRFA Dubai status inquiry page. The ICP portal covers Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. A search on the wrong portal simply returns no record.
Where do I find my UAE visa application number?
On the receipt or confirmation email from whoever filed the application. ICP application numbers begin with 010. If you applied through a sponsor, airline, hotel or agency, they hold it. Without it, use the ICP "File validity" search or the GDRFA inquiry page with passport number, nationality and date of birth; that finds a permit once it has been issued.
Is it safe to enter my passport number on a visa-status website?
Only on the official government or visa-centre domain linked on this page. Paid look-alike sites copy the government design and rank in search results; a genuine portal never charges to simply view a status.
Can Global Visa Shop help if my UAE application is stuck?
We cannot see inside a government system, but our visa team deals with these portals daily and can tell you what a status normally means, whether the timeline is still normal, and what to send if documents were requested.
Paid sites copy the look of government visa portals and rank in search results. Before entering passport details, check the address ends in an official domain — the one linked above is smartservices.icp.gov.ae. A genuine portal never charges to simply view a status.
Global Visa Shop is a private visa facilitation service by OutMazed® Tourism (DTCM licensed). We are not a government authority and cannot see or influence the status of an application made directly with an embassy or government portal. Stage names and timelines describe the normal process for applicants in the UAE and were correct at publication; authorities change their systems without notice.