Applied for a UAE visa and want to check status? There are two official UAE government portals (ICA Smart Services and GDRFA Dubai), depending on which emirate you’re entering. This page walks through both, plus what each status message actually means and what to do at each step.
If you applied through Arihant Travel, you don’t need to check any portal — we send WhatsApp updates at every stage automatically. The portals are mostly used by travellers who applied directly or through other agencies that don’t provide real-time updates.
Which portal should I use?
| Entry emirate | Portal | Direct link |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai (DXB or DWC airport) | GDRFA Dubai | smart.gdrfad.gov.ae |
| Abu Dhabi (AUH airport) | ICA Smart Services | icp.gov.ae |
| Sharjah (SHJ airport) | ICA Smart Services | icp.gov.ae |
| Ras Al Khaimah (RKT airport) | ICA Smart Services | icp.gov.ae |
If you’re not sure which portal was used for your application: try GDRFA first if you’re entering Dubai, ICA otherwise. If you get "no record found" on the first portal, try the other.
How to check UAE visa status on ICA Smart Services
- Open icp.gov.ae in your browser. Switch to English (top right).
- Click "Public Services" → "Inquiry Services" → "Entry Permit Status".
- Enter your application reference number (starts with letters like ICA, EVA or VAR).
- Alternative: enter passport number + nationality.
- Click "Search". Status appears in 1–3 seconds.
- You’ll see one of: New, Under Process, Approved, Rejected, Issued.
How to check on GDRFA Dubai
- Open smart.gdrfad.gov.ae in your browser. Switch to English.
- Click "Smart Services" → "Visa Inquiry" or download the GDRFA Dubai smart app from Apple App Store / Google Play.
- Enter your file number (begins with 201 or 203) OR passport number.
- Enter your nationality.
- Click "Search". You’ll see status, type of visa, and validity dates.
What each status message means
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| New / Submitted | Application received and entered into system | Wait 24 hours, check again |
| Under Process / Pending | Immigration officer is reviewing | No action; wait 1-3 working days |
| Approved | Decision made favourably | Wait for "Issued" — PDF imminent |
| Issued | Visa PDF generated and ready | Download from portal or wait for email |
| Rejected | Application declined | Government fees non-refundable; check rejection reason; reapply with corrected docs |
| Needs Action / Hold | Additional document or clarification required | Contact your visa agent or upload requested doc immediately |
| No record found | Wrong portal or wrong reference number | Try the other portal (ICA vs GDRFA); double-check reference number |
How long do each stage take?
- New → Under Process: Usually within 1 hour of submission.
- Under Process → Approved: 1–3 working days for standard. 1–2 days for express. 24 hours for GCC e-visa.
- Approved → Issued: Usually same day or next morning.
- Total time from submission to PDF: 2–4 working days for standard tourist visa.
If you see "Under Process" for more than 5 working days, that’s a sign to follow up. Standard escalation is via your visa agent — we can ping ICA/GDRFA directly for Arihant-filed applications.
Status shows Rejected — what next?
A rejection means UAE immigration declined the application. Common reasons:
- Incomplete documents — passport photo on wrong background, ticket dates inconsistent.
- Passport validity — less than 6 months from intended exit date.
- Prior overstay or rejection — flagged in the immigration database.
- Inconsistent travel history — conflicting dates between application and prior records.
- Security match — name matches a watchlist entry (rare for clean records).
UAE government fees are non-refundable on rejection. You can reapply after fixing the issue, but the new application is treated independently — same fee, same processing time. We offer a free document re-check before any re-application so you don’t pay twice for the same mistake.
If you applied through Arihant Travel
You don’t need to check any portal. We send WhatsApp updates at every stage:
- "Application submitted — reference [number]" within 1 hour of payment.
- "Application under process" once UAE immigration picks it up.
- "Approved" the moment we see the decision.
- "Visa PDF attached" by email + WhatsApp the same hour as issued.
For Arihant clients, status check is faster on WhatsApp than the portal. Just message "status please" with your reference and we reply in under 15 minutes.