Last updated
An ICP visa status check is done on ICP smart services at smartservices.icp.gov.ae. Use File validity to see whether an issued residence or entry permit is still valid, and Application tracking for an application still in progress. ICP covers visas issued in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. A Dubai visa is a GDRFA file and is checked there.
ICP is the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. Many people still search for it as ICA, and "ICA smart services visa status" leads to the same tools.
ICP or GDRFA: who holds your file
This is where most failed checks start. Two authorities, one country:
| What you want to check | Authority |
|---|---|
| Residence or entry permit issued in Dubai | GDRFA |
| Residence or entry permit issued in any other emirate | ICP |
| Emirates ID, for any resident including Dubai | ICP |
| Overstay fine on a Dubai file | GDRFA fines inquiry |
| Work permit or contract | MOHRE |
Source: u.ae track visa application and validity page, ICP and GDRFA service pages, checked .
So a Dubai resident deals with both: GDRFA for the visa, ICP for the card. If you live in Dubai but your employer's licence is in Sharjah, your visa is an ICP file. Look at the place of issue printed on the visa, not where you live.
For a Dubai visa, go to our guide on GDRFA application status.
File validity: is the visa still valid?
File validity answers one question: is this residence or entry permit valid right now, and until when. You can search by file number, or by passport details if you do not have the file number to hand. Both routes ask for your nationality and date of birth.
The file number is on the visa page or the e-visa. If you have only your passport, our page on how to check visa status with a passport number covers the passport route on both systems.
Application tracking: what is in progress?
Use Application tracking for anything you have applied for and not yet received: a new visa, a renewal, a cancellation or an Emirates ID. You need the application number from the ICP confirmation, the ICP app or the typing center receipt.
Emirates ID applications have numbers starting with 010. ICP lists 5 days for a card renewal or replacement once the application is complete. Our Emirates ID status guide covers card tracking in detail.
Where ICP services are filed
ICP lists three channels: the smart services website, the UAEICP app on Apple and Google stores, and its customer happiness centers. The centers on ICP's list include Khalifa, Ajman, Sharjah, Al Ghazal, Al Rashidiya, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Barsha, Al Jazira, Al Ain and Fujairah. In Dubai, the Al Rashidiya center is covered on our Rashidiya centers page.
When the status says cancelled or expired
ICP sets the grace period after a residence ends by category:
| Category | Grace period |
|---|---|
| Golden, Green and Blue residence holders and their families, students after studies, and some others | 180 days |
| Skilled workers at levels 1 to 3, property owners | 90 days |
| Permits issued with a guarantor or host | 60 days |
| All other categories | 30 days |
Source: ICP residence cancellation service page, checked . GDRFA's own Dubai pages state 60 days, so for a Dubai file follow GDRFA.
After the grace period, the overstay fine is AED 50 a day. ICP collects fines through its smart services with a AED 100 smart services fee, or at its centers. Once the fines are paid you either adjust your status or leave the UAE. Our overstay fine calculator gives a likely total.
Common mix-ups
- "My visa is not found." You are on the wrong system. Try GDRFA.
- "Emirates ID shows valid but the visa is cancelled." The card is cancelled automatically when the residence is cancelled, so trust the visa result.
- "I renewed my passport." Search with the old passport details or the file number, and report the new passport to ICP within 30 days to avoid the AED 20 a day fine.
For a broader overview of every status tool in one place, see our visa status check guide.
