How can I check if I have visa fines in the UAE?

Dubai: Are you worried that you may have overstayed your visa as a tourist in the UAE? Or have you failed to renew your residence visa on time? Whether you are a visitor to the UAE or are a resident here, it is important to ensure that you do not violate any of the requirements set out for your visa, whether it has to do with applying for a renewal or paying any fees that are due.

However, if you do have concerns regarding your visa status and whether you may have incurred any fines, here is how you can check that with the immigration authorities in the UAE.

How do I check if I have a fine on my UAE visa?

To find out if you have incurred any visa fines in the UAE, you can easily check them online. In the UAE, your visa may be issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs - Dubai (GDRFA), which issues visas for the emirate of Dubai, or by the Federal Authority of Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP), which issues visas for all other emirates - Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah.

You can use the websites of either of these two immigration authorities, to check for visa fines regardless of which Emirate issued the visa. For example, even if your visa was issued in Dubai, the ICP website will provide you with details on the visa fines, as the online systems are linked.

• GDRFA website – www.gdrfad.gov.ae
• ICP website – www.icp.gov.ae

Visa fine inquiry through ICP website

Step 1: Access the service online

- To check if you have any outstanding fines, you must first visit this link - beta.smartservices.icp.gov.ae - and scroll down, andd click 'Public Services'.

- Next, click on the 'File Validity' button.

Step 2: Select your visa type

- Next, you will have to select if you want to check for the visa validity by entering your 'file number' or passport information.

- Select the type of visa - Residency or visa. If you are a UAE resident select 'Residency' and visitors must select 'visa'.

For UAE Residents:

e. UAE residents will have the option to select one of the following options:
- Emirates Unified Number - Click here to know where you can find your Emirates Unified Number.
- File number - You can find the file number on the UAE residence visa page of your passport. To know more about what a file number is, read our detailed guide here.
- Emirates ID number

f. Select your nationality and date of birth.

g. After filling out the information, tick the captcha box and click on the blue button labelled ‘Search’. The system will then show any fines that have been levied on the visa.

For visitors:

a. If you are are a visitor, you need to select 'visa'. You will have the following options to search for fines:
- Emirates Unified Number
- File number

b. After you enter one of the details, select your nationality and enter your date of birth.

c. Check the captcha box and click on ‘Search’. The system will then show any fines that have been levied on the visa.

Visa fine inquiry through GDRFA - Dubai

If your visa was issued in Dubai, you can view if you have visa fines through the ‘Fines Inquiry Service’ on the GDRFA - Dubai website.

1. Visit – gdrfad.gov.ae

2. Scroll down to select the ‘Fines inquiry’ section on the home page. (Alternatively, you can directly visit the following link: gdrfad.gov.ae/en/fines-inquiry-service)

3. Next, select one of the options:
- File Number
- UDB Number (this is another name for the nine-digit unified number on your UAE visa). 
- Emirates ID
- Passport Number

4. Enter one of the options and your nationality and date of birth . If you select 'File Number' you need to first select if you are a 'Resident' or have a 'Permit'. Then, select the emirate which has issued your visa.

5. Next, click on the 'I'm not a robot' captcha and click the 'Submit' button.

6. The system will then show any fines that have been levied on the visa. If you do not have any fines, you will receive a green pop-up message on the website notifying you that there are no fines on your file number.