How to complete visa status change online in Dubai and the UAE
Follow these simple steps on the official portal to activate your new visa without leaving:
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Step 1: Get your new Entry Permit approved
1. Receive Entry Permit: Your employer or sponsor must first obtain your new digital Entry Permit (New Employment, Family, or Green Visa). You will receive a PDF document with your UID number.
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Step 2: Sign in with UAE Pass
2. Sign in to the portal: If your visa is from Dubai, open GDRFA Dubai (gdrfad.gov.ae). For Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or Northern Emirates, open ICP Smart Services (smartservices.icp.gov.ae). Sign in using UAE Pass.
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Step 3: Select Status Amendment service
3. Choose Change Status: Search for 'Change Status / Status Amendment' (تعديل وضع). Enter your new entry permit number, previous visa or UID number, and passport details.
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Step 4: Pay the official fee
4. Pay the government fee: Pay the official fee (typically AED 550 to AED 650) using your credit card or debit card.
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Step 5: Download your Status Change approval
5. Download approval: Once processed (usually within 1 to 24 hours), download your official 'Change Status Inside Country' confirmation document. Your new visa is now legally active.
What is an inside-country visa status change?
When you come to the UAE on a visit visa or tourist visa and find a job, you receive an employment entry permit. In the past, people had to fly out or take a bus to Oman for a 'visa run' to exit and enter again.
The UAE government lets you do this completely inside the country. This service is officially called Status Amendment (تعديل وضع). It electronically switches your legal status from visitor to resident without stepping outside UAE borders.
Official costs and timeframes for status amendment
1. Official fees: The government fee for inside-country status change is between AED 550 and AED 650. Typing centers or PROs may charge an extra AED 50 to AED 100 for service handling.
2. Overstay fines: If your visit visa has expired, any overstay fines (AED 50 per day) must be paid before or during the status change process. As soon as the status change is approved, daily fines stop counting.
3. 60-day window for medical and Emirates ID: Once your status change is approved, you have 60 days to complete your medical fitness test, biometric fingerprinting, and Emirates ID card issuance.
Common mistakes to avoid during status change
1. Do not travel outside the UAE: Never leave the country between receiving your new entry permit and completing the status amendment. Leaving before the status change will cancel your permit.
2. Choose the correct immigration authority: If your employer's trade license is in Dubai, use GDRFA Dubai. If your company is registered in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, or Ras Al Khaimah, use ICP Smart Services.
3. Check spelling on your passport: Ensure your name, date of birth, and nationality exactly match your passport and previous visa file to avoid delays.