Dubai Visa Status and Information about DNRD Applications

The website of General Directorate of Residency – Dubai has the facility to check the Dubai visa status and information about DNRD applications. The GDRFA site provides a Query DNRD App page to check about the visa status and other immigration applications. The status of following immigration forms applied in DNRD can be checked through the Dubai immigration portal by entering the basic application information like smart form number or application number.

    Entry permit validity
    UAE Residence validity
    eDNRD Application
    eFORM Application

    Residence Application Status – This will show the status of passport that has been submitted to DNRD for visa stamping as whether it is processed or not.

Dubai immigration also started a smart mobile application from their website for checking the status and validity of visit visas and other immigration transactions. The new mobile service from General Department of Residency and Foreign Affairs in Dubai will enable the public to check about the status of Dubai visas and other immigration transactions.

DNRD eServices is a fully integrated online system designed for minimizing the time required on managing your application and other transactions with DNRD. Residents don't need to register to use the online visa status enquiry services.
Click here to view the Visa Status

Employers to bear the cost of Emirates ID card: Eida Chief

Although there is no legal directive that compels companies to bear the cost of Emirates ID, Emirates Identity Authority (Eida) chief says companies should take up the responsibility of paying the cost of ID cards for their employees.

“There is no legal directive on who should pay the fees for the ID cards. Since now the visa issuance is linked to the Emirates ID process, we expect companies to bear the cost. We are taking up the matter with higher authorities and are reviewing the matter,” Dr Ali Al KhouriDirector General, EidaHe added that a few public sector entities and private companies had already begun bearing the cost of the issuing Emirates ID for their employees.

“There are companies in both public and private sector that are now paying for the ID for their employees. We believe companies have to bear the cost of the ID as the card issuance is linked to visa.”

Employees in the public sector pay Dh300 (Dh100 per year for three year visa) for the card, while private sector employees pay Dh200 (Dh100 per year for two year visa) . The other charges (typing and admin) total to Dh70.

Health insurance mandatory to enter UAE

Dubai: Health insurance is mandatory for visitors to enter UAE, said a senior official from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA),

The rule for mandatory health insurance was implemented almost five years ago by the UAE government. Everyone applying for a visit or tourist visa needs to have health insurance, regardless of the nationality, age or gender. Only nationalities who can avail of visas on arrival are exempt.

Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, Director General of the GDRFA, told Gulf News that tourists and visitors can receive free treatment in case of emergency as per the visa health insurance rules and regulations.

“A ministerial decision number 322 for the year 2008 makes health insurance mandatory to obtain any type of visit visa to the UAE. The rule came into effect in August in the same year,” he said.

The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in Dubai is in charge of tourists’ health insurance, he said.

Companies and tour operators that bring in visitors should arrange for health insurance policies for their guests.
The tourist company must follow up any tourist they brought here in case that tourist falls ill and needs to be hospitalised,” said Al Merri.

The GDRFA has signed an agreement with Noor Takaful Islamic Insurance to issue health insurance policies for visitors to Dubai with a minimum coverage of Dh150,000 per person per visit.

“Visit Visa Medical Takaful Plan is the plan approved by the UAE government for the visit visa application. The plan provides the medical coverage as required by the UAE visa regulations for visitors entering the country,” he said.

He said that the Takaful plan covers emergency in-patient medical expenses incurred by visitors while in the UAE, 24 hours a day, for up to a maximum of Dh150,000 and repatriation of mortal remains up to a maximum Dh7,500.

The plan offers facility for direct billing settlement to providers where visitors can access the company’s wide network of healthcare providers without the need to pay first, thus providing convenience for fast medical attention in an emergency.

He said the non-network treatment shall be covered only for treatment of life-threatening cases.

“An external health insurance from any insurance company or travel agency is accepted and will be attested free of charge by the GDRFA,” he said.

He said that health coverage policies issued by other companies will also be accepted provided they meet the same criteria including the minimum limit of Dh150,000 and the types of services offered like emergencies and repatriation of bodies.

He added the insurance company will offer three different types of health policies according to the visit periods.

Prices start from Dh40 for short-term visas valid for 30 days; Dh90 for visas valid for 90 days; and Dh185 for multiple entry visas valid for 180 days.

He explained that these policies will cover accidents and emergencies during the visitor’s stay in the country.

Major General Al Merri added that the health agreement does not cover medical treatment outside the health services providers’ network, except in the case of emergency life-threatening cases.

The policy also does not cover chronic illnesses and it will include treatment of serious complications of already existing chronic illnesses in the emergency room only. It also does not cover pregnancy, delivery and ophthalmology or dental treatment.

Health insurance policies for visitors can be obtained from special counters to be set up at the GDRFA’s headquarters in Bur Dubai, and other branches in Abu Hail, the Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Airport, Dnata office on Shaikh Zayed Road, Umm Suqeim, Jebel Ali and Bin Souqat Centre in Rashidiya.

National IDs required to cancel visas in UAE

Residents applying for the cancellation of their UAE residence visa must surrender their Emirates ID card to immigration authorities, an official said.

The highly-placed official at Dubai’s General Directorate for Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) told Gulf News that visas will not be cancelled unless the ID card is handed over.

The official, who did not want to be named, said: “No residency visa will be cancelled without the ID cards. Cancelling the visa, for the purpose of leaving the country forever or for the purpose of changing jobs, requires [handing over] the ID cards.”

Residents typically apply to have their visa cancelled when leaving the UAE for good or when changing jobs. As a rule, a job change involves a visa change as well.

Rules apply to children

The GDRFA will hand over the returned ID card to the Emirates Identity Authority, which issues the card in the first place, the official added. He said this procedure is required by the issuing authority and applicants who have lost their card must produce a letter from the authority confirming the situation

“Everyone must have his or her ID card with them. Even cancelling the residency visa for a child requires submitting the ID card of that child,” the official said. He added that the rule is in place across the UAE.

Renewals

However, in the case of visa renewals, applicants can retain their card, the official said. “We are not asking for [surrendering of] the ID card in case one is renewing the residency visa.” A valid card must be shown at the time of renewals, though.

The Emirates ID card is required for all UAE nationals and legal residents aged 15 and above. The smart card carries a picture and basic information of the holder, including a computer chip and biometric data.

The Emirates Identity Authority says the card prevents identity theft and allows access to certain government and non-government services. It has repeatedly said that those who fail to register for the card will be fined and possibly barred from a number of government services.

UAE medical licence can be applied for online

Dubai: Health-care professionals, especially outside the UAE, can apply for a medical licence to work in the Emirates through the fully operational online Examination and Evaluation System (EES).

They can appear for the licence exams, conducted on a weekly basis, in their own country and receive results electronically, reducing cost and time. The fees are also paid electronically.

The system by the UAE Ministry of Health obviates the need to visit the ministry’s offices.

Previously, an applicant had to appear for an exam, and if unsuccessful, reappear after the stipulated two months wait.

“The new system allows an applicant to sit for an exam every week in his or her country [the number of attempts or trials to schedule MoH exams is four],” said Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing at the ministry, speaking to Gulf News.

He explained that in the past, applicants had to enter the country and incur expenses.

“Now they can enter the country after they have been evaluated and are ready to seek jobs. The system is centralised and reduces the financial burden on applicants. It also saves them time.”

To facilitate the exams, the ministry has enlisted the help of Prometric Worldwide, a global testing network. “Prometric manages the exams for the ministry around the world,” said Dr Al Amiri.

Apart from licensing, health-care professionals including physicians, technicians, dentists, pharmacists and TCAM (traditional, complementary and alternative medicine) practitioners can also benefit from the system’s online features that allow one to upgrade qualification and experience.

For fee payment, the system mandates the use of the UAE e-dirham card, which was introduced in 2001 to replace traditional methods of fee collection for government services.

The UAE E-Dirham card is a ‘secure electronic purse’ that can be bought in person or online from the ministries of Finance and Interior and/or any member bank like the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Commercial Bank of Dubai.

Dr Al Amiri said that once an applicant has registered, he or she has to submit the required documents (passport copy, photograph, and certificates, among others), and pay the fee using the UAE e-dirham card.

He explained that the payment is done through the Blue and Red Al Haslah prepaid (customisable) e-dirham cards.

He added the system has been tested by the ministries of health and finance to ensure accuracy.