Dubai unveils new visa system

Residents will not be required to visit GDRFA offices to apply for visa, other services.

Dubai: Residents can now carry out all visa and residency transactions through the new UAE vision system, introduced by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) on Wednesday.

Major General Mohammad Ahmad Al Marri, Director General of GDRFA, said residents will not be required any more to visit the GDRFA headquarters or any of its external branches in order to apply for any visa or residency-related transaction.

The transactions include applying for visa, renewing residency, applying for new residency, visa cancelation, in addition to any other related services.

All transactions can be carried out via approved typing services centres.

The “UAE vision”, considered one of the best systems introduced to help the public save time and effort, is in line with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who stressed on facilitating governmental services.

Accurate information

He pointed out that clients must provide accurate information to the typing centre such as valid phone numbers, address and email in order to allow communication with them.

Those who apply for visit visa-related transaction will have it sent to their email and those applying for residency visa service will have it sent to them via Zajel courier service, he explained.

Shahin P, owner of Abdul Samad Office Typing Center located near Emirates Towers metro station, told Gulf News that the center has been using the new system for almost a month on a trial basis.

“After submitting all documents, the status will be ‘in process’ until approval is confirmed by immigration. Users will be notified by SMS for the final step,” said Shahin.

Once approval is confirmed, residents will then visit the immigration headquarters only once to get their passport stamped.

Visit visas will be issued through email as e-visas, he said.

“The number of applications submitted at the typing center has started to grow during this month. This service provides the public with a one-stop-shop for all transactions,” said Shahin.

Application fees will remain the same, confirmed a GDRF customer service agent.

By Jumana Khamis, Staff Reporter