GDRFA stands for “General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs”. This is a government authority that manages traveler’s entry and exit in Dubai, they also regulate the residency of people from other countries in Dubai. Dubai’s GDRFA is one of the highest-ranked border directorates worldwide.
GDRFA regulates the activities of tourists and ex-pats in Dubai. Also, it allows talented individuals to join organizations in the UAE and also sponsors their families in the UAE.
Which services fall under the GDRFA department?
Family book services: This includes all the services linked to a family book like marriage or separation, the addition of a newborn child on the book, replacement of a damaged or lost book, termination of registration, and other related services.
Passport services: GDRFA provides services like replacement of damaged/lost passport, insurance of a passport for a foreign wife, issuance of a passport of a newborn child and issuance of an electronic passport, passport renewals, etc.
Entry permit services: This service includes requests for residency entry permits, requests for short or long visit visas, cancellations as well as extensions of a visit visa.
Residency services: Updating, issuing, renewing, or canceling the residence visa, transferring, or adding or removing escorts. One can also avail emirates ID by GDRFA.
Border control services: All entries through the land, air, or water ports are monitored and registered by GDRFA.
Establishment support control: These include supporting any company’s electronic services portal, banning services, and also services of enterprise representatives.
Violation control: It mainly focuses on three areas i.e. border control, violation control (documentation), and violators’ follow-up.
Mobile Services 150: This service is used to enquire about Residence, Entry Permits, or Overstays.
Jadeed: The Jadeed service provides SMS-based reminders and event invitations. You can register for reminders about the following services:
- Establishment Card Expiry Reminder
- Passport Expiry Reminders For UAE Residents
- Residence Expiry Reminder
- GITEX Invitations
- DSF Invitations
- Passport Expiry Reminder for UAE Nationals
- E-Gate Card Expiry Reminder
- Security Messages
- RSA Token Reminders to Establishments
- Dnrd.ae Website SMS Messages
- Dnrd.ae Web Portal SMS Messages
IVR Services: Through this service, any establishment can report in regard to individuals they have sponsored.
requests can be made for four types of reports.
- Valid Entry Permit report
- Entry Permit violator’s report
- Valid Residence report
- Residence violator’s report
Barq Services: Thorugh this one can apply for any documentation from anywhere. However, a member of the delivery team will collect all documents and fulfill all the protocols. The delivery can be made anywhere ie at home or at the office once the documents are ready.
Distinguished Guest Services: This is a special service that is granted to the people who often visit Dubai via a sponsor. This service provides:
- An Ecard(for easy entry and exit)
- Renewal of the subscription
- One-time payment facility
- Specified gateway for DG(s) and E-Gate cardholders.
Takamol: This is a data-sharing service between GDRFA and Dubai Health Authority in order to ensure that no fraud is committed.
Smart Gate: It allows passengers to go through immigration processes without the help of an immigration officer. At the smart gate, travelers can use a passport, e-gate card, Emirates ID, or QR Barcode.
How to contact the GDRFA customer center?
- Toll-free number 8005111 from inside the UAE
- 0097143139999 from outside the UAE
- Email to gdrfa@dnrd.ae for inquiries of online services or amer@dnrd.ae
For which issues one can contact the GDFRA customer center?
Anyone can contact the GDFRA customer center if they have any inquiry related to:
- Entry permits
- Renew entry permit
- Changing the status
- Online services inquiries
- Recover lost deposit receipts for companies and individuals
- Losing establishment cards
- Recover username and password
- Issuing residency permit for wife and children
- Losing, issuing, and renewing passports for Emiratis