Waiting for Residency Issue

“Waiting for Residency Issue” is a status some applicants see while a residency file is being processed. ICP and GDRFA do not define this exact status or its causes on their public pages, so there is no single official fix to point to — what you do depends on what is holding your file.

Which authority holds your file

Check which authority holds your file first, because ICP and GDRFA handle different emirates. For Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, track your visa application on the website of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). For Dubai, track your visa application through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, Dubai (GDRFA Dubai). The same split applies if you already hold an entry permit or residence visa and want to check its validity: ICP for the six emirates listed above, and GDRFA Dubai for Dubai. The emirate that issued your file decides which of the two amendment services below applies to you. The routing in this paragraph follows the official UAE Government portal page on how to track your visa application and validity.

If your file has incorrect data

If the hold-up is wrong information on your file, these are the verified data-amendment services. Neither page states that it resolves “Waiting for Residency Issue” specifically, so use them only if incorrect data is your problem.

ICP — Amendment of Residency Permit Data:

ICP describes the service as one through which residence permit data is modified.

1. Submit the application through the ICP Smart Services website or the ICP Smart App, signing in with UAE Pass.
2. Review the application form and make necessary adjustments to the retrieved data if required.
3. Attach the required documents if data retrieval through integration fails.
4. Pay the required fees.
5. Wait for a notification on the status of the residence data amendment request, whether it is approved or rejected.

• Documents: passport and a personal photo.
• Fees listed separately on the page: 150 AED for replacing the Emirates ID card to update the displayed information, and 100 AED in smart services fees.
• Completion duration listed: 2 days.
• Who the service covers: residents, foreign students at accredited educational institutions in the UAE, and employees of government or private entities or free zone establishments.
• Extra documents for an employee application: a work card if the profession is changing, and a message from government agencies for a government-sector sponsor.
• Fees in total: the two listed lines add up to 250 AED.
• Availability: the Smart Services website and app are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
• Terms ICP lists: the new card is issued with the same validity period as the card it replaces, and the application will be cancelled if the procedures are not completed, or amendments requested on a returned application are not made within the specified period. ICP does not state the length of that period on the page.

GDRFA Dubai — Amendment of all types of residence permit data:

GDRFA describes the service in one line: this service allows data amendment for a residency visa.

Through the GDRFA website:

1. Log in to the GDRFA website.
2. Register a new user account if you do not have one.
3. Select the required service.
4. Attach the required documents.
5. Pay the fees due for the service.
6. Submit the application.

Through an AMER Centre:

1. Go to one of the AMER service centres.
2. Select the required service at reception.
3. Submit the required documents to the service employee.
4. Pay the fees due for the service.
5. Submit the application.
6. Receive approval by SMS.
7. Visit one of the GDRFA branches to stamp the visa.

• Documents: a recent personal photo with a white background and the sponsored person’s passport.
• Fees listed: urgent service fee AED 100 and innovation fee AED 10, plus a printing fee of AED 100 only if submitted through a ZAJEL Courier Center; no base fee is listed on the page and the expected completion time is blank.
• Through an AMER Centre, approval comes by SMS and you then visit a GDRFA branch to stamp the visa; if documents are missing, attach them within 30 days or the application will be cancelled.
• Availability: the GDRFA website service is available 24/7, and AMER Centres are available during their normal operating hours.
• Terms GDRFA lists: your passport must be valid for more than six months. If you are an investor or partner, your establishment card must be presented. If your sponsor is in the government sector, a letter of change of profession must be submitted. If your sponsor is in the private sector, a labour contract or Employment ID must be submitted.
• After you apply: GDRFA says a text message and an email are sent to you with the status of the application. If documents are missing, you are told to attach them within 30 days, or the application will be cancelled. If no documents are missing, you are notified of the approval.

If neither matches your case

If incorrect data is not the issue, or you are unsure what is holding your file, contact ICP on 600522222 from inside the UAE, or +971600522222 from outside, with your application details ready. For a Dubai file, contact GDRFA on 800 5111 from inside the UAE, or +9714-313-9999 from outside the UAE. Give the exact status wording you see.

Checked on: 2 November 2026

Sources (official only)

• ICP: Amendment of Residency Permit Data
• GDRFA Dubai: Amendment of all types of residence permit data
• The Official Portal of the UAE Government (u.ae): Track visa application and validity

Related guides

• Emirates ID application status
• Emirates ID tracking
• UAE Guides