Last week, prominent UAE and foreign carriers confirmed that residence visa holders from restricted countries like India and Pakistan can travel to the UAE provided they have approval from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) and General Directorate of Residency and Foreign Affairs (GDRFA), apart from presenting negative Covid-19 test reports.
The National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) also announced in August that international travellers from countries such as India, Nepal, Pakistan must seek approval from GDRFA to enter Dubai.
So, here’s how you can apply for the GDRFA approval:
- Visit the GDRFA website (https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitService.aspx)
- Search for your application through your residence visa number.
- Fill out the form by entering your nationality and year of birth.
- The system will generate the basic details like your name, either in English or Arabic, and your passport number.
- Under ‘application information’, you will see a section ‘travel information’. Enter your sector (country you will be arriving from and destination). Tick the box and confirm you will bear your quarantine expenses if you are found Covid-19 positive.
- Next, upload documents like your passport copy, photograph, PCR test result and Covid-19 vaccine certificate.
- Confirm the details of your application and tap ‘send’.
- If approved, you will receive an official notification from the GDRFA via email.
However, if you are travelling to Abu Dhabi, you do not need to seek approval from ICA. Etihad Airways on August 18 clarified that Indian nationals with a visa or residence permit given by the US, UK or any EU country can visit the capital of UAE without an ICA approval.
To enter Abu Dhabi, you no longer need to present a vaccination certificate. You only need to show a negative PCR test report to enter public places. This is allowed only in Abu Dhabi as of now and in no other emirates. Hence, you are advised to get vaccinated and get the certificate verified by the UAE-authorised app before travelling to an emirate.
How to verify your vaccination certificate?
- Well, before departure, you can verify your vaccination certificate by registering in the Register Arrivals section of the ICA mobile application
- Complete the register arrivals form and upload your international vaccination certificate
- You will then receive an SMS, consisting of a link to download the Al Hosn app
- Upon arrival, you will receive a Unified Identification vaccination certificate either at the airport or via the ICA website or app
- Then you will have to download and register on the Al Hosn app, using the Unified Identification vaccination certificate and phone number pertaining to the ICA registration or when taking a PCR test in the UAE
- Finally, you will receive a one-time password to complete the Al Hosn app registration process
- Once the registration is complete, the app will allow you to keep track of your vaccination information, test results and travel test requirements, and use a live QR code.
