Regardless of whether you want to sponsor your parents or seek a Green Visa, you might need to put down a security deposit when you submit your visa application. Depending on the criteria of the immigration department, the security deposit can be any sum, but it is often around Dh2,000.
What happens, however, if you decide to terminate the visa? Or perhaps the immigration officials turned down your request for a visa? Although this deposit is refundable, you must follow the entire procedure and fulfill all the requirements to avoid losing the money.
There may be two authorities you need to deal with depending on which Emirate issued the visa: if you applied for the visa in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, or Umm Al Quwain, you must submit an application for the refund through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP).
Regarding those in Dubai who are applying for visas, you must make a refund request through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA). The GDRFA is the organization in charge of issuing visas in the Emirate of Dubai.
How to get a refund for a visa deposit from GDRFA?
You must apply for the security deposit return through GDRFA Dubai if your visa was revoked while you were in Dubai or if your visa application was turned down.
You can submit an online application for the refund through the GDRFA website by clicking on the following link:
https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Public_Th/StatusInquiry_New.aspx.
However, if you want your refund request to be processed effectively, it’s crucial to constantly keep the deposit data close to you.
When requesting a refund, the following information must be provided:
- The visa application number
- Transaction Number for the deposit
- Date of payment.
On the receipt for the visa application, this information will be printed. Following the payment of the deposit and visa fees, you will receive the receipt.
After filling out the application, click “search” after checking the CAPTCHA box to confirm your user identification. GDRFA will examine the database to see if your application and deposit are present once you click “search.”
Your name and application details will appear if it is. Then click the “refund” button below.
No bank information needs to be entered on the GDRFA website.
By choosing the refund option, the applicant will have their bank account information used to deposit the warranty deposit reimbursed.
What if one wants to change the bank details?
Before requesting a refund, you must amend the bank account details in the refund application if you have a new bank account and IBAN (International Bank Account Number).
To update the bank information, send an email to update.iban@emaratech.ae with the subject “Bank Account Update” and the visa application page and the first page of the bank statement clearly displaying the account information attached.
How to get a refund for the visa deposit through ICP?
You can complete your ICP smart services application for a visa online by visiting smartservices.icp.gov.ae and clicking on this link:
https://smartservices.icp.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/serviceCards/375?administrativeRegionId=1.
Once you are on the service page, follow these steps:
Step 1: Enter refund information
- Type the application request number that you were given after applying for the visa in your email.
- Next, choose the “refund method,” either a bank transfer or a check.
Step 2: Enter Applicant Information
- Enter your Emirates ID number
- Full name
- Mobile number
- Email address
- Emirate Unified Number (UID).
- Select the nationality from the drop-down menu.
After entering the application information, click the ‘next’ button.
Step 3: Upload the required documents:
- Copy of residence visa
- Passport copy
- The copy of the digital receipt confirming the payment.
- Copy of Emirates ID
- Bank certificate showing the account number and IBAN.
Review the data and submit the application fees after uploading the required papers. The ICP website, icp.gov.ae, states that a deposit refund fee of Dh25 will be subtracted from the return.