GDRFA is the Dubai General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, the Dubai-emirate authority that processes residence visas, entry permits, visit visas, family-sponsorship applications, and visa cancellations for residents based in Dubai.
What it does
GDRFA handles all Dubai-emirate visa transactions — work visas (in coordination with MOHRE), employment-linked dependent visas, golden and green visas, retirement visas, freelance permits and tourist visas. Emirates ID is issued separately by ICP. Customers access GDRFA through the GDRFA-Dubai app and through Tasheel/Amer centres.
Key facts
| Type | Emirate-level authority |
| Jurisdiction | Dubai (residence visas, entry permits, visa cancellation) |
| Mobile app | GDRFA-Dubai |
| Federal counterpart | ICP (residence visas outside Dubai) |
| Service centres | Amer centres (Dubai), Tasheel centres (MOHRE-linked) |
| Official portal | gdrfad.gov.ae |
