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ICA approval not needed: How to check if your visa is valid for travel to the UAE

Dubai - There is an easy-to-use website that lets travellers instantly verify if they fullfill the requirements to travel back to the country.

Residents with a valid UAE residency visa can come back to the country without a pre-travel approval from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA). The news has come as a relief for many residents, but some - especially those who have been stranded abroad for over six months due to Covid-19-triggered travel restrictions - are wondering if they are eligible to travel back.
There is an easy-to-use website that lets travellers instantly verify if they fullfill the requirements to travel back to the country based on their UAE residency visa validity.
On the website, https://uaeentry.ica.gov.ae, all you need to do is enter your passport number, Emirates ID number, nationality and passport type to get the instant verification.
A resident with valid visa documents received this message instantly on entering his details: "You fullfill the requirements to enter the country, and you can proceed with the completion of your travel procedures. Wishing you continued health and wellness."
If you receive a similar message, you can proceed to book your air ticket. The ICA has advised residents to use the platform to verify the authenticity of their travel documents before booking a ticket.
All travellers - except children under the age of 12 and people with mild to severe disabilities - are required to have a mandatory PCR Covid-19 negative test result before travelling. The test should have been taken at a UAE- or local government-approved facility within 96 hours of travel.
sahim@khaleejtimes.com