Dubai Family Visit Visa: How to Get Your Security Deposit Refund
Sponsored family on a Dubai visit visa? Here is when you can claim back the AED 1,000 or AED 2,000 deposit, what you need and how to apply via GDRFA or ICP.
By Vadim Kouznetsov, published , updated
Updated 3 October 2026: current GDRFA deposit amounts, the 2025 salary rules for sponsors and the ICP refund route for other emirates.
If you sponsored a relative on a Dubai visit visa, you paid a refundable financial guarantee on top of the visa fee. You can claim that deposit back once your visitor has left the UAE or their visa has been cancelled, as long as there were no violations.
Here is how much the deposit is, when you can claim it and how to apply.
How much is the Dubai visit visa deposit?
According to GDRFA Dubai's guidance, reported by Gulf News in July 2026, the refundable guarantee for a relative or friend visit visa is:
- AED 1,000 for a single-entry visa
- AED 2,000 for a multiple-entry visa
The visa fees themselves are separate and are not refunded once the visa is used. Gulf News lists them, before VAT, insurance and service charges, as AED 200, 300 or 400 for a single-entry visa of 30, 60 or 90 days, and AED 300, 500 or 700 for a multiple-entry visa.
Since 2025, sponsors also need a minimum monthly salary: AED 4,000 for first-degree relatives, AED 8,000 for second and third-degree relatives and AED 15,000 for friends. Our guide to the UAE visit visa salary requirements explains these in full.
When can you claim the refund?
GDRFA Dubai's "Fees and Guarantee Refund" service says financial guarantees on approved visas are refunded when:
- the visa is cancelled, or
- the visa expires (for example after your visitor has left), or
- the visitor moves into a category that is exempt under the law.
The guarantee is kept by the authority if the visitor breaks entry and residency rules, for example by overstaying. Any fines must be cleared first. Remember too that a visit visa does not allow your relative to work in the UAE, as our guide to working on a visit visa explains.
In 2024, typing centres advised Gulf News readers to claim within 30 days of the visitor leaving. GDRFA's service page does not set that deadline, but there is no reason to wait: claim as soon as the exit shows on the system.
Documents you may need
The immigration system usually records the exit automatically, so you often need very little. Keep these ready in case you are asked:
- A copy of the visitor's passport and visit visa
- The deposit payment receipt
- Proof of exit: a passport exit stamp or a travel report from GDRFA Dubai
How to claim the refund through GDRFA Dubai
If you applied online:
- Log in to the GDRFA Dubai website or app with UAE Pass.
- Go to your existing applications and find the visit visa, using the application or transaction number.
- Select the refund option.
- Check the amount, the refund method and your mobile number, then submit.
- Keep the tracking number to follow the request.
If you applied through an Amer centre or a typing centre, go back to the same channel, as the refund normally follows the route you paid through.
On timing, GDRFA says refunds to the card used for payment are made within 180 days of the original application. After that, money goes by bank cheque or bank transfer to a UAE bank, and stays available for up to 5 years. Typing centres told Gulf News in 2024 that online refunds often reached sponsors within 2 working days.
Sponsors outside Dubai: the ICP route
If your visitor's visa was issued through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), use its "Refund of fees for approved applications" service:
- Log in to the ICP smart services platform with UAE Pass, or visit a customer happiness centre.
- The service fee is AED 25 and ICP states a processing time of 2 days.
- If the guarantee is linked to a circular (for example an absconding or violation record), that circular must be lifted first.
ICP's call centre is 600 522222.
Key takeaway
The AED 1,000 or AED 2,000 deposit on a Dubai family visit visa comes back once your visitor has left or the visa is cancelled, provided there are no fines or overstays. Claim through the same channel you used to apply, and do it soon after departure.
FAQ
How much is the security deposit for a Dubai family visit visa?
GDRFA Dubai charges a refundable AED 1,000 for a single-entry relative or friend visit visa and AED 2,000 for a multiple-entry one, according to Gulf News. It is separate from the visa fee.
How long does a Dubai visit visa deposit refund take?
Card refunds are made within 180 days of the original application under GDRFA's rules. In practice, typing centres have reported online refunds arriving within 2 working days, and ICP states 2 days for its service.
Can I get my visit visa deposit back if my relative overstayed?
Not automatically. GDRFA says guarantees are enforced when entry and residency laws are broken, so overstay fines must be settled first and the deposit may be kept.
Do I need to show an exit stamp to get the refund?
Usually not, because the system records the exit. Keep a passport stamp or a GDRFA travel report ready in case the refund request asks for it.
Can I get the deposit back if my relative changed to a residence visa?
GDRFA says guarantees are refunded when the visa is cancelled or the visitor becomes an exempt category. A status change normally cancels the visit visa, so you can then apply for the refund.
Further reading
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