Complete Guide on Emirates ID Card

Emirates ID is an identity card issued by Government of UAE. It is a legal requirement for all UAE citizens and residents to apply for one and carry it with them at all times. The Emirates ID is used:

• to get government services

• to vote in the elections of Federal National Council

• as a travel document for UAE citizens to travel within the GCC

• as a document to pass immigration through the eGates and smart gates at several airports in the UAE. 

Eligibility Criteria to get Emirates ID card

• Mandatory service for the following categories: UAE nationals, GCC nationals, expatriates and residents of the United Arab Emirates

• For the resident category, a valid residence permit is required to be linked to the application for issuing an ID card.

Documents Required to get Emirates ID Card for UAE Nationals

• Personal photo ( 4.5 x 3.5 cm ) with a white background for all age groups.

Documents Required to get Emirates ID Card for GCC Nationals

• A valid passport

• A GCC ID card that is valid for those who are over 21 years old, or for one of the parents for those who are under 21 years old.

• A personal photo ( 4.5 x 3.5 cm ) with a white background for all age groups.

• Original birth certificate, passport of one of the parents or Emirates ID for those under 15 years old.

• The original of the agency certificate for the person acting on behalf of the customer in the event that the person concerned was not present and the application was submitted by a third party

• Show one of the documents below to prove residency within the country

• Original document proving kinship with a citizen up to the third degree, such as family book – birth certificate – marriage contract. and the like, in addition to the original identification documents of the citizen (family book – passport – identity card)

• The original valid trade license.

• The original ownership of a residential or commercial property.

• The original certificate of continuity of study from one of the schools, colleges or universities accredited in the country.

• The original work certificate issued by one of the government institutions in the country for workers in the government sector.

• A work contract certified by the Ministry of Emiratisation and Human Resources for workers in the private sector.

• Proof of the customer’s residence for the children by one of the documents described above belonging to him, one of the parents.

Documents Required to get Emirates ID Card for Residents / Expats

• A valid passport.

• A permit to issue a valid residence permit, a residence origin under renewal procedures, or a valid residence permit for those who did not issue an identity card when issuing the residence permit.

• A personal photo ( 4.5 x 3.5 cm ) with a white background for all age groups.

• Original birth certificate, passport of one of the parents or Emirates ID for those under 15 years old.

• The original of the agency certificate for the person acting on behalf of the customer in the event that the person concerned is not present and the application is submitted by other party.

Fees Required to get Emirates ID Card for UAE Nationals

• AED 100: Card issuance fee for five years.

• AED 200 dirhams: fees for issuing a card for ten years.

• AED50 dirhams: service fee

• AED 30 dirhams: Typing Center fee

• 150 dirhams: fees for urgent service, which are carried out at customer happiness centers

Fees Required to get Emirates ID Card for GCC Nationals

• AED 100: Card issuance fee for five years.

• AED 50 dirhams: Service fee

• AED 30 dirhams: Typing Center fee 

• 150 dirhams: fees for urgent service, which are carried out at customer happiness centers

Fees Required to get Emirates ID Card for Residents / Expats

• AED 100 (depending on the period of years): Card issuance fee for five years.

• AED50 dirhams: Service fee

• AED 30 dirhams: Typing Center fee

•  150 dirhams: fees for urgent service, which are carried out at customer happiness centers

How to apply for Emirates ID Card?

You can apply for Emirates ID card through the call center, the smart application, the authority’s website, the customer happiness centers, the communication channels approved by the authority.

Through the website/application

• Access to the smart services system (digital identity or user name).

• Search for the service you want to apply for.

• Fill in the application data, where applicable

• Pay the service fee (if any)

Through customer happiness centers

• Visit the nearest Customer Happiness Center

• Get an Queue ticket and wait.

• Submission of the application fulfilling all conditions and documents (if any) to the customer service employee

• Pay the service fee (if any)

Through the Typing Centers

• Visit the nearest Customer Happiness Center,

• Get a Queue ticket and wait.

• Submission of the application fulfilling all conditions and documents (if any) to the customer service employee

• Pay the service fee (if any)

Time Required to get Emirates ID card

It will take 5 days to get Emirates ID card through Smart Services System and Typing Centers.

At Customer Happiness Centers you will get it within 24 hours

Validity of Emirates ID card

For UAE nationals, the validity period of the Emirates ID is for 5 or 10 years.

For GCC nationals residing in the UAE, the validity period is for 5 years.

For other expatriates, the validity period depends upon their residency visa validity. 

How to renew Emirates ID card?

UAE nationals can apply for renewal of Emirates ID between six and one month before the expiry date.

UAE residence visa holders can only apply for renewal when their residence visa is renewed or reissued.

The time limit to renew an expired ID card is 30 days from the date of expiry, after which late fines will apply.

Note that after the Emirates ID expires, the ID holder must apply for its renewal. Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP) will send you a notification via SMS requesting you to renew your ID card.

You can apply for the ID card renewal service at the website of ICP, or through ICP App on Google Play, App Store and Huawei, or through an accredited typing centre. 

You might need to visit one of ICP's service centres to provide your biometric details.

What to do if I lost my Emirates ID card ?

If you have lost your Emirates ID card, or suspect it has been stolen, or it has been damaged, you must soon request a replacement of Emirates ID card from Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security- ICP. Here are the steps to get an Emirates ID card replaced:

Step 1: Report the incident

Approach the nearest ICP Customer Happiness Centre and report the incident so the stolen or lost card will be deactivated immediately. Ask ICP for ID number confirmation or a copy of the lost ID, in case you don’t have one. In case of damaged cards, bring the old card with you. When reporting the incident, remember to bring along your identification papers to prove your identity.

• UAE nationals must bring in an original valid passport and a family book.

• GCC nationals must provide a document proving their residency in the UAE.

• Expatriate residents must bring their original passport stamped with a valid residency permit.

• If the lost ID belongs to a child under 15, the parent must provide an original birth certificate of the child along with his coloured passport photo against a white background.

Step 2: Apply for ID card replacement

After reporting the incident, fill in an application form at any of ICA’s Customer Happiness Centres or the UAE ICP app available on on iTunes and Google Play and request replacement of ID card.

Step 3: Pay the fees

Applicant must pay AED 300 for replacement of a lost or damaged ID, in addition to application fees of AED 70 in case of applying through typing centres, or AED 40 in case of applying through the eForm on the ICA website. These fees apply to all UAE nationals, GCC nationals and expatriate residents. You may get an express ID replacement service at ICA main’s Customer Happiness Centre against AED 150 extra.

Step 4: Collect your new ID card

You will receive a text message from ICP about the status of the submitted application and the expected delivery date. ID card will be issued within 48 hours from the time of submitting the replacement application. Those who applied for the express service will receive the ID card within 24 hours from the time they submit the replacement application. Contact Emirates Post to receive the card after receiving a message from ICP on the availability of the card.

How to update details on Emirates ID card?

According to Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security (ICP), the Emirates ID card holder must report any change in his/her details of the card to the competent department in ICP within one month from the date of change.

Apply to modify / update any details related to an existing and valid ID card.

This applies to Emirates ID cards issued to nationals and expatriate residents.

How to cancel Emirates ID card ?

Residents who intend to cancel their UAE residence visa for the purpose of leaving the country for good or for the purpose of changing jobs, are required to hand over their ID cards to the respective General Directorate for Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

The respective General Directorate for Residency and Foreigners Affairs will hand over the returned ID card to Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security-ICP, which had issued the card.