At a glance
- Local name
- Emirates ID
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Process steps
- 8
- Fee items
- 10
- Online portals
- 6
- FAQs
- 9
- Pitfalls covered
- 8
- Last verified
- 2026-06
What is Emirates ID in UAE?
The Emirates ID is the single most important physical document a UAE resident carries. Issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), it is now the only valid proof of legal residency since the residence-visa sticker was phased out in November 2022. The 15-digit unified ID number on the card links a resident's identity across immigration files, traffic records, banking and KYC databases, health insurance, telecom accounts, school enrolments, court records and, since 2023, federal corporate tax registration. Losing the card or letting it expire effectively locks you out of almost every counter in the country.
Renewal is tightly coupled to the residence visa cycle. When the residence visa is renewed, the Emirates ID is automatically renewed alongside it and runs for the same validity window, typically two years for private-sector employees, three for many public-sector and family categories, five for Green Visa holders and ten for Golden Visa holders. The card can also be renewed on its own up to six months before expiry, which is useful when an employer is paying for the renewal in advance or when a resident is going abroad and wants the new card waiting on return.
Fee structure in 2026 is unchanged from late 2025: AED 100 per year of validity for residents (so AED 200 for a two-year card and AED 300 for a three-year card), AED 100 for the five-year national card or AED 200 for the ten-year national card, plus the ICP service fee of AED 70 if you apply through the ICP smart app or the website, AED 40 if you walk into a typing centre, plus AED 20 to 35 in Emirates Post courier delivery. A two-year resident renewal therefore typically lands at AED 290 to 305 all-in, and a two-year resident issuance from scratch (no card on file) lands at AED 370 to 400 because the printing-office fee is included. Adding the AED 150 Fawri express surcharge gives same-day collection at selected ICP centres.
Almost every renewal can now be completed end to end in the ICP UAE Smart Services app: log in with UAE Pass, pick the Emirates ID service, confirm the data on file, pay, and wait for the courier. ICP only forces an in-person trip when the biometric record on file is too old (a rule the app applies automatically, typically when the previous biometric capture is more than about ten years old or after a name or photo change). If biometrics are required, the app books a Customer Happiness Centre slot, which takes about ten minutes for fingerprints, a fresh photo and a signature. People aged 15 and above are subject to fingerprint capture; children below 15 only need a recent photo.
The most expensive mistake residents make is letting the card sit expired. After a 30-day grace period from the expiry date there is a AED 20 per day late renewal fine, capped at AED 1,000. The cap is reached on day 50 of accrued fines, which is day 80 from expiry. The fine is added to the bill at the cashier step and cannot be waived through the normal online flow; an objection has to be filed in person at an ICP Customer Happiness Centre. The card itself can still be renewed online, but in parallel an expired Emirates ID blocks visa renewal, bank-account opening, new SIM activation, Salik top-ups beyond a threshold, school registrations, property transactions and most municipal services.
The other recurring scenario is a lost, stolen or damaged card. ICP requires the loss to be reported within seven working days through the UAEICP app, the ICP Customer Happiness Centre or smartservices.icp.gov.ae so that the card can be deactivated and abuse risk reduced. A replacement card carries the same expiry date as the original (you do not get a fresh validity window) and costs AED 300 for the card plus the same AED 40 to 70 service fee and AED 20 to 35 delivery, totalling about AED 370 to 400 for standard service and AED 520 to 550 for Fawri express. Once the new card arrives, residents should immediately update Salik, Nol, banking and DEWA accounts that key off the card serial number.
What documents do I need for Emirates ID?
Bring originals AND coloured photocopies of every item. Files are rejected at counter for a single missing page or unattested certificate.
Documents required
- ✓Original passport with valid UAE residence visa (or the just-renewed visa file for renewals)
- ✓Current Emirates ID, even if expired, for any renewal or replacement
- ✓Recent passport-size photo with plain white background (children under 15, name changes, first issuance)
- ✓Active health insurance certificate covering the new validity period
- ✓Police report or app self-declaration for lost or stolen cards
- ✓Marriage or naturalisation certificate where a name change is being recorded
Eligibility
- →Hold a current UAE residence visa or be in the process of obtaining one through a sponsor
- →All ICP, immigration and police fines on the file cleared (the cashier blocks otherwise)
- →Biometrics on file or willingness to attend a Customer Happiness Centre if the record is stale
- →For lost or damaged replacements, the deactivation request must be submitted within seven working days
- →For Fawri express service, attendance at a Fawri-capable ICP centre on the same day
How much does Emirates ID cost in UAE in 2026?
Government fees current to 2026-06. All payments via the relevant portal wallet or SADAD-equivalent rail; service-centre cash counters typically charge a small extra typing fee.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Card fee, resident | 100 AED | Per year of validity. AED 200 for a two-year card, AED 300 for three years. Matches the residence visa duration. |
| Card fee, UAE national (5-year) | 100 AED | Citizens. Single flat fee for a five-year card. |
| Card fee, UAE national (10-year) | 200 AED | Citizens. Single flat fee for a ten-year card. |
| ICP service fee (online channel) | 70 AED | Applied when you renew through the ICP UAE Smart Services app or icp.gov.ae. |
| ICP service fee (typing centre) | 40 AED | Applied at ICP-authorised typing centres including Tasheel; centres add their own service charge on top. |
| Printing office fee | 30 AED | Added on first issuance and on replacement of lost or damaged cards. |
| Fawri urgent surcharge | 150 AED | Same-day issuance at selected Fawri-capable ICP centres. Confirm Fawri availability for the specific service code on the ICP app first. |
| Emirates Post delivery | 20 to 35 AED | Standard courier of the printed card to the address on file. Delivery to remote areas takes a day longer. |
| Late renewal fine | 20 AED | Per day after the 30-day grace period, capped at AED 1,000 reached at day 50 of fines. |
| Lost or damaged card replacement | 300 AED | Card fee. Plus the same service, printing and delivery fees, totalling about AED 370 to 400 standard or AED 520 to 550 Fawri. |
Rather not do this yourself?
Skip the ICP queue. The UAE desk files this end-to-end for a fixed fee, with email updates the whole way.
Fixed desk fee · Email updates · No surprise add-ons.
How do I apply for Emirates ID step by step?
The end-to-end flow for Emirates ID in UAE. Total wall-clock time: Three to seven working days standard end to end via Emirates Post. Same day if you select Fawri express and attend a Fawri-capable centre. Add another business day if biometrics are needed..
- 1
Open the ICP UAE Smart Services app or website
Install 'ICP UAE Smart Services' from the App Store or Google Play, or visit icp.gov.ae. Sign in with UAE Pass for the fastest path; first-time users can also register directly with the existing Emirates ID number, passport and a UAE mobile for OTP. Once inside, choose 'Identity Card Renewal' or 'Identity Card Issuance' under 'Residents'.
⏱ 10 minutes📍 online - 2
Verify data and choose validity
The app pulls the name, nationality, photo and address from the federal file. Confirm each line, paying particular attention to the spelling of the name in Arabic and English (typing mistakes will be carried into the card), the delivery address and the validity length. The validity must match the residence visa; the app will not offer a longer period than the visa itself.
⏱ 5 minutes📍 online - 3
Attach documents and pay
Upload a fresh photo if the existing one is older than ten years or has been flagged, attach the active visa file (auto-filled), the insurance policy reference and any supporting paperwork for name changes or replacements. The cashier shows the breakdown: AED 100 per year card fee, AED 70 service fee, AED 20 to 35 delivery, plus the AED 150 Fawri surcharge if you select it. Pay with debit, credit, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
⏱ 5 minutes📍 online - 4
Biometric capture, only if the app asks
The app decides whether biometrics are needed and books the slot in the same flow. If yes, attend the assigned Customer Happiness Centre, an ICP Tasheel point or an authorised Amer centre for ten minutes of fingerprint, photo and signature capture. If no, the app jumps straight to printing. Children under 15 only need a fresh photo, not fingerprints.
⏱ Same-day appointment📍 center - 5
Track printing and Fawri pickup
Inside the app, 'My Requests' shows printing progress: 'Application Under Review', 'Approved', 'Card Printed', 'Handed Over to Courier'. Fawri applicants collect from the Fawri counter at the chosen centre on the same day rather than waiting for the courier.
⏱ Same day to 3 working days📍 online - 6
Emirates Post delivery and activation
Standard delivery is three to seven working days. Emirates Post sends an SMS with the tracking number and a same-day notification when out for delivery. The card is handed only to the named holder or a registered representative against an ID check. As soon as the card is in hand, the new ID is active across all federal systems; UAE Pass refreshes automatically.
⏱ 3 to 7 working days📍 online - 7
Update linked accounts
Most accounts that key off Emirates ID (Salik, Nol, DEWA, banking, telecom, school portals, e-commerce KYC) need a quick refresh, either by uploading the new card image or by logging in through UAE Pass which re-pushes the new card number. Banks in particular run automated KYC checks and may freeze transactions if they detect a stale ID number.
⏱ 30 minutes📍 online - 8
Report any data error within 30 days
If the printed card has the wrong name spelling, date of birth or photo, ICP allows a free correction within 30 days of issuance through the same app's 'Modify Personal Data' service. After 30 days the correction is treated as a new application with full fees.
⏱ Same day📍 online
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Hand the Emirates ID file to our UAE desk. We chase ICP, the typing centre, and the renewal clock so you can stop refreshing your phone.
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Which portal do I use for Emirates ID in UAE?
These official portals handle Emirates ID for UAE. Each page on Wathim has the login flow, common errors and sibling fallback when one is down.
Apply, renew, replace, modify and track Emirates ID, plus biometric appointment booking; the main app is 'ICP UAE Smart Services' and the website is icp.gov.ae and smartservices.icp.gov.ae.
Portal guide →Visa side of the file for Dubai residents; the Emirates ID always sits with ICP federally, but a Dubai-issued visa renewal triggers the ID renewal through ICP automatically.
Portal guide →Authorised Dubai service centres that can submit Emirates ID applications, do biometric capture and handle data corrections for residents who prefer a counter to an app.
Portal guide →Federal digital identity used to sign in to ICP and to display the Emirates ID digitally.
Portal guide →Abu Dhabi unified services portal where the EID renewal status and delivery can be tracked for AD residents.
Portal guide →Dubai services wallet that shows EID status and links it to RTA, DEWA and other Dubai services.
Portal guide →💡 Tasheel and Amer centres process Emirates ID applications, biometric captures and data corrections for an extra AED 30 to 100 on top of the AED 40 typing-centre ICP service fee. They are the right choice for three scenarios: a data correction the self-service app refuses to accept (Arabic name spelling, parent's name, marital status), a first-issuance application that needs a paper passport and original supporting documents checked by a human, and any case where the resident has already seen one online rejection. For routine renewals where everything is clean, the in-app flow is faster and cheaper.
How do I renew Emirates ID and what are the penalties?
Validity matches the residence visa: two years (private-sector employees and many family categories), three years (public-sector and some family categories), five years (Green Visa holders), or up to ten years (Golden Visa holders and citizens with a ten-year card). Renewal can be started up to six months before the expiry date, and ICP recommends starting at least 30 days out to clear any biometric or insurance issues. After expiry there is a 30-day grace period before the AED 20 per day late renewal fine starts; the fine is capped at AED 1,000 and reached on day 50 of accrued fines (day 80 from expiry). The card can be renewed online during the entire fine accrual window; the fine is added to the cashier total.
Fines & penalties
- ⚠Late renewal: AED 20 per day after the 30-day grace period, capped at AED 1,000
- ⚠Lost or stolen card not reported within seven working days: ICP may refuse to deactivate and replace under the standard flow, requiring an in-person police-report-backed application
- ⚠Lost or damaged card replacement: AED 300 card fee plus the standard service, printing and delivery fees totalling about AED 370 to 400, or AED 520 to 550 with Fawri express
- ⚠Carrying an expired card while on the road: not a separate traffic fine, but blocks rental car, hotel check-in, bank-counter and clinic access
- ⚠Forged or tampered Emirates ID: criminal penalties under the federal identity law including fines up to AED 100,000 and imprisonment
- ⚠Using someone else's card to access services: criminal offence; the holder is also liable if they knowingly handed it over
What goes wrong with Emirates ID applications?
These failures repeat across every Emirates ID case Wathim sees in UAE. Catch them before submitting to save a counter rejection.
- !Renewing the Emirates ID before the residence visa is renewed: the system links them, so always confirm the visa renewal first or do both together through the same ICP application
- !Forgetting to update the delivery address: the card is couriered to the address on the federal file, not the address you might have given to your landlord or employer, and Emirates Post does not redirect
- !Letting the card lapse past 30 days: AED 20 per day silently adds up to AED 600 by week four and AED 1,000 by week seven, all collected before the next renewal can complete
- !Booking a biometrics slot you do not need: residents often assume biometrics are mandatory at every renewal, but ICP only flags it about once a decade or after a name change; check the app first
- !Ignoring the seven-working-day reporting window after a card is lost: missing the window pushes the application from the online flow to an in-person Customer Happiness Centre case
- !Skipping the 30-day free correction window after a printing error: after that, ICP charges a fresh card fee to correct even simple typing mistakes
- !Using outdated typing-centre rates: many centres still quote pre-2022 numbers, and the correct fee mix today is AED 40 typing-centre ICP fee plus the centre's own service charge
- !Forgetting that the replacement card keeps the original expiry date: it is not a fresh two-year window, so a card lost shortly before its scheduled renewal still needs a full renewal afterwards
Where can I file Emirates ID in person in UAE?
Multiple networks handle this: Ajman Government Services, Amer.
Frequently asked questions about Emirates ID in UAE
For residents, AED 100 per year of validity (so AED 200 for two years, AED 300 for three years), plus an AED 70 ICP service fee through the smart app or website (AED 40 at a typing centre), plus AED 20 to 35 Emirates Post delivery. A two-year online renewal lands around AED 290 to 305 all-in. Fawri urgent service adds AED 150 for same-day collection at a Fawri-capable centre.
Three to seven working days by Emirates Post for the standard service: typically two working days to print and another one to five to courier. Fawri urgent service costs an extra AED 150 and lets you collect the card the same day from selected ICP centres. Add one more working day if a biometric capture appointment is needed.
You have a 30-day grace period after expiry. After that, AED 20 per day accumulates, capped at AED 1,000 (reached on day 50 of fines, which is day 80 from expiry). You can still renew through the ICP app at any point during the fine window: the fine is added to the cashier total. Outside the fine window, the card can still be renewed but other linked services (visa, banking, SIM activation, school enrolment) will be blocked in the meantime.
No. ICP only asks for a fresh fingerprint and photo capture when the existing record is too old (typically every ten years), after a name or photo change, or on the first issuance from age 15. The app decides automatically and books the slot in the same flow; if no biometrics screen appears, you do not need to attend a centre. Children below 15 only need a photo, not fingerprints.
Use the ICP UAE Smart Services app's 'Track Application' or the 'ID Card Status' page on icp.gov.ae, entering the application number, the existing Emirates ID number, or the passport plus nationality. Once the card has been printed and handed to Emirates Post, the courier sends a tracking SMS with the delivery window. UAE Pass also reflects the new card automatically once it is activated.
Report the loss to ICP within seven working days through the UAEICP app, smartservices.icp.gov.ae or any Customer Happiness Centre so the card is deactivated. Then apply for a replacement in the same flow: AED 300 card fee plus the AED 70 service fee plus AED 30 printing plus delivery, about AED 370 to 400 standard or AED 520 to 550 with Fawri express. The replacement card carries the same expiry date as the lost card.
Generally no, because the renewal is tied to a valid residence visa and the residence visa itself requires you to be inside the country for the medical fitness test. Where biometrics are not required and the visa is being renewed in absentia under a special programme (some public-sector and Golden categories), ICP can issue the new card and hold it for collection on return.
Yes, if you report the error within 30 days of issuance through the ICP app's 'Modify Personal Data' service, the correction is free. After 30 days, ICP treats it as a new application and full card and service fees apply, so check the spelling of your name, the date of birth and the address on the day the card arrives.
After the 30-day grace from EID expiry, ICP charges AED 20 per day capped at AED 1,000. Our Emirates ID fine calculator takes your expiry date and renewal date and returns the exact accrued amount, including when the AED 1,000 cap kicks in. The fine stops accruing once the renewal application is submitted, not when the card is delivered.
