The Emirates ID is the official identity card for all UAE citizens and residents. It’s issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). You can apply for or renew it online through the ICP UAE smart app, or at an approved typing center. The cost of the card is around AED 100 for each year of visa validity plus a service or typing fee for expat residents. It can be renewed up to six months before it expires, and there is a 30-day grace period following the expiry date before daily fines kick in. Yes, begin.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | Detail (2026) |
| Issuing authority | ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security) |
| Where to apply | icp.gov.ae, UAEICP app, typing centre, ICP Customer Happiness Centre |
| Card fee (residents) | Around AED 100 per year of visa validity |
| Service / typing fee | Around AED 40 online, AED 70 at a typing centre (varies by centre) |
| Urgent “Fawri” service | About AED 150 extra (limited eligibility) |
| Replacement card | About AED 300 plus service fee |
| Renewal window | Up to 6 months before expiry |
| Grace period | 30 days after expiry |
| Late fine | AED 20 per day, capped at AED 1,000 |
| Biometrics | Required for applicants aged 15 and above |
| Delivery | Emirates Post, or collection from a set branch |
Fees can change. Always confirm the final amount on icp.gov.ae or the UAEICP app before you pay.
What Is the UAE Emirates ID?
The Emirates ID is a smart identity card. It contains your photo, your fingerprints, and your personal information on a secure chip. Every citizen and resident of the United Arab Emirates must have one and must carry it.
You need your Emirates ID for almost everything in daily life:
- Opening a bank account
- Getting a mobile phone SIM or contract
- Signing a tenancy contract (Ejari in Dubai)
- Visiting a hospital or clinic
- Registering a car
- Using the smart gates at UAE airports
- Logging in to government services through UAE Pass
Your Emirates ID number stays the same for life; only the card changes when you renew it.
Who Needs an Emirates ID UAE?
You need an Emirates ID if you are:
- A UAE national, from birth
- A GCC national living in the UAE
- An expatriate resident with a valid UAE residence visa
- A dependent, including a spouse, child, or newborn baby
- A Golden Visa or Green Visa holder
Tourists and visit visa holders do not need one.
New residents should apply soon after their residence visa is issued. Most residents are expected to apply within about 30 days of visa issuance. Check the exact deadline shown on your visa or entry permit.
Emirates ID Requirements (Documents You Need)
The document list changes a little by category. Here is what most people are asked for.
For expat residents (new card)
- Original valid passport
- Valid UAE residence visa or entry permit
- Recent colour photo with a white background
- Completed medical fitness test (part of the visa process)
- Sponsor or employer documents, such as a trade licence
For dependents
- Sponsor’s Emirates ID and passport copy
- Marriage certificate (for a spouse), attested and translated if needed
- Birth certificate (for a child), attested and translated if needed
For UAE and GCC nationals
- Original passport
- Family book (Khulasat Al Qaid) for UAE nationals
- Proof of residence or work in the UAE for GCC nationals
For renewal
- Current or expired Emirates ID
- Valid passport
- Renewed residence visa (for expats)
Photo tip: the photo must be recent, in colour, with a plain white background and a clear face. A rejected photo is one of the most common reasons an application is delayed.
How to Apply for Emirates ID: Step by Step
You can apply in three ways: online, through a typing centre, or at an ICP Customer Happiness Centre. Online is usually the fastest and cheapest.
Step 1: Choose your channel
Use the ICP website (icp.gov.ae) or the UAEICP smart app. You can log in with a UAE Pass. If you prefer help in person, visit an approved typing centre, an Amer centre in Dubai, or a Tamm centre in Abu Dhabi.
Step 2: Fill in the application
Select the ID card issuance service. Enter your details exactly as they appear in your passport. One spelling mistake can hold up the whole file.
Step 3: Upload documents and pay
Upload your passport, visa, and photo. Pay the card fee and service fee by card. Save the receipt and your PRAN number (the application reference number). You will need the PRAN to check your status.
Step 4: Give your biometrics
If you are 15 or older, you must visit an ICP service centre for fingerprints and a digital photo. Children under 15 usually do not give fingerprints. Some typing centres can capture biometrics in the same visit.
Step 5: Track and collect
Track your application online. Once the card is printed, Emirates Post delivers it to your registered address, or you collect it from a set branch. You will get an SMS at each stage.
Good to know: a digital version of your Emirates ID is often available in the UAEICP app or UAE Pass before the plastic card arrives. Many banks, clinics, and telecom providers accept it.
Emirates ID Renewal Process
When can you renew?
- UAE nationals: any time within six months before expiry.
- Expat residents: renewal is tied to your residence visa. When your visa is renewed or reissued, your Emirates ID is renewed too.
- ICP usually sends an SMS reminder, but do not wait for it. Check the expiry date printed on the front of your card.
Steps to renew
- Check your card expiry date and your visa status.
- Gather your passport, renewed visa, and current Emirates ID.
- Submit the renewal on icp.gov.ae, the UAEICP app, or at a typing centre.
- Pay the renewal fee and any outstanding fines.
- Give biometrics if ICP asks for them. Not every renewal needs this.
- Track the application and collect the new card.
Emirates ID Fees UAE (2026)
Emirates ID fees have two main parts: the card fee, which is set by ICP, and the service or typing fee, which depends on where you apply.
Card fees
| Applicant type | Card validity | Card fee (approx.) |
| Expat resident | 1 year | AED 100 |
| Expat resident | 2 years | AED 200 |
| Expat resident | 3 years | AED 300 |
| Golden Visa holder | 10 years | AED 1,000 |
| UAE national (under 21) | 5 years | AED 100 |
| UAE national (21 and over) | 10 years | AED 200 |
Service and extra fees
| Fee type | Amount (approx.) |
| Online / eForm service fee | AED 40 |
| Typing centre fee | AED 30 – AED 70 |
| Urgent “Fawri” service | AED 150 |
| Replacement (lost or damaged) | AED 300 + service fee |
| Late renewal fine | AED 20 per day, max AED 1,000 |
Grace period and fines
You have 30 days of grace without a fine when your Emirates ID expires. ICP will thereafter charge AED 20 for every day of delay, with a maximum of AED 1000. You cannot get a replacement card until fines are paid.
An expired Emirates ID can also halt bank transactions, medical insurance claims, and renewals of tenancies. By renewing early, you prevent all this.
Read Also: UAE Investor Visa 2026
Emirates ID Status Check
You can check your Emirates ID status in a few minutes.
- Go to icp.gov.ae or open the UAEICP smart app.
- Find the ID card status service.
- Enter your PRAN number for a new card, or your Emirates ID number for a renewal or replacement.
- Read the status message.
Common status messages:
- Under process ICP is still reviewing your file.
- Printed the card is made.
- Dispatched / with Emirates Post – it is on the way.
- Ready for collection pick it up from the named branch.
If the status has not moved for more than a week, call the ICP helpline on 600 522 222 or visit a Customer Happiness Centre with your receipt.
Read Also: How to Convert a Visit Visa to a Work Visa
Final Thoughts
The Emirates ID is the one card that ties all of your life in the UAE together. It supports your visa, your bank account, your health insurance, your phone line, and your tenancy contract. When the card is valid, everything works in the background without any noise. You quickly notice when it expires.
