By Adil Ahmad, Business Setup Consultant at Gulf Corporate Services
Last updated: 24 October 2026
Summary
To apply for Emirates ID, expats submit the application together with their UAE residence visa through the ICP website, the UAEICP app, or a typing centre, then complete the medical test and biometrics. The card fee is AED 100 per year of validity plus service charges, and most applicants receive the card in 5 to 10 working days. This guide covers documents, costs, timelines, renewal and investor tips.
What Is Emirates ID and Who Needs It?
The Emirates ID is the official UAE identity card issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). Residents apply through ICP channels, as explained on the official UAE government portal. It carries a permanent 15 digit ID number, your photo, fingerprints in an encrypted chip and, since 2022, your residence visa details. Visa stickers are no longer issued, so the card is now your proof of residency. See our guide to the United Arab Emirates identity card for its features.
You need an Emirates ID if you are:
- A UAE national (adults and children)
- A GCC national living in the UAE
- An expat holding a UAE residence visa, including employees, investors, partners, freelancers, Golden Visa holders and sponsored family members
You cannot get an Emirates ID on a visit visa. The card is linked to a residence file, so you first need a residence permit through a job, a business, a property or a family sponsor. Once issued, banks, telecom providers, hospitals, landlords and government portals all ask for it.
Emirates ID Requirements and Documents Required
The documents required for Emirates ID depend on your category. Here is the checklist we use with clients.
Expats applying for a new Emirates ID
- Original passport with at least 6 months validity
- Entry permit or status change confirmation
- Recent passport photo with a white background
- Medical fitness certificate (for adult residence visa applicants)
- Valid health insurance where your emirate requires it (Dubai and Abu Dhabi do)
- Sponsor documents: employer trade licence and establishment card, or the investor’s company licence, or the family sponsor’s visa, tenancy contract and salary proof
Children and dependants
- Birth certificate (attested if issued outside the UAE)
- Copies of the parents’ passports and Emirates IDs
UAE nationals
- Passport and family book details
Before you apply, check the UAE residence visa rules for your category, because the ID cannot be issued until the visa file is approved.
How to Apply for Emirates ID Online: Step by Step
For expats, the Emirates ID application now runs inside the residence visa application. Here is the process we follow, also covered in our guide to UAE residency visas via ICP smart services.
- Get your entry permit or status change. Your employer, company or family sponsor applies. Inside the UAE, a status change avoids an exit trip.
- Pass the medical fitness test. In Dubai this happens at a DHA approved centre; other emirates have their own. Results take 24 to 48 hours.
- Submit the residence visa and Emirates ID application. Apply online through ICP smart services, the UAEICP app, or GDRFA Dubai for Dubai residence files. The Emirates ID application is created in the same transaction. Our ICP smart services guide walks through the portal screens.
- Pay the fees. Pay online and keep the application number.
- Give your biometrics. First time applicants receive an SMS with an appointment at an ICP customer happiness centre for fingerprints, photo and signature.
- Collect your card. An SMS confirms when the card is printed. Most cards go to an Emirates Post branch, or courier delivery where offered.
Applying Through a Typing Centre or Amer Centre
Any accredited typing centre or Amer centre can file the application with your passport, entry permit and photo. It costs more than the online route, but staff fix errors on the spot. Busy founders often hand the file to a PRO services team instead.
Emirates ID Application Form
There is no paper form to download. The Emirates ID application form is generated inside the ICP system. Make sure:
- Your name matches your passport exactly, in English and Arabic
- Your mobile number is active, because every update arrives by SMS
- Your address and sponsor details are correct
Unpaid or incomplete applications can be cancelled, so finish payment and biometrics promptly. If your number changes, see our guide on changing the mobile number linked to your Emirates ID.
How Long Does It Take to Get Emirates ID?
Wondering how many days it takes to get Emirates ID? The card is usually ready 5 to 10 working days after biometrics, and up to two weeks in peak season.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Entry permit or status change | 2 to 5 working days |
| Medical fitness result | 1 to 2 working days |
| Visa approval and ID application | 1 to 3 working days |
| Card printing after biometrics | 5 to 10 working days |
| Total for a new resident | About 2 to 3 weeks |
Delays usually come from a poor photo, a name mismatch or a missed biometrics appointment. You can check your Emirates ID status online with your application number at any stage.
Emirates ID Cost and Fees
The Emirates ID cost depends on your card’s validity: AED 100 per year plus service charges. These are approximate figures; confirm the final amount on the payment screen.
| Fee item | Approximate cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Card fee per year of validity | 100 |
| Service fee (ICP online) | About 40 |
| Service fee (typing centre) | About 70 |
| 1 year card via typing centre | About 170 |
| 2 year card via typing centre | About 270 |
| 10 year Golden Visa card | About 1,070 |
| Replacement for a lost or damaged card | 300 plus service fee |
| Urgent service (eligible cases only) | 150 extra |
| Late renewal fine | 20 per day, capped at 1,000 |
The ID fee is a small part of the total, since the visa, medical and insurance cost more. Our breakdown of how much a residence visa costs in the UAE shows the full picture.
Emirates ID for Foreigners, Indians and Families
The process to get Emirates ID for foreigners is the same for every nationality, including Indians. What changes is your sponsor:
- Employees: your employer files the visa and ID through MOHRE and ICP
- Investors and partners: your own company sponsors you
- Family members: a resident with the required salary sponsors spouse, children or parents
- Golden Visa holders: you sponsor yourself for 10 years
Marriage and birth certificates issued abroad, including India, must be attested before you sponsor family, so start early.
Digital Emirates ID and Your Emirates ID Number
You do not have to wait for the plastic card. Once approved, you can view a digital Emirates ID in the UAEICP app or through UAE PASS, which many banks, telecom providers and government services accept.
How to get your Emirates ID number quickly:
- It appears on your approved residence visa and entry permit records
- It shows in the UAEICP app after approval
- It stays the same for life, even when you renew the card
Emirates ID Validity and Renewal
For expats, the Emirates ID validity matches the residence visa: usually 2 or 3 years for employment and investor visas, and up to 10 years for Golden Visa holders. UAE nationals hold cards valid for 5 or 10 years depending on age. From July 2026, ICP lets citizens renew their Emirates ID up to one year before expiry.
Expats renew the ID together with the residence visa. Documents required for Emirates ID renewal are usually your passport, the renewed visa or renewal application, a photo and, where requested, fresh biometrics. A 30 day grace period applies after expiry, then the AED 20 daily fine starts.
Leaving the UAE for good? Cancel the visa properly using our guide on how to cancel a UAE residence visa, so no fines build up on your file.
Emirates ID for Business Owners and Investors
If you are setting up a company, your Emirates ID is the key that unlocks everything else. Banks will not open a corporate account without it, and the Federal Tax Authority asks for the authorised signatory’s Emirates ID during VAT registration and corporate tax registration.
The usual order for founders is:
- Get the trade licence (see the cost of obtaining a trade licence in Dubai)
- Obtain the establishment card
- Apply for the investor visa in the UAE and Emirates ID together
- Open the business bank account
| Factor | Mainland company | Free zone company |
|---|---|---|
| Visa filed with | GDRFA in Dubai, ICP in other emirates | Free zone authority, then GDRFA or ICP |
| Emirates ID process | Same unified application | Same unified application |
| Office for visa quota | Physical office with Ejari | Flexi desk or office |
For a full comparison, read our guide to mainland company formation in Dubai. Investors who qualify for 10 years of residency can also explore our Golden Visa service.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using a photo with a coloured background or glasses glare
- Spelling your name differently from your passport
- Missing the biometrics appointment and not rebooking
- Letting the visa expire and stacking daily fines
- Paying unofficial sites that copy the ICP portal
Expert Tip from Adil Ahmad
The fastest files I handle share one habit: everything is ready before the entry permit is issued. Book the medical the same day, keep a white background photo ready, and save your application number. These clients usually see their digital ID within a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I apply for Emirates ID online?
Apply through ICP smart services, the UAEICP app or GDRFA Dubai with your residence visa, pay online, then attend biometrics.
2. How long does it take to get Emirates ID?
Usually 5 to 10 working days after biometrics. A full new resident journey takes about 2 to 3 weeks.
3. What is the Emirates ID cost for 2 years?
Around AED 270 through a typing centre, made up of AED 200 card fee plus about AED 70 service charges.
4. Can I get Emirates ID on a visit visa?
No. You need a residence visa first, through a job, a company, a property or a family sponsor.
5. What documents are required for Emirates ID?
Passport, entry permit, white background photo, medical certificate and sponsor documents.
6. Where do I collect my Emirates ID card?
ICP sends an SMS naming the Emirates Post branch or delivery option once the card is printed.
7. Can I use a digital Emirates ID?
Yes. After approval, the digital ID in the UAEICP app or UAE PASS is widely accepted.
8. What happens if my Emirates ID expires?
After a 30 day grace period, a fine of AED 20 per day applies, capped at AED 1,000.
Need Help With Your Visa and Emirates ID?
Gulf Corporate Services handles company formation, investor visas, Emirates ID and bank accounts together. Whether you are planning business setup in Dubai or expanding with business setup in Saudi Arabia, talk to our business setup consultants for a free consultation.
