By Adil Ahmad, Business Setup Consultant at Gulf Corporate Services
Summary
An Emirates ID is the official UAE resident identity card, issued by ICP to every citizen and resident. For expats, it comes with your residence visa: you apply through the ICP app, smart services, or a typing centre, give biometrics, and receive the card in about 5 to 10 working days. Fees start around AED 100 per year of validity. This guide covers requirements, documents, costs, and timelines.
Emirates ID at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) |
| Who needs it | All UAE citizens and residents |
| Linked to | Your residence visa (validity usually matches the visa) |
| How to apply | UAEICP app, ICP smart services, or an approved typing centre |
| Biometrics | Fingerprints and photo, usually for applicants aged 15 and over |
| Typical cost | About AED 170 to 400, depending on validity (estimate) |
| Processing time | About 5 to 10 working days, plus delivery |
| Late renewal fine | AED 20 per day, capped at AED 1,000 |
What Is Emirates ID?
The Emirates ID, also called the UAE resident identity card, is a smart card with a 15-digit ID number that stays with you for life. According to the UAE government portal, it holds an encrypted chip, digital signature certificates, and your fingerprints, and it is mandatory for all citizens and residents.
Your 15-digit Emirates ID number starts with 784. It is different from the card number, which changes every time a new card is printed.
You will use it for almost everything in the UAE:
- Opening a bank account
- Signing a tenancy contract and connecting utilities
- Getting a driving licence and a SIM card
- Accessing healthcare and insurance
- Using the e-gates at UAE airports
- Logging in to government services through UAE Pass
Who Needs an Emirates ID in UAE?
- UAE nationals, including children
- Expat employees on a work residence visa
- Family members sponsored by a resident
- Investors and partners who own a UAE company
- Freelancers, golden visa and green visa holders
- Domestic workers on a residence visa
Tourists and visitors do not get an Emirates ID. You can only get one once you have a residence visa, or an entry permit that is being converted into one.
Emirates ID Requirements and Documents
For a new Emirates ID with a residence visa, you usually need:
- Original passport, valid for at least six months
- Entry permit or residence visa approval
- Recent passport photo with a white background
- Medical fitness result, for the residence visa
- Sponsor’s documents, such as the employer’s establishment card or the family sponsor’s Emirates ID
- Health insurance, where required by your emirate
Your typing centre or company PRO usually submits the Emirates ID and visa application together.
How to Get Emirates ID: Step-by-Step
- Get your entry permit. Your employer, family sponsor, or your own company applies.
- Change status or enter the UAE on the entry permit.
- Complete the medical fitness test at an approved centre.
- Apply for the Emirates ID, usually together with the residence visa, through a typing centre, the ICP app, or ICP smart services.
- Give biometrics at an ICP service centre if you are asked to. You will receive an SMS with the time and place.
- Residence visa is issued. Since 2022, the Emirates ID replaces the visa sticker in your passport as proof of residency.
- Collect or receive your card by courier or at the selected centre.
If you work for a new company, the employer first needs an establishment card and a work permit.
How to Apply for Emirates ID Online
You can apply for a new ID card online through:
- UAEICP app on iPhone or Android
- ICP smart services website, using the apply for a new ID card service
- GDRFA Dubai channels, for Dubai residence visas processed together with the ID
- Approved typing centres and Amer centres, if you prefer help
Log in with UAE Pass, upload your passport, photo, and visa details, pay online, and track your application by SMS or in the app. For more detail on the ICP platform, see our guide to applying for UAE residency visas via ICP smart services.
Emirates ID Cost and Fees in Dubai
| Fee item | Approx. cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Card fee | 100 per year of validity |
| ICP service and smart services fees | about 40 to 70 |
| Delivery | about 20 to 35 |
| Typing centre charge, if used | about 30 to 70 |
| Express processing (optional) | about 150 |
| Replacement for lost or damaged card | about 300 plus service fees |
Typical totals for expats, according to Property Finder:
- 1-year Emirates ID: about AED 170 to 200
- 2-year Emirates ID: about AED 270 to 300
- 3-year Emirates ID: about AED 370 to 400
The medical test and residence visa are paid separately. See our full breakdown of the residence visa cost in the UAE.
How Long Does It Take to Get Emirates ID?
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Medical test result | 1 to 3 working days |
| Biometrics appointment | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Emirates ID printing after visa approval | 5 to 10 working days |
| Express processing | 1 to 3 working days |
| Courier delivery | 2 to 5 days |
Most people receive their Emirates ID within two weeks of the medical test, as long as there are no biometric or document issues.
Urgent Emirates ID
ICP offers a 24-hour urgent service, but for expat residents it is generally limited to replacing a lost or damaged card, according to the UAE government portal. For new cards, the optional express service through typing centres is the usual way to speed things up.
How to Check Emirates ID Status and Collect Your Card
You can track your Emirates ID on the ICP website or app using your application number, or follow the SMS updates. Our step-by-step guide shows how to check Emirates ID status. If your phone number has changed, update it first, as explained in our guide to changing the mobile number linked to your Emirates ID.
Digital Emirates ID
Once your card is issued, a digital version is available in the UAEICP app, and UAE Pass uses your Emirates ID to log in to government and bank services. Many services now accept the digital ID, but keep the physical card for travel through e-gates and official checks.
Emirates ID for Foreigners, Indians and Pakistanis
The process is the same for every nationality. Indian, Pakistani, and other expat residents get their Emirates ID through their residence visa, not through their home country. You cannot apply for an Emirates ID from India or Pakistan before you have a UAE entry permit or residence visa.
Emirates ID for Children and Newborns
Children who hold a residence visa also need an Emirates ID. Children under 15 usually do not have to give fingerprints. For newborns, the parent applies for the residence visa and Emirates ID together after getting the birth certificate and passport.
Emirates ID Renewal, Replacement and Fines
- Renewal: usually done together with your residence visa renewal through the ICP renew ID card service. You can renew up to six months before expiry
- Late renewal fine: AED 20 per day after one month, capped at AED 1,000
- Lost card: report it to ICP within 7 days and apply for a replacement
- Change of details: report changes to ICP within one month
- Cancellation: the Emirates ID is cancelled automatically when your residence visa is cancelled. Read how to cancel a UAE residence visa
Emirates ID for Business Owners and Investors
If you set up your own company, you can sponsor yourself on an investor or partner visa and get your Emirates ID without an employer. The usual path is:
- Form your company through business setup in Dubai on the mainland or in a free zone
- Get the establishment card and investor visa
- Complete the medical test and Emirates ID
- Open a corporate bank account using your Emirates ID
Long-term options such as the golden visa also come with an Emirates ID valid for the length of the visa. Expanding to Saudi Arabia? The Saudi equivalent is the Iqama, which you can check through Muqeem. Explore our business setup in Saudi Arabia services.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing the biometrics appointment SMS
- Using a phone number that is not linked to your Emirates ID
- Letting the card expire and paying daily fines
- Giving your original Emirates ID to an employer or landlord to keep. Companies may copy it but may not hold it
- Forgetting to report a lost card within 7 days
Expert tip from Adil Ahmad: Ask your typing centre or PRO to process the Emirates ID in the same application as your residence visa. It saves a trip, avoids paying service fees twice, and usually gets the card to you within two weeks of your medical.
FAQs on Emirates ID in the UAE
What is Emirates ID?
The official UAE resident identity card issued by ICP to all citizens and residents.
How do I get an Emirates ID?
Get a residence visa first, then apply for the Emirates ID through the ICP app, smart services, or a typing centre, and complete biometrics if asked.
How much does an Emirates ID cost?
About AED 100 per year of validity plus service fees, usually AED 170 to 400 in total.
How long does it take to get an Emirates ID?
About 5 to 10 working days after visa approval, plus delivery.
Can I apply for Emirates ID online?
Yes, through the UAEICP app or ICP smart services, using UAE Pass.
Can I get an Emirates ID without a visa?
No. Expats need a residence visa or an entry permit being converted into one.
Is there an urgent Emirates ID service?
Express processing takes about 1 to 3 working days. ICP’s 24-hour service is mainly for replacements for expats.
What is the fine for an expired Emirates ID?
AED 20 per day after one month, up to a maximum of AED 1,000.
Who issues the Emirates ID?
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP).
Get Help with Your Emirates ID and Visa
Our PRO services team handles residence visas, medical tests, and Emirates ID applications for employees, families, and investors. Want your own visa? Read our guide to the UAE residence visa and speak with our business setup consultants about getting residency through your own company.
