What is Emirates ID?
An Emirates ID card is a vital document that every UAE resident must have. Issued after the stamping of your residency visa into your passport, the Emirates ID remains valid for the same duration as your visa.
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The Emirates ID card serves numerous purposes, such as:
Applying for various government services like DEWA and more
Sponsoring dependents under your visa
Renting an apartment
Smoothly passing through the immigration e-gates at UAE airports.
How to Check the Validity of Your Existing Emirates ID or Visa
If you’re uncertain about the exact expiry date or if you’ve been abroad and are unsure about your residence visa status in the UAE, you can check your Emirates ID status with ease.
Visit the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) website at smartservices.icp.gov.ae.
How to Check Your Emirates ID Application Status
Once you’ve applied for your Emirates ID card or its renewal, you can monitor the Emirates ID status online.
To check the status, you must have the Emirates ID number or the registration application number (you can find it on the application form).
Steps to check your Emirates ID status
Visit the Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) website at icp.gov.ae (the link is available only in the UAE). You’ll find a segment titled “Check ID status” on the right side of the first page.
In the Check ID status section, enter your application number or Emirates ID number (excluding the hyphen). Your application status will be displayed.
If you encounter any issues while trying to check your Emirates ID or card status, you can contact customer happiness at the authority directly on 600 522222.
How to get an Emirates ID
The Emirates ID application process is incorporated into the UAE visa application procedure. If a business setup consultancy company is assisting you with your visa, the cost generally includes the Emirates ID expenses.
The cost of the visa varies depending on the emirate and the issuing authority. It can range from 2,500 AED to 7,000 AED.
Steps for UAE Residency
The process for obtaining UAE residency in 2024 includes:
Applying for an Entry Permit: This permit is issued to company owners who have set up a business in the UAE or employees hired by a UAE-based company. The entry permit, a prerequisite for the residence visa, is valid for 60 days. During this period, you must undergo a medical check and apply for your Emirates ID, after which the residence visa is stamped into your passport.
Medical Checkup: Conducted at any Preventive Medicine Center, this mandatory procedure follows the issuance of your entry permit. If your medical results are satisfactory, you can proceed with your visa application.
Emirates ID Application: This process is facilitated at any office of the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. Many offices are conveniently located next to Preventive Medicine Centers to make the application process easier. This step includes eye scanning and fingerprinting, and this biometric data is stored in the Authority’s system, so you won’t need to repeat these steps at the time of your Emirates ID renewal.
UAE Visa Stamping: The final step of UAE residency is the stamping of your UAE visa into your passport. Typically, visas are valid for three years, though in some free zones or on the mainland, employees might receive a two-year visa.
The validity of the Emirates ID for UAE residents aligns with the validity of their visa. Therefore, for GCC nationals, new residents, or anyone looking to apply for a visa, an Emirates ID card is an essential document.
Emirates ID cost
The costs of the ID depend on its validity:
Emirates ID validity Cost
2 years validity 390 AED
10 years validity 1,153 AED
When you make an application, make sure that the ID validity is the same as the validity of your visa.
It usually takes 7-10 days to get the ID card after you have done the visa stamping into your passport.
You will be receiving SMS messages during the processing of your ID with the updates. When the ID is ready, you will be able to collect it from one of the branches of Emirates post, which will be indicated in the message.
Emirates ID Renewal
Once your ID has expired, the government offers a 30 day grace period for anyone to renew their IDs. If you fail to do so, late renewal fines of AED 20/day will apply (1,000 AED maximum).
The authority will also send you an SMS reminding you to renew your ID.
To replace a lost or damaged ID, the applicant is required to make an application and pay the fees:
AED 300 for ID replacement
Additional application fees of AED 70 for applications made at typing centers, or AED 40 for eForm applications on the ICA website
An extra AED 150 for an express ID replacement service at ICA’s main Customer Happiness Centre.
These fees are applicable to UAE nationals, GCC nationals, and expatriate residents.
You won’t need to update your biometric data because it was collected during your first ID card processing.
The ID renewal application will be needed for visa renewal. You have to submit it to the free zone where your visa was issued or to the Immigration authority (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs) if your visa is under a mainland company.
Once the visa is renewed, the ID will be issued and sent to an Emirates Post branch.
Emirates ID Cancellation
There could be several reasons prompting the cancellation of your Emirates ID card. These may include:
Transitioning to a new job or establishing a business in Dubai, which necessitates a new UAE residency visa
Opting to leave the UAE permanently.
The process of Emirates ID cancellation is integrated with the cancellation of your residence visa. You will have to hand in your card to your employer or to the Immigration authority when you submit your passport for visa cancellation.
Just as checking your Emirates ID status is critical during its validity, ensuring proper cancellation is also paramount to avoid any legal complications. Therefore, whether you’re a new resident, a GCC national transitioning jobs, or leaving the UAE, careful management of your Emirates ID card status is essential.
What does the long Emirates ID number mean?
The 15-digit Emirates ID number, unique to every cardholder, is divided into four parts. Each part carries specific information:
The first part is constant across all Emirates ID cards, representing the international code for the UAE, which is 784.
The second part typically correlates with your birth year, but variations can occur.
The third part comprises seven randomly generated digits, assigned by the system without any specific meaning.
The final part, a single digit, serves as a verification number and can range from 0 to 9.
This Emirates ID number is assigned specifically to you and remains associated with you permanently. It cannot be changed or amended, reflecting the continuity of your identity within the UAE. Even if your status as a UAE resident ceases and you leave the country, should you return and regain residency in the future, the same Emirates ID number will be reissued to you.
Maintaining a record of this number is crucial as it is required to check your Emirates ID status, apply for various government services, and when dealing with the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.
Remember, your Emirates ID number is an essential aspect of your identity and citizenship within the UAE, designed to make your experience with official processes more efficient.
What happens if I lose my Emirates ID?
Misplacing your Emirates ID card can be stressful, but the following steps can help you manage the situation effectively:
Visit the nearest police station and file a report about your lost Emirates ID card. The cost of this service is 70 AED.
Notify the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) about the lost card within seven days of its disappearance.
Visit any FAIC office and order a replacement Emirates ID card by paying a fee of 300 AED. An additional application fee of 70 AED applies if you apply in person, or 40 AED if you apply online. The total fee will be either 370 AED or 340 AED, respectively.
Collect your new card from the nearest Emirates post office.
Key points
Emirates ID processing is an easy and straightforward procedure. It is done together with your visa processing.
In case you have an employment visa, normally the application will be done by your employer.
In case you have a freelance visa or your own business, you can do the application by yourself or hire a business setup consultancy company like FreezoneSME.com
