UAE · Guide
Emirates ID: timeline, cost, medical test and lost card steps
The Emirates ID for UAE residents: ICP fees (AED 100 a year), medical test, biometrics, late fines up to AED 1,000 and replacing a lost card for AED 300.
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- Globexpat Team
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#Documents#Residency
The Emirates ID (the UAE resident identity card) is issued to every resident together with the visa and is valid for as long as the visa. The ICP fee for a resident is AED 100 for each year of validity plus AED 100 smart fee; express service at ICP centres costs another AED 150. Replacing a lost or damaged card costs AED 300.
Without an Emirates ID it is hard to open a bank account, sign a tenancy contract, get a phone line or connect utilities in the UAE. So the time it takes to issue the card directly affects when you can properly start living and working in the country.
Below we have collected the fees, steps, typical delays and what to do if you lose the card, based on ICP and the u.ae portal.
Emirates ID fees
| Service | Amount according to ICP |
|---|---|
| Issuance or renewal for a resident | AED 100 for each year of validity |
| Smart fee per application | AED 100 |
| Express service (ICP centres only) | AED 150 |
| Replacing a lost or damaged card | AED 300 |
| Express replacement | AED 150 |
| Smart fee for replacement | AED 100 |
| Fine for late renewal | AED 20 a day, up to AED 1,000 |
The card fee is paid together with the visa package; if the visa is arranged by a free zone or an employer, the amount is usually already on their invoice. For example, a 2-year card costs AED 300 (2 × 100 + 100), a 5-year card AED 600 and a 10-year Golden Visa card AED 1,100. Typing centres add their own service charge; one ICP publication mentioned a AED 70 service fee for replacement through a typing office, so check the current amount locally.
How to get an Emirates ID: steps
- Application. Filed together with the residence visa application through ICP, GDRFA or the free zone.
- Medical test. According to u.ae, all applicants aged 18 and over take a medical test at an accredited centre.
- Biometrics. Fingerprints and a photo at an ICP centre or the centre named in your invitation. Young children go through a simplified procedure.
- Issuance. The card is printed after the visa is approved. Its validity matches the visa.
- Collection. Courier delivery or collection at a centre, depending on the emirate.
Visa details are stored in the system and linked to the Emirates ID, so the card effectively serves as proof of your resident status.
What to bring to biometrics
- Your original passport.
- The invitation or application number (sent by SMS or email).
- For children: the sponsoring parent or their authorised representative must attend.
How to check your application status
You can check the status on the ICP website or app using the application number, and in Dubai also through GDRFA channels. If the status does not change for a long time, first check whether a repeat medical test or a data correction is required: such requests often arrive at the email address given in the application.
Emirates ID and UAE Pass
Once you have the card, register for UAE Pass, the government digital identity, straight away. You use it to log in to ICP, GDRFA, FTA and many banks, sign documents and get a digital copy of your Emirates ID. It saves time when renewing your visa and requesting certificates, such as a report of entries and exits.
Read more: UAE residence visa types.
Timelines
ICP does not publish a single issuance time for the card: it depends on the emirate, the service speed and how busy the centres are. In our experience the card usually arrives within 1-3 weeks of biometrics; as of June 2026, check exact timings with your application channel. If you need the card urgently, for example to open a bank account, express service for AED 150 is worth paying for.
Banks ask for the Emirates ID when opening an account; some accept proof of application at the first stage, so check with the specific bank. More on the personal account in the UAE page.
Read more: The investor visa through a UAE company.
Typical delays and how to avoid them
| Cause of delay | What to do |
|---|---|
| Repeat medical test because of irregular results | Retake the tests by the set date; this sometimes adds a few days |
| No free biometrics slots | Book immediately after approval and choose less busy centres |
| Name differs between passport and application | Check the transliteration before applying; a correction needs a separate service |
| Expired Establishment Card of the sponsoring company | Renew the company card before applying for an employee's or partner's visa |
| Unpaid fines of the sponsor or applicant | Check for fines on the ICP or GDRFA portal in advance |
| Photo does not meet the requirements | Use a photo to the ICP standard, on a white background |
If the card contains an error
If your name, date of birth or other details on the Emirates ID are wrong, they are corrected through the ICP service for amending residence permit data, after which a new card is issued. The easiest approach is to check the details at the application stage: compare the Latin spelling of your name with your passport and check the Arabic version in the application.
Emirates ID for the family
Family members' cards are issued for the term of their visas, which cannot be longer than the sponsor's visa. So when renewing the sponsor's visa, plan to renew the whole family's cards at once: that makes it easier to fit everything into one biometrics trip. Health insurance for each family member is a condition of the visa, so keep it valid through renewal.
What to do if you lose the card
- Report the loss. According to u.ae, a lost Emirates ID must be reported to ICP within 7 days.
- Apply for a replacement. Through the ICP app or website, a service centre or a typing office. The fee is AED 300, plus AED 100 smart fee and AED 150 if you need express service.
- Receive the new card. The replacement is issued for the remaining term of the original card, not for a new period.
If the card is lost and has also expired, renewal fees are added to the AED 300. If the card is damaged, the procedure is the same as for a lost card. Until the new card is issued, carry a copy of your passport with the visa details and proof of the replacement application.
Renewal and fines
The Emirates ID is renewed together with the visa. According to ICP, the fine for late renewal is AED 20 for each day, charged from 30 days after the card expires and capped at AED 1,000. If you plan a long trip, check that the card will not expire while you are away: we explain how this relates to the 180-day rule in the 180-day rule.
We guide you through the visa and Emirates ID process from choosing the basis to receiving the card; the application is submitted by a licensed agent or the free zone. An overview of visas is on the UAE visas page.
What changed in 2026
- Fees on the ICP service cards as of June 2026 are unchanged: AED 100 a year for a resident, AED 300 for a replacement, and a fine of AED 20 a day up to AED 1,000.
- For Golden Visa holders the card term still matches the visa term, 10 years; the federal fee for a 10-year card is AED 1,100.
- ICP has previously issued official denials of reports about fee increases. If you see different amounts in agents' adverts, compare them with the service card on icp.gov.ae.
FAQ
Can I leave the UAE while the card is not ready?
Yes, if the visa has already been issued, but bear in mind that without the card some procedures, such as opening a bank account, are harder. If the visa has not yet been approved, leaving may interrupt the process.
Does a child need an Emirates ID?
Yes. The Emirates ID is issued to all residents, including children, for the term of their visa.
Is the card renewed automatically with the visa?
The renewal application for the visa and the Emirates ID is filed together, and the card fee is a separate line. There is no automatic renewal without an application.
What if I lose the card abroad?
Report the loss to ICP within 7 days through the online channels and apply for a replacement. Collecting the card may require you to be in the UAE; check the procedure with ICP.
How much does an Emirates ID cost for a family of four for 2 years?
Federal fees are AED 300 per person, AED 1,200 in total, excluding express service, medical tests and service charges. More about family visas in UAE family visa.
Sources
- ICP, New Identity Card Issuance: icp.gov.ae
- ICP, Identity Card Renewal: icp.gov.ae
- ICP, Issue Replacement for lost / damaged ID Card: icp.gov.ae
- ICP, FAQ (late renewal fine): icp.gov.ae/en/faq
- u.ae, Emirates ID: u.ae/en/information-and-services/visa-and-emirates-id/emirates-id
- u.ae, General provisions for the residence visa: u.ae