Emirates ID Status

Every UAE citizen has a unique identification number, known as the Emirates ID, assigned by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA). They need to follow a specific process for applying, renewing, replacing or canceling it.

The following article provides detailed information about the Emirates ID application covering everything you need to know about Emirates ID, including the steps to follow, documents to submit, charges to pay, and much more. Let us begin by learning what precisely an Emirates ID is and its features.

What is an Emirates ID?

The Emirates ID is an officially mandated identity card issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship. Basically, it is a unique 15-digit number on an electronic chip that holds your personal information along with your photo. In addition, the card also has your fingerprints for enhanced security purposes. In the UAE, it is mandatory that all citizens carry their unique ID cards (Emirates ID) at all times. 

Here is how the validity of an Emirates ID works for different kinds of cardholders:

• UAE Citizens – 5 to 10 years
• Expat Residents – Based on the validity of their UAE residency VISA
• GCC Nationals – 5 years

Features of an Emirates ID

Following are a few significant features of an Emirates ID card:

1. Identification Number - Foremost, this identification number entitles you to all sorts of benefits from the government, as well as other non-governmental organisations or corporations, if applicable. Over and above, the embossed 15 digit number on the Emirates ID card is unique to every Emirates Id cardholder. Recently, the government has unrolled a new generation card as well. 
2. Increased Protection for the Non - Visible Data: Data will now be accessible through the E-link system. Besides, the Federal Authority directly administers the E-Link system for Identity and Citizenship. Additionally, a 3D picture using laser technology shall be used to show the cardholder's date of birth.
3. Inclusion of Extra Fields and Codes -  The data that shall be included herein includes professional data, the Emirates ID authority responsible for issuance and administration, and the population group to which you belong.

How to Check the Emirates ID status Online?

Here is a simple three-step process to check the status of your Emirates ID card:

1. Visit the Website: Foremost, you need to visit the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship website (ICA).
2. Choose the Suitable Option: Next, you need to choose the option 'ID Card Status' on the website to check the status of your Emirates ID card.
3. Provide Your Details: Then, you need to provide the application number to check the status of your application.

How to Check the Validity of an Existing Emirates ID?

Here are the steps that you can follow to check your ICA Emirates ID status:

1. Visit the Website: First, you need to visit the official link of the Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship website to check the status of your Emirates ID validity.
2. Provide Your Details: On the website, you need to go to the file validity page and provide details such as your Emirate Unified Number, Nationality, Date of Birth, etc., to proceed to check your Emirates ID status.
3. Check Your Emirates ID Status: After entering all the required details, you can click on the Search button to quickly check your Emirates ID status in just a few clicks.

How to Get an Emirates ID Within 24 Hours?

Luckily, Emirates Identity Authority enables the applicants to get an Emirates ID created just within 24 hours through a fast-track service called 'Fawri'. So, for any reason,  if you want to get your Emirates ID card within 24 hours, you can utilise this service called 'Fawri' and get an Emirates ID card created on an urgent basis. However, if you want to get your Emirates ID card created within 24 hours, you need to pay an additional fee of AED 150; apart from the additional fee, the rest process is the same as mentioned above for the Emirates ID card application submission. 

How Long Does It Take to Get an Emirates ID?

The duration for the Emirates ID card to get ready depends on the applicants' chosen mode of application. Usually, it takes the authority to provide the printed Emirates ID card within seven working after the application gets approved. 

However, note that it is essential for expats to submit a residency visa first to get their Emirates ID card issued on time. Moreover, the applicants need to collect their Emirates ID from the post office address mentioned in the confirmation message sent by the authority. However, if they fail to collect the same within 90 days, the ID card will be returned to the source and made redundant. 

How to Apply for an Emirates ID in UAE?

Here is how the UAE Nationals, Expats, and GCC Nationals can apply for an Emirates ID card:

• Emirates ID Application Process for UAE Nationals
• Emirates ID Application Process for Expats
• Emirates ID Application Process for GCC Nationals

Emirates ID Application Process for UAE Nationals

If you are a UAE resident, follow the given steps when applying for an Emirates ID online or offline:

1. Visit the Website: First things first, you need to visit the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) website to apply for an Emirates ID.
2. Fill the Form: On the website, fill up the application form by providing basic details like name, address, contact number, and more based on your preferences.
3. Provide Your Documents: Next, you need to upload the listed documents while submitting your application form to complete the application process.
4. Pay the Fees: You need to pay a fee of AED 100 for each year, depending upon the number of years your card will be valid for. 
5. Get the Appointment: Once done, you will receive an SMS on the provided registered mobile number stating the time and location of the EIDA office you then need to visit. 

If you want to apply for the Emirates ID offline, you can get the form from the office and submit the same with all the essential documents in the presence of one of the authorised representatives. Thus, this helps submit the Emirates ID application without making any mistakes. Thereafter, you will get an SMS from Emirates ID Authority notifying your Emirates ID application status. After receiving the SMS, you finally need to visit the post office mentioned in the SMS to collect your Emirates ID card.

Emirates ID Application Process for Expats

If you are an Expat in the UAE, here are the steps that you need to follow when applying for an Emirates ID online or offline:

1. Visit the Website: Foremost, you need to visit the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) website to apply for an Emirates ID.
2. Fill the Form: On the website, you need to fill up the application form by providing basic details like name, address, contact number, and more based on your preferences.
3. Provide Your Documents: Next, you need to upload the listed documents while submitting your application form to complete the application process.
4. Pay the Fees: You need to pay a fee of AED 100 for each year, depending upon the number of years your card will be valid for. However, there are a few additional charges, such as a typing centre fee of AED 300 and ICA website service charges of AED 40 for online applications.
5. Get the Appointment: Once done, you will receive an SMS on the provided registered mobile number stating the time and location of the EIDA office you then need to visit. 

However, you can also get the form at the office if you want to submit your Emirates ID application offline. In the offline process of applying for the Emirates ID card, make sure that you carry and submit all the essential documents to streamline the entire application process without any mistake.

After submitting your documents, you will get an SMS from Emirates ID Authority notifying your Emirates ID application status. Based on that status, finally, you need to visit the post office mentioned in the SMS to collect your Emirates ID card.

Emirates ID Application Process for GCC Nationals

If you are a GCC National, here are the steps that you need to follow when applying for an Emirates ID online or offline:

1. Visit the Website: Firstly, you need to visit the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) website to apply for an Emirates ID.
2. Fill the Form: On the website, you need to fill up the application form by providing basic details like name, address, contact number, and more based on your preferences.
3. Provide Your Documents: Next, you need to upload the listed documents while submitting your application form to complete the application process.
4. Pay the Fees: You need to pay a fee of AED 100 for each year, depending upon the number of years your card will be valid for. 
5. Get the Appointment: Once done, you will receive an SMS on the provided registered mobile number stating the time and location of the EIDA office you need to visit. Finally, you need to visit the post office mentioned in the SMS to collect your Emirates ID card. 

The points mentioned above state the online process to apply for the Emirates ID if you are a GCC National. However, apart from the online process, you can also apply for an Emirates ID card offline as a GCC National. So, to avoid the online process, you need to visit the Emirates ID office and fill out the Emirates ID application form. Also, you need to provide the necessary documents along with a filled-out form to complete the application process. Once done, you will get an SMS with the confirmation for the application submission. 

Thereafter, another SMS will be sent to you by the authority notifying your Emirates ID application status. Finally, you need to visit the post office mentioned in the SMS to collect your Emirates ID card.

Requirement of Emirates ID in UAE

People in the UAE need Emirates IDs for various purposes. For example, people in the UAE need to submit their Emirates ID as a mandatory document when applying for a-

• Health Insurance 
• Car Insurance Policy
• Term Insurance Policy
• Credit Card
• Personal Loan
• Bank Account

Documents Required to Apply for an Emirates ID Card in UAE

Here is a list of documents required when applying for an Emirates ID.

How to Renew Your Emirates ID Card?

Hey! Are you stressing about how to renew your Emirates ID Card? Worry not as renewing your Emirates ID card is done with the greatest ease and within a few steps:

Firstly, note that you have a time of 30 days from the expiry date of Emirates ID for the renewal. In case you do not renew your Emirates ID card within the set duration, you'll need to pay an additional AED 20 as late payment charges. However, the amount can go up to AED 1,000 if you do not follow the correct process and renew your Emirates ID card on time.

Furthermore, UAE Nationals can apply for the Emirates ID renewal between one to six months before the expiration date. However, the expats can apply for renewal only after the Emirates ID card expires. Moving forward, the process for Emirates ID renewal is almost the same as applying for a new Emirates ID card. Firstly, you need to submit the same set of documents for the renewal as you did at the time of the first-time application. Apart from that, you also need to submit the old Emirates ID card when applying for the renewal. 

Finally, to check your Emirates ID renewal status, you can contact the Emirates ID authority contact number or visit one of the Emirates ID centres to check for the renewal of your Emirates ID.

Emirates Id Renewal Fees & Charges

The charges for the Emirates ID renewal varies depending on the duration of validity chosen by the applicant. Check below the cost of renewal with various validity options:

• 3 Years Validity: AED 490
• 2 Years Validity: AED 390
• 1 Year Validity: AED 290

How to Update Mobile Number in Emirates ID?

Until now, the process for the Emirates ID was available both in the online and offline modes. However, the cardholders cannot update their Emirates ID card details online. Moreover, they need to inform the ICA within 30 days of the change in data and visit the ICA's Emirates ID Centre to update their details with ease. In addition, they need to carry their passport and a valid Emirates ID for the purpose of verification. 

How to Replace a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Emirates ID Card in UAE?

Follow the given steps to replace a stolen, damaged, or lost Emirates ID card in UAE:

1. Report the Loss or Damage - First, you need to inform the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) Customer Happiness Centre about the loss of your Emirates ID card so that they can help you in deactivating the same. However, if you have lost your Emirates ID card outside the country, you must inform the UAE Embassy about the same. Further, in case of card damage, you need to inform the Customer Happiness Centre.  Apart from informing the concerned authority in respective cases, make sure you carry your identification documents when reporting the incident. For example, UAE nationals can bring their family book or an original valid passport. However, Expats need to bring their original valid passport with a valid residency permit. Further, GCC nationals need to bring a valid residency visa to prove their residency. In the case of a child cardholder, the parent must bring along an original birth certificate with a coloured passport-sized photograph. You must ask the Emirates ID authority for your Emirates ID number if you do not have it.
2. Apply for the Replacement - Further, you need to apply for the Emirates ID card replacement by filling out an Emirates ID application form at any Emirates ID Centres. Besides, you can also find this form on ICA's website or their smart mobile app available on your preferred app store. Along with that, you need to provide your personal details in the Emirates ID application form and request your Emirates ID card replacement in the same.
3. Pay the Charges - Now, you need to pay the Emirates ID card replacement fee of AED 300. In addition to the replacement charges, you need to pay AED 40 if applying through the ICA website or AED 70 if applying through a typing centre. Please note that the charges are the same for all UAE Nationals, Expats, and GCC Nationals. However, you can also get an express ID card replacement at an Emirates ID office by paying an additional amount of AED 150.
4. Collect Your New Emirates ID Card - Post paying the charges; you will get an SMS from the authority notifying the status of your Emirates ID card replacement application. Moreover, the SMS that you'll receive will also contain the expected delivery date of your new ID card—talking about the time this process will take, Emirates ID cards for regular requests get issued to the post office within 48 hours. In contrast, the express delivery cards can be received within 24 hours from the time of the application submission. So, you can contact Emirates Post to check the delivery status after receiving a notification from ICA.

Documents Required for Emirates ID Card Replacement

Here is a list of documents required when applying for an Emirates ID replacement:

Emirates ID Card Replacement Charges

The charges for Emirates ID card replacement vary depending on the mode of application the cardholder has used for the replacement:

• Typing centre: AED 370
• ICA Happiness Centre: AED 490
• ICA website or smart app: AED 340

How to Cancel Your Emirates ID Card?

Suppose you are planning to cancel your UAE residency VISA and relocate to a different country for business or personal reasons. In that case, you need to hand over your Emirates ID card to the respective General Directorate for Residency and Foreigners Affairs. They will further hand it over to the authority that issues Emirates ID cards, i.e. Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC). Thereafter, they will cancel the validity and deactivate your Emirates ID Card with immediate effect.

Related Link - 

List of Emirates ID Center in UAE

Uses of  Emirates ID in UAE

FAQ's