Your Emirates ID is the mandatory identity card issued to every UAE citizen and resident by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). You need it to open a bank account, sign a tenancy contract, register a vehicle, access healthcare, and complete almost any government transaction. For new residents the card is tied to your residence visa file, so the two processes run together, and you must apply for the Emirates ID within 30 days of your visa being stamped.
This guide walks through the application from start to finish, lists the documents and the 2026 fees, explains the realistic timelines, and covers the digital ID that lets you start using your identity number days before the plastic card reaches you. If you are relocating to set up a company, the same sequence applies to investor and partner visas, and we cover that route at the end.
What the Emirates ID is and who needs one
The Emirates ID is a biometric smart card. The chip stores your fingerprints, an iris scan, a digital photograph, a digital signature, and your personal identity data, and it carries a unique 15-digit identity number that stays with you across renewals. Since 2016 it has replaced separate health insurance cards for most government interactions, which is part of why it sits at the centre of daily life in the UAE.
Every resident holding a valid residence visa must carry one, whether the visa is for employment, business, investment, or family sponsorship. For expats the card expires when the residence visa expires or is cancelled, so the renewal cycle follows your visa. For Emirati citizens the card is valid for 5 years under the age of 21 and 10 years from 21 onwards.
What you need in place first
The single most common reason applications stall is starting the Emirates ID before the underlying residence visa is moving. The card cannot be finalised until your visa is approved and activated in the immigration system, so the order matters.
For a new resident, two things sit ahead of the Emirates ID. The first is the residence visa application itself, whether through an employer, a free zone authority, a family sponsor, or an investor route. The second is the medical fitness test, which is mandatory for new applicants aged 15 and above and usually involves a blood test and a chest X-ray. The medical clearance feeds into your visa file, and only then does the Emirates ID move to completion. Our setup guide (Part II) covers immigration, medical fitness and Emirates ID as one connected sequence.
How to get your Emirates ID: the step-by-step process
- Start or confirm your residence visa. The Emirates ID is linked to your visa file, so the visa application has to be in motion first. Your employer, free zone authority, family sponsor, or investor route initiates this.
- Complete the medical fitness test. New residents aged 15 and above take a government-approved medical test, typically a blood test and chest X-ray. Standard results are usually ready within a day, and express options return them in around 30 minutes.
- Submit the Emirates ID application. Apply through the ICP website, the ICP UAE app, or an accredited typing centre. The form captures your passport details, visa details, and contact information, and the fee is paid at this stage.
- Provide your documents. Submit your original passport with valid visa, a recent passport-size photograph on a white background, and the completed application form. Dependants add a birth certificate or proof of relationship.
- Attend your biometrics appointment. Visit an ICP Customer Happiness Centre to give fingerprints, an iris scan, a photograph, and a signature. First-time applicants do this once. Book early, because popular slots fill quickly, and arrive on time or you risk rescheduling.
- Have your residence visa stamped. The visa is stamped or activated in the immigration system. The Emirates ID cannot be finalised until this is done, which is why visa stamping and biometrics often happen close together.
- Track the application. Use the reference number on your application receipt to track progress on the ICP website or app. The status moves through submission, biometric confirmation, card printing, and dispatch.
- Collect your Emirates ID. Emirates Post sends an SMS with a tracking number once the card is ready. Collect it from the assigned post office or receive delivery. In the meantime, your digital ID is already usable in the app.
Apply for the Emirates ID within 30 days of your visa being stamped. The clock on processing starts at your biometrics appointment, not at application, so booking that slot early is the main thing you control on speed.
Documents required
Requirements differ slightly between a primary applicant and a sponsored dependant. Bring originals to your biometrics appointment, since a missing document usually means being turned away.
New applicants
- Original passport with valid UAE residence visa
- Recent passport-size photograph, white background
- Completed Emirates ID application form or e-form receipt
- Medical fitness certificate (new residents)
- Entry permit or visa status-change document, where applicable
Dependants
- Original passport with valid residence visa
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Birth certificate (for children) or proof of relationship
- Sponsor's Emirates ID
- Marriage certificate, for a spouse, where requested
Emirates ID fees in 2026
The base government fee is AED 100 per year of residence validity. Service and smart-application fees are added on top, and applying through a typing centre adds a separate charge. The figures below are the government fees that most residents pay. Treat them as a current reference rather than a fixed quote, since ICP can revise them.
| Item | Fee (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates ID, 1-year validity | ~170 | Base AED 100 plus service and smart-application fees |
| Emirates ID, 2-year validity | ~270 | AED 100 per year plus service fees |
| Emirates ID, 3-year validity | ~370 | AED 100 per year plus service fees |
| Typing centre service charge | 30 to 150 | Varies by centre, charged separately |
| Urgent (Fawri) service | +150 | Reduces processing to 1 to 3 working days |
| Lost or damaged card replacement | 300 | Police report required for a lost card |
| Late renewal fine | 20 per day | After one month past expiry, capped at AED 1,000 |
| Medical fitness test (visa step) | 320 to 700 | Separate from the ID; standard to express or VIP |
For citizens and Golden Visa holders: Emirati citizens pay AED 100 for a 5-year card and AED 200 for a 10-year card. Golden Visa holders receive a 10-year Emirates ID aligned with the visa, charged at the standard per-year rate across the full term.
How long does it take to get an Emirates ID?
Standard processing runs about 5 to 10 working days from the date your biometrics are captured, followed by 1 to 3 days for Emirates Post to deliver or stage the card for collection. The clock starts at biometrics, not at application, so booking the biometrics slot promptly is the main lever you control on speed.
If you need the card sooner, the urgent Fawri service through ICP Customer Happiness Centres can bring delivery down to 24 to 48 hours for an additional fee of roughly AED 150. For most relocation tasks, though, the digital ID covers the gap, which is the next section.
How to generate your digital Emirates ID
This is the part many people search for separately, often phrased as how to generate or download the Emirates ID. There is no separate document to generate. Instead, a digital version of your existing Emirates ID becomes available electronically, and you access it two ways.
Through the ICP UAE app
Download the official ICP UAE app and sign in. Once your application is approved, a digital copy of your Emirates ID appears in the app, frequently several days before the physical card is printed. It is officially recognised, which means you can use it to open a bank account, register a mobile plan, and complete many government and private transactions while the plastic card is in production.
Through UAE Pass and the QR code
UAE Pass, the national digital identity app, also stores your verified identity and links to your Emirates ID, and a scannable QR code can be presented where a digital check is accepted. For new residents, the practical takeaway is simple: install the ICP app right after your biometrics appointment so your digital ID is ready the moment the application clears.
Collecting your card
When ICP finishes printing your card, it is handed to Emirates Post, and you receive an SMS with a tracking number. Depending on how you applied, you either collect it from the designated post office or receive delivery to your address. Keep the SMS, since the tracking reference is what the post office uses to release the card.
Renewing, replacing and fines
Renewal
Renew your Emirates ID before it expires, ideally starting up to 30 days ahead. The process mirrors a first application, submitted through the ICP website, the app, or a typing centre. Biometrics may be skipped if your existing data is recent, which shortens the renewal. Because the card tracks your visa, a renewed visa is usually the trigger to renew the ID.
Lost or damaged card
For a lost card, file a police report first, then apply for a replacement through the ICP website, the app, or a typing centre. The replacement fee is AED 300, and your identity number stays the same on the new card.
Fines
If you let the card lapse, a late fee of AED 20 per day applies once you are more than one month past expiry, capped at AED 1,000. Beyond the fine, an expired Emirates ID can delay visa approvals and restrict banking and utility access, so renewal is not something to leave late.
Emirates ID for company founders and investors
If you are getting your Emirates ID as part of setting up a business in the UAE, the sequence is the same, with one difference at the start. Your residence visa comes through an investor or partner route attached to your new company, rather than through an employer. Once the company is licensed and the establishment card is issued, the visa, medical, biometrics, and Emirates ID steps follow exactly as described above, and a free zone or mainland authority typically coordinates the visa side for you. If you are weighing the residency routes, our UAE visa guides set out the investor, partner and family options.
The reason founders get caught out is timing. The Emirates ID depends on a stamped visa, the visa depends on the trade licence and establishment card, and each stage has its own queue. Sequencing them correctly is what keeps a relocation on schedule. If you want the licence, visa, and Emirates ID planned as one route rather than three disconnected steps, start with the cost estimator or read the investor and Golden Visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get an Emirates ID?
Standard processing is about 5 to 10 working days from the date your biometrics are captured, plus 1 to 3 days for Emirates Post delivery. Urgent Fawri processing can reduce this to 24 to 48 hours for an extra fee.
How much does an Emirates ID cost in 2026?
For residents the government fee is roughly AED 170 for a 1-year card, AED 270 for 2 years, and AED 370 for 3 years, built on AED 100 per year of validity plus service fees. Typing centre charges of AED 30 to 150 may apply, and a lost or damaged replacement is AED 300.
Can I get a digital Emirates ID before the physical card arrives?
Yes. A digital version of your Emirates ID appears in the ICP UAE app shortly after your application is approved, often several days before the physical card. It is officially recognised for opening a bank account, registering a mobile plan, and many government transactions.
Do I need a residence visa before applying for an Emirates ID?
Yes. The Emirates ID is linked to your residence visa file and its validity matches the visa duration. New residents must apply within 30 days of the visa being stamped.
What happens if I do not renew my Emirates ID on time?
A late fee of AED 20 per day applies once the card is more than one month past expiry, capped at AED 1,000. An expired card can also delay visa approvals and restrict banking and other services.
Is the medical fitness test part of the Emirates ID fee?
No. The medical fitness test is a separate visa step with its own fee, usually between AED 320 and AED 700 depending on whether you choose standard or express service. It is mandatory for new residents and feeds into your visa file.
Sources: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) and the UAE Government portal (u.ae); ICP smart services fee schedule and urgent (Fawri) guidance; Emirates Post collection notifications. Fees and processing times can change and individual cases vary, so confirm the current fees and process directly with ICP at icp.gov.ae or an accredited typing centre before you apply or pay. Educational content, not legal advice.