If there is one document that makes your life in Dubai real, it is your Emirates ID. Not your passport. Not your residency visa stamp. Your Emirates ID. It is the card that unlocks everything: your bank account, your phone plan, your driving licence, your children’s school enrolment, your gym membership, your doctor’s appointment. Without it, you are an expat in limbo. With it, you are a resident of Dubai. This guide explains how to get your emirates id in dubai.
The good news is that getting your Emirates ID is not complicated. The process is well established, relatively fast, and for most expats it happens as a natural part of the residency visa process. But there are things worth knowing before you start, common questions that catch newcomers off guard, and practical tips that make the whole experience smoother. This guide covers all of it, including how to get your emirates id in dubai.
What Is the Emirates ID and Why Does It Matter So Much?
The Emirates ID is a smart card issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security, known as ICP. It is the official national identity document for UAE residents and citizens, and it contains a chip with your biometric data, your residency information, and your unique identification number.
Every resident of the UAE, including all expats on a valid residency visa, is legally required to hold a valid Emirates ID. It is not optional and it is not just useful to have. It is mandatory.
What your Emirates ID number gives you access to: Bank account opening, SIM card registration, vehicle registration, school and nursery enrolment, healthcare registration, government services, property rental contracts, utilities setup, and almost every other formal transaction you will conduct in Dubai. Many services in the UAE simply will not proceed without an Emirates ID number, even before the physical card arrives.
The Emirates ID also contains your residency details, which means it effectively proves both your identity and your legal right to be in the UAE in a single document. Carry it with you. You will use it constantly.
Who Needs to Apply and When
Every person on a UAE residency visa must have an Emirates ID. This includes employed expats, dependent family members, freelancers, investors, Golden Visa holders, and retirees. There is no minimum age: children on dependent visas also need Emirates IDs, and newborn babies born in the UAE are registered and issued IDs as part of the birth registration process.
When to apply: The Emirates ID application is almost always initiated as part of your residency visa process. For employment visas, your employer’s PRO (Public Relations Officer) typically handles the Emirates ID application alongside the visa application. For dependent visas, the sponsor or a typing centre handles it. You do not usually apply for the Emirates ID separately as a standalone process.
New residents: Your Emirates ID application will be submitted either before or very shortly after you complete your medical fitness test and biometrics. The card is then issued and delivered by post, usually within five to ten working days of your biometrics being completed.
Renewals: Emirates IDs are issued for the same duration as your residency visa, typically two years for employment and dependent visas, five or ten years for Golden Visa holders. You need to renew your Emirates ID when your residency visa is renewed. Applying for renewal should happen within 30 days of your visa renewal to avoid a fine.
How to Get Your Emirates ID in Dubai: The Step by Step Process
Step 1: Residency visa entry permit. Before an Emirates ID can be issued, you must have an entry permit for your residency visa. For employment visas this is obtained by your employer. For other visa types it is obtained through the relevant authority.
Step 2: Medical fitness test. All residency visa applicants must undergo a medical fitness test at an approved health centre. The test includes a blood test and chest X-ray. Results are typically available within 24 to 48 hours. Approved medical centres are located across Dubai and you do not need an appointment at most of them.
Step 3: Biometrics registration. Once your medical test is clear, you will attend an ICP service centre or a typing centre to have your biometrics taken. This involves fingerprinting all ten fingers and a photograph. This step is mandatory for everyone, including children aged five and above. The appointment takes around 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 4: Application submission. The Emirates ID application is submitted either by your employer’s PRO, a typing centre, or directly through the ICP website or app. The application includes your personal details, residency information, and biometric data captured in the previous step.
Step 5: Card production and delivery. Once the application is processed and approved, your Emirates ID is produced and delivered by Emirates Post to your registered address. Delivery typically takes five to ten working days from the completion of biometrics. You will receive an SMS notification when your card is dispatched and again when it is out for delivery.
How Long Does the Emirates ID Take?
This is the question everyone asks, usually because they urgently need the ID number for a bank account or SIM card and the physical card has not arrived yet.
The full process from medical test to card delivery typically takes two to four weeks for most expats. Here is a rough breakdown:
- Medical fitness test results: 1 to 2 days
- Biometrics appointment and processing: 1 to 3 days
- Application processing and approval: 3 to 7 working days
- Card production and delivery by Emirates Post: 5 to 10 working days
The good news is that you do not have to wait for the physical card to start using your Emirates ID number. Once your application is submitted and approved, your Emirates ID number is generated and accessible through the ICP smart services app or website. Most banks, schools, and service providers will accept your Emirates ID number even before the physical card arrives.
How to Track Your Emirates ID Application
You do not have to sit and wonder where your card is. The ICP provides straightforward ways to track your application status.
ICP Smart Services app: Download the ICP Smart Services app on your phone. You can log in with your application number or Emirates ID number and check the current status of your application, see when it has been approved, and track the delivery.
ICP website: The same tracking is available through the ICP website at the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship portal.
SMS notifications: You will receive automated SMS updates at each stage of the process, including when your card is dispatched for delivery.
Emirates Post tracking: Once dispatched, you will receive a tracking number from Emirates Post and can follow your card’s delivery status directly.
What to Do If Your Emirates ID Does Not Arrive
It happens occasionally. Cards go to the wrong address, get held at a post office, or are returned to sender if nobody was home for the delivery. Do not panic.
Check your registered address: Confirm that the address registered on your application is correct. A small error in an address can mean the card ends up in the wrong building or returned.
Contact Emirates Post: If your tracking shows the card was delivered but you have not received it, contact Emirates Post directly with your tracking number.
Request a replacement: If your card is genuinely lost, you can apply for a replacement through the ICP Smart Services app or website. There is a fee for replacement cards, currently around AED 300, so make sure you have genuinely exhausted all other options before applying for a replacement.
Collect from ICP service centre: In some cases, particularly if multiple delivery attempts have failed, the card may be held at an ICP service centre for collection. Check the ICP app for guidance specific to your situation.
Emirates ID Renewal: What You Need to Know
Your Emirates ID expires at the same time as your residency visa. When you renew your visa, you must also renew your Emirates ID. This is not automatic, it requires a separate application and fee, though the process mirrors the original application.
When to renew: Apply for renewal within 30 days of your visa renewal to avoid a fine. The fine for a lapsed Emirates ID is AED 20 per day, capped at AED 1,000. Do not leave this until your card has already expired.
Renewal process: The renewal process is similar to the original application. You may need to update your biometrics if your last registration was more than a certain number of years ago. Your employer’s PRO or a typing centre can handle this, or you can do it through the ICP Smart Services app.
Renewal fee: The Emirates ID renewal fee is currently AED 370 for a two-year card, plus a service fee if processed through a typing centre of around AED 40 to AED 70.
Emirates ID for Children
Children on dependent visas require their own Emirates IDs, and many parents are surprised to learn this applies to very young children. There is no minimum age.
Children under 15: Do not need to provide fingerprints. The biometrics step involves a photograph only. The process is otherwise the same as for adults and the card is delivered by post to your home address.
Children 15 and over: Provide full biometrics including fingerprints, the same as adults.
Newborns: Babies born in Dubai are registered and issued an Emirates ID as part of the birth certificate and residency process. This is handled through the hospital at the time of birth registration.
For families with multiple children, coordinating the Emirates ID applications alongside school enrolment deadlines is worth planning carefully. Schools require Emirates IDs for enrolment and some have strict deadlines. For more on navigating the school system in Dubai, our guide on Dubai Schools Guide for Expats covers the full process.
Costs: What to Budget For
The Emirates ID is not free, and there are a few different fees involved depending on your situation.
- New Emirates ID (2-year): AED 370 in government fees
- New Emirates ID (5-year, Golden Visa): AED 570 in government fees
- Renewal (2-year): AED 370 in government fees
- Typing centre or PRO service fee: AED 40 to AED 100
- Urgent processing (if requested): additional AED 150 to AED 300
- Replacement card (lost or damaged): approximately AED 300
For employment visa holders, your employer is typically required to cover the cost of your Emirates ID as part of your employment package. If they are not doing this, it is worth raising — it is standard practice.
Common Questions About the Emirates ID
Can I open a bank account without my Emirates ID? Most banks in Dubai will not open an account without an Emirates ID or at minimum a confirmed Emirates ID number from your application. Some banks can begin the process with your passport and visa copy but will require the Emirates ID to complete account activation. Our post on Best Banks in Dubai for Expats covers which banks are most flexible during this transition period.
What if my Emirates ID expires while I am outside the UAE? Your ID will still expire on its expiry date regardless of where you are. If you are outside the UAE when it expires, you will need to renew it when you return. If you are outside the UAE for more than six months on a standard employment or dependent visa, be aware that your residency visa itself may also lapse.
Do I need to carry my Emirates ID at all times? Technically yes, residents are required to carry their Emirates ID. In practice, many expats carry a photo of it on their phone for daily use and keep the physical card safe at home. However, for any official interaction, financial transaction, or government service, you will need the physical card.
Can I use my Emirates ID to travel within the GCC? UAE citizens can use their Emirates ID to travel within certain GCC countries. For expat residents, this does not apply and you will need your passport for all international travel.
Final Thoughts
Getting your Emirates ID is one of the first and most important steps you will take as a new resident of Dubai. It is the document that makes everything else possible, and once you have it in your hand that first time, there is a particular feeling of belonging that comes with it. You are not just visiting any more. You live here.
The process is straightforward, the timelines are manageable, and for the vast majority of expats it happens smoothly as part of the broader residency visa process. Follow the steps, track your application, and use your Emirates ID number the moment it is available rather than waiting for the physical card.
Welcome to Dubai. You are going to love it here.
For official Emirates ID applications, renewals, and status tracking, visit the ICP Smart Services portal directly. For more on setting up your life in Dubai once you have your ID in hand, our guide on What is the Real Cost of Living in Dubai is the perfect next read.
Dearest Dubai 🤍