How to Get an Emirates ID: Ultimate Checklist of 6 Steps

Get Your Emirates ID FAST: Ultimate 6 Step Checklist

The Emirates ID is more than just a smart card; it’s the basic proof of identity and legal residency in the UAE. For every new resident—whether you are an investor setting up a business, a professional taking up a new job or a dependent joining a family—getting this card is the single most important step after getting your residency visa.

The process handled by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security (ICP) is highly digitalised, and it’s faster than ever before. But the sequence of steps and the accuracy of documents are non-negotiable and mandatory. Missing a step or submitting an incomplete form can lead to costly delays and fines.

This guide is your Ultimate Checklist, breaking down the 6 must-do steps for a smooth Emirates ID application. Follow this step-by-step process, and you’ll get your new Emirates ID UAE in no time and unlock access to banking, healthcare, utilities and daily life in the Emirates. Keeping your Emirates ID information updated is crucial for accessing essential services such as healthcare, banking, travel, and government interactions.

The Foundation: What is the Emirates ID and why is it Compulsory?

Before we get to the checklist, you need to understand the importance of the card itself.

The Emirates ID is your official ID in the UAE for all citizens and residents. It is required for every UAE citizen as well as residents. It has your personal details, biometric data (fingerprints and eye scan) and a digital certificate stored on an electronic chip. Additionally, the card contains a unique 15-digit ID number assigned to each holder, which is used for identification across various services.

The Power of the Card: Life in the UAE

Having a valid Emirates ID is compulsory and is the key to all essential services:

1. Banking: Opening a personal bank account, applying for loans and doing complex transactions. The Emirates ID is required for opening a bank account, applying for loans, and conducting financial transactions.

2. Government: Registering for health insurance, accessing public healthcare, registering utility accounts (DEWA, SEWA, ADDC), and accessing other government services.

3. Communication: Getting a mobile phone contract and setting up home internet.

4. Legal & Travel: Renting property (Ejari registration), signing legal contracts and using e-Gates at UAE airports for faster immigration.

5. Employment: It’s linked to your residency and is proof of your legal right to live and work in the country.

Who Can Apply? Eligibility and Requirements

The Emirates ID is a mandatory identification card for all UAE citizens, residents, and GCC nationals living in the UAE. Whether you are a UAE national, hold a valid residence visa, or are a GCC national residing in the Emirates, you are required to apply for an Emirates ID to access essential services and government facilities.

Ultimate Checklist: The 6 Essential Emirates ID Steps

The Emirates ID application is linked to the residency visa process. The Emirates ID application is linked directly to the residency approval process and cannot be issued independently of visa approval. For new residents, the steps are usually initiated after you receive your Entry Permit and complete the Status Change (if applicable).

Step 1: Get Your Entry Permit and Complete Status Change

This step comes before the physical Emirates ID steps, but is the legal basis of the application.

• Sponsor’s Role: Your sponsor (employer, company or individual) must first get your Entry Permit (also known as a pink visa or e-visa), which allows you to enter the country.

• Status Adjustment (If Already in the UAE): If you entered on a tourist visa and are changing to a residency visa, your sponsor must process a Status Change before the residency process can begin.

• Mandatory Document: Make sure you have the electronic Entry Permit and the stamped status change documents ready. No Emirates ID application can start without valid proof of your current status in the UAE. The Emirates ID process can only proceed once your residency visa has been officially approved by the authorities.

Step 2: Undergo Medical Fitness Test

Medical Fitness Test is a mandatory requirement for all new residency applicants above a certain age (usually 18). It must be done and cleared before the residency visa is stamped, and thus before the ID card is issued. This requirement applies to all new visa applicants, including employees, students, dependents, and domestic workers.

• The Process: The test involves a blood test (for communicable diseases like HIV and Hepatitis) and a chest X-ray (for Tuberculosis).

• Where to Go: The test must be done at an officially recognised government medical centre (like those operated by SEHA or DHA/MOH). You can usually choose between standard service or a faster, more expensive “Express” service. In Dubai, Smart Salem offers fast, digital medical fitness testing services that streamline the Emirates ID and visa renewal process.

• Checklist Action: Get the Original Medical Fitness Certificate. This document is required for the next steps.

Step 3: Fill the Emirates ID Application Form

Once your medical results are clear, you can now officially submit the Emirates ID application. This involves filling up the application form with ICP (Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security). You can apply for a new Emirates ID card through the website of the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security - ICP, or through an authorised typing centre.

• Channels of Application:

• Typing centre (Amer/Tash’eel): The most common method. Certified centres help fill up the digital application form, ensure accuracy and collect all necessary documents and fees. This is fast and reliable.

• ICP Smart Services (Online): You can also apply directly through the ICP website or the ICP mobile app. This requires knowledge of the system and self-checking of documents.

• Mandatory Documents for Submission:

• Original Passport (with Entry Permit).

• Recent passport-sized photo (meeting ICP standards: white background, clear facial features).

• Original Medical Fitness Certificate.

• Sponsor’s Documents (copy of trade license, establishment card, and sponsor’s Emirates ID).

• Checklist Action: Pay the applicable fees (which vary based on the visa duration, usually 2 or 3 years) and get the Application Form Receipt (also known as the E-Form). Fees for the Emirates ID depend on the validity period of the ID, with examples including AED 170 for a one-year ID, AED 270 for a two-year ID, and AED 370 for a three-year ID. Note that passport-sized photographs must have a white background to meet ICP standards.

Step 4: Attend Biometric Appointment

This is the only physical visit for most applicants and is one of the most important Emirates ID steps. The purpose is to capture your biometric data, which will be stored in the smart chip.

• The Invitation: After applying (Step 3), you will receive an SMS from ICP with the date, time and location of your biometric appointment.

• The Procedure: At the designated ICP Service Centre or Customer Happiness Centre, your fingerprints, eye scan (iris scan) and final photograph will be taken. This data is the permanent digital identity linked to your new Emirates ID Dubai. The biometric information collected includes fingerprints, palm scans, and a photograph, which are used to verify your identity and ensure security. After submitting biometrics, you can follow the application status.

• What to Bring: Bring your Original Passport, Application Form Receipt (E-Form) and potentially the clearance certificate from your medical exam. Be punctual.

Step 5: Residency Visa Stamping

This step is usually done after the medical test and often at the same time as the biometric appointment. The Emirates ID card cannot be finalised until your residency visa is physically stamped in your passport.

• The Process: The sponsor or a designated PRO will submit your passport to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) for stamping.

• The Link: The residency visa validity period (e.g. 2 years, 3 years, 5 years for Green Visa or 10 years for Golden Visa) is directly linked to the validity of your new Emirates ID UAE.

• Checklist Action: Get your passport back with the official Residency Visa Sticker inside. This confirms you are a resident.

Please note that specific procedures and requirements for residency visa stamping and Emirates ID issuance may vary depending on the emirate where your application is processed.

Step 6: Track and Collect Your New Emirates ID

Once all the requirements—medical clearance, biometrics and visa stamping—are complete, the ICP will finalise the card production.

• Tracking: Use the reference number on your E-Form receipt to track the status online via the ICP website or app. You can track your Emirates ID application status online using the application PRAN number on the ICP website. You will receive a text message (SMS) with updates about your appointment details and card status when the card status changes to “Ready for Delivery”.

• Delivery: The card will be delivered via Emirates Post to the address specified on your application (usually the sponsor’s office or the registered residential address). You have 90 days to collect your Emirates ID after notification that it is ready.

• Final Step: Collect the card. Congratulations! You now have your new Emirates ID UAE.

How Flyingcolour Business Setup Can Help You

Navigating the six steps for the Emirates ID application—which involves coordination between your sponsor, medical centres, GDRFA and ICP—can be overwhelming, especially for new residents. simplifies the entire process, ensuring compliance and speed.

• End-to-End PRO Services: Flyingcolour acts as your professional liaison (PRO - Public Relations Officer). They manage the entire administrative pipeline, from applying for the Entry Permit to collecting your final Emirates ID card.

• Document Management: They prepare, review, translate and submit all necessary documents, ensuring 100% compliance with ICP and GDRFA requirements. This eliminates the risk of rejection due to errors in the Emirates ID application E-Form.* Fast Appointment Booking. They book your Medical Fitness Test and Biometric Appointment for you, so you can attend quickly and avoid waiting times.

• Full Visa Integration: For investors and employees, Flyingcolour manages the entire business setup (Mainland or Free Zone) and the subsequent investor/employee visa application, and integrates the Emirates ID steps into the residency process.

By working with Flyingcolour Business Setup, you go from entry to residency with your new Emirates ID UAE in hand, fast and stress-free.

Flyingcolour Business Setup is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or consequences resulting from reliance on the information provided in this checklist.

FAQs About Emirates ID

1. How long does the entire Emirates ID application process take for new residents?

The whole process, from submitting the initial E-Form to getting the physical new Emirates ID UAE, takes 5 to 10 working days (after the Medical Fitness Test is cleared and the passport is stamped). You can opt for the express "Fawri" service at some ICP centres for an additional fee, which can reduce the waiting time for the card delivery to 24-48 hours. Typically, the Emirates ID application process takes 7-10 business days. Additionally, if you apply for the express service for a replacement card, you can receive your Emirates ID within 48 hours from the time of submitting the replacement application.

2. Is the Emirates ID mandatory for children or dependents?

Yes. The Emirates ID is mandatory for all UAE residents, regardless of age, including newborns and children under 15 years old who are sponsored by a parent. While children under 15 do not usually go through the biometric (fingerprint/eye scan) process, they still need to complete the full Emirates ID application process and get a card linked to their residency. For children under 15, an original birth certificate and the parents' passports or Emirates IDs are required. You can apply for the ID card renewal service at the website of ICP, or through the ICP App on Google Play, App Store and Huawei, or through an accredited typing centre. The time limit to renew an expired ID card is 30 days from the date of expiry, after which late fines will apply.

3. Can I apply for the Emirates ID online, or do I need to go to a typing centre?

You can initiate the Emirates ID application online via the ICP website or the official ICP UAE app. However, many new residents prefer to go to an accredited typing centre (Amer or Tas'heel) as the staff will ensure the E-Form is filled correctly, collect the fees and link the file to the ICP system, minimising the risk of errors in the Emirates ID steps. You can also apply for a replacement at a Customer Happiness Centre or online.

4. What if I lose my Emirates ID?

If you lose your Emirates ID, you need to report the loss to the nearest police station to get an official police report. Then you apply for a replacement card (Issuance of a Replacement for a lost/damaged ID card) through the ICP smart services or a typing centre, paying the applicable fees (replacement fee + application fee). If you have lost your Emirates ID card, or suspect it has been stolen, or it has been damaged, you must request a replacement of Emirates ID card from the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security- ICP. You will need to pay an AED 300 fee for the replacement of a lost or damaged ID, in addition to application fees.

5. Can I use my application form receipt as a temporary ID?

Yes. Until you receive your new physical Emirates ID UAE, you can use your Emirates ID application receipt (E-Form) or the digital copy of the stamped visa in your passport as a temporary ID to access banks, telecom services and some government departments. You can monitor the progress of your application online at any time by entering your Emirates ID application number or passport details on the ICP website. You can also apply to modify or update any details related to an existing and valid ID card online through the UAE Pass application.