By Dubai Tax Resident Editorial Team · Last reviewed: October 2026
The Emirates ID is the mandatory identity card for every UAE resident, issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP). As a new resident, you apply for it together with your residence visa, give your fingerprints and photo at a service centre, and receive a card valid for the same period as your visa. You need it for almost everything in daily life: bank accounts, phone lines, tenancy registration, utilities and a UAE Tax Residency Certificate.
Key facts
- Issuer: ICP (federal), processed in Dubai with GDRFA
- Who needs it: all UAE residents, including children
- Validity: matches your residence visa
- Fee: based on validity, roughly AED 100 per year plus service charges
- Timeline: usually issued within days to a few weeks after biometrics
- Digital version: available through the UAE Pass and ICP apps
What is the Emirates ID used for?
- Opening bank accounts and applying for loans or credit cards
- Registering a mobile phone line
- Registering a tenancy contract in Ejari and connecting utilities (see how to move to Dubai)
- Accessing government services through UAE Pass
- Healthcare, insurance and school registrations
- Entering and leaving through e-gates at UAE airports
- Applying for a Tax Residency Certificate from the Federal Tax Authority
How to apply for an Emirates ID
For new residents, the Emirates ID application is part of the residence visa process. The steps are usually:
- Enter the UAE on an entry permit linked to your employer, company, family sponsor or Golden Visa.
- Submit the Emirates ID application, normally together with your residence visa application, through ICP or GDRFA channels, an Amer centre or a typing centre.
- Complete the medical fitness test required for the residence visa.
- Attend biometrics at an ICP service centre for fingerprints, photo and signature, if required by your age and history.
- Receive your card by courier or collect it. You can track the status online.
Documents you need
- Original passport with entry permit or residence visa
- Recent passport-size photo meeting ICP specifications
- Completed application form, usually prepared by a typing centre or online
- For children, the sponsor’s documents and birth certificate
How much does an Emirates ID cost?
The Emirates ID fee is based on the card’s validity, at roughly AED 100 per year, plus e-service and typing or delivery charges. A two-year card therefore costs a few hundred dirhams, and a ten-year card for a Golden Visa holder around AED 1,000 or more in total. Fees are often bundled into your visa package. Check the current amounts on the ICP website.
Renewal, replacement and cancellation
- Renewal: renew with your residence visa. Late renewal can lead to fines.
- Lost or damaged card: apply for a replacement through ICP or UAE Pass and pay a replacement fee.
- Leaving the UAE: your Emirates ID becomes invalid when your residence visa is cancelled.
Emirates ID and tax residency
Your Emirates ID is one of the key documents for a UAE tax residency certificate. The Federal Tax Authority typically asks for your Emirates ID, residence visa, a registered tenancy or title deed, and evidence of days spent in the UAE. Your entry and exit records, which are linked to your Emirates ID, help prove your presence. Read our guide to tax in Dubai for the residency tests.
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Frequently asked questions
The Emirates ID is the official identity card for UAE citizens and residents, issued by ICP. Residents must hold one, and it is used for banking, phone lines, government services and travel through airport e-gates.
After biometrics, the card is usually issued within a few days to a few weeks. The whole process is completed together with your residence visa.
The fee is roughly AED 100 per year of validity plus service charges. A two-year card costs a few hundred dirhams, while a ten-year card for Golden Visa holders costs around AED 1,000 or more in total.
Yes. The Emirates ID is issued for the same validity period as your residence visa and is renewed together with it.
Yes. A digital version is available through the UAE Pass and ICP apps and is accepted for many services, although some providers still ask for the physical card.
Apply for a replacement through ICP online services, UAE Pass or a service centre and pay the replacement fee. Report the loss promptly to avoid misuse.
Yes. All residents, including newborns and children, must have an Emirates ID. Young children may be exempt from fingerprinting at biometrics.
Yes. The Federal Tax Authority typically requires your Emirates ID and residence visa, together with a tenancy contract or title deed and evidence of your days in the UAE.
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Disclaimer: This article provides general information only. Fees and procedures change; confirm current requirements with ICP or GDRFA Dubai.