Residence visa, Emirates ID and visa procedures, with specialists on the ground in Dubai and payment in stages.
Learn about our supportThe Emirates ID is the single UAE resident card: without it you cannot open a bank account, rent a home, get a SIM card or enrol a child in school. This article covers what the Emirates ID is, how to get it through an Amer centre or the ICA Smart app, timelines, cost and what to do while you wait for the card.
What the Emirates ID is
The Emirates ID (official name: UAE Identity Card) is a plastic card with a chip that serves as the main identity document for all UAE residents. It is issued by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICP).
The card shows:
- The holder's full name (in Latin and Arabic script)
- A photo
- Date of birth, sex, nationality
- A 15-digit identity number (ID number)
- Date of issue and expiry
- A chip with biometric data (fingerprints, photo)
The Emirates ID is tied to the residence visa: the card is valid for the same period as the visa. When the visa is renewed, the card must be renewed too, and when the visa is cancelled, according to u.ae, the Emirates ID is cancelled automatically.
Why you need an Emirates ID
The Emirates ID is not just a document for border checks. It is the key to the whole UAE infrastructure. Without it, a resident cannot really function day to day.
Main uses:
- Bank account. ENBD, ADCB, Mashreq, WIO and FAB require an Emirates ID to open an account. More in the article How to open a bank account in the UAE
- Renting a home. To register a tenancy contract in Ejari (Dubai) or Tawtheeq (Abu Dhabi), the tenant's Emirates ID is needed
- Mobile service. du and Etisalat require an Emirates ID for a postpaid plan
- School. Enrolling a child in school requires the Emirates IDs of the parent and the child
- Driving licence. Exchanging a foreign licence or getting a UAE licence is not possible without an Emirates ID
- Government services. The ICA Smart, TAMM, Dubai Police and RTA apps use the Emirates ID to sign in
- Healthcare. Health insurance and clinic visits require an Emirates ID
- Air travel. The Emirates ID is used at SmartGates in UAE airports
Amer centres: what, where, opening hours
An Amer centre (sometimes spelled "Ameer") is a government-affiliated service centre, a one-stop shop for residence paperwork. Visas, Emirates IDs, immigration cards and medical tests are processed through Amer centres.
What to understand: an Amer centre is not a visa agency. It is a licensed intermediary that accepts documents on behalf of the ICA and the GDRFA and passes them to the government authorities. The centres' service fees are regulated, but check the final amount on the receipt.
Locations: Amer centres operate across all emirates, with the largest number in Dubai. Exact addresses and opening hours are on the GDRFA website (gdrfa.gov.ae) and in the ICA Smart app.
Typical opening hours:
- The exact schedule is on the page of the specific centre (in residents' experience, most centres are open from morning to evening on weekdays)
Hours may differ by emirate and by centre. During Ramadan, hours are shorter.
Getting an Emirates ID step by step
The Emirates ID procedure starts once the residence visa is approved. The process is usually started by the employer or a PRO (for free zone visas). If you apply yourself, the order is as follows.
Step 1. Visa approval (Entry Permit)
Once the GDRFA has approved your residence visa, you receive an Entry Permit, an electronic permission to enter. From this point you can apply for the Emirates ID.
Step 2. Medical test
Residents take a medical test (Medical Fitness Test) at approved medical centres. The results go directly into the ICA system. In residents' experience, the test includes a blood test and a chest X-ray.
Step 3. Biometrics and photo
You give biometric data: prints of all 10 fingers and a digital photo. This can be done:
- At an Amer centre, in person, with your passport and Entry Permit
- At a Tasheel centre, an alternative name for the same centres
- Through ICA Smart, the iOS/Android app, which lets you apply online and book a biometrics appointment
The photo on a white background is taken on site at the biometrics appointment; you do not need to bring your own.
Step 4. Payment
The Emirates ID fee is paid when you apply, at an Amer centre or through the ICA Smart app. Bank cards are accepted. Current fees are on the UAE government portal (u.ae); we recommend checking them yourself, because intermediaries sometimes charge 2–3 times more (according to Russian-speaking expat chats, January–July 2026).
Step 5. Receiving the card
Once the application is processed, the plastic Emirates ID card is delivered to the address you gave or can be collected at a pick-up point. An electronic version is also available in the ICA Smart app.
Timelines
In residents' experience, the Emirates ID is usually ready 5–7 working days after biometrics; at busy times (start of the school year, mass renewals) it can take 10–14 days. u.ae does not state an official standard processing time.
You can track the application status:
- In the ICA Smart app
- On the ICA website (icp.gov.ae)
- By SMS notification (if you gave a mobile number when applying)
The electronic copy of the Emirates ID (e-ID) usually appears in ICA Smart before the physical card arrives. Most organisations accept the electronic version on a par with the plastic card.
Prices
The cost of an Emirates ID is the ICA fee plus the Amer centre service fee (if you apply through one). Current fees are published on the official UAE government portal, u.ae. We recommend checking the cost yourself: according to Russian-speaking expat chats (January–July 2026), some intermediaries inflate government fees 2–3 times.
The cost depends on the card's validity, which is tied to the term of the residence visa. If you renew the card more than a month after it expires, according to u.ae, a fee of AED 20 a day applies, up to AED 1,000.
What to do while you wait for the Emirates ID
Waiting for the Emirates ID is a common source of stress for new residents. Formally, without the card you cannot open a bank account, get a phone line or rent a home. In practice, there are workarounds.
Bank account. At some banks, a copy of the Emirates ID application is enough.
"In May I opened a salary card with ENBD. It took all of half an hour. And my Emirates ID wasn't ready yet; a copy of the application for it was enough."
— from a resident's experience, 2026
"And I came in 'just to ask' whether they would open an account and which documents I was missing, and they set everything up on the spot."
— from a resident's experience, 2026
More on opening an account without an Emirates ID in the article How to open a bank account in the UAE.
Electronic version. If the physical card has not arrived but the electronic version is already in ICA Smart, most organisations accept it.
SIM card. Prepaid SIM cards can be bought with a passport. A postpaid plan requires an Emirates ID.
Renting. Some landlords accept an Entry Permit plus a copy of the Emirates ID application, especially if the employer helps with the move.
Renewing the Emirates ID
The Emirates ID is renewed together with the residence visa. The procedure is similar to the first application, but in most cases without a repeat medical test:
- Renew the residence visa through your employer or free zone
- Apply to renew the Emirates ID through ICA Smart or an Amer centre
- Update your biometrics if needed (if the ICP asks for it)
- Pay the fee
- Receive the new card by post or at a pick-up point
Important: do not let it lapse. An expired Emirates ID causes problems with banking, renting and even leaving the country. For renewing the Emirates ID more than a month after it expires, according to u.ae, AED 20 a day applies (up to AED 1,000). For overstaying the visa itself after the grace period, the fine is AED 50 a day (according to the ICP, as reported by Gulf News).
Loss or replacement of the Emirates ID
If the card is lost, stolen or damaged:
- Apply for a replacement through ICA Smart or at an Amer centre
- Provide: passport, residence visa, a statement of loss (a police report if it was stolen)
- Pay the replacement fee (an extra charge for loss or damage)
- Receive the new card (in residents' experience, usually in 5–7 working days)
The electronic version in ICA Smart keeps working after the physical card is lost; use it while you wait for the replacement.
The overall path to residence in the UAE, from choosing a visa to the Emirates ID, is described in the UAE residence guide 2026. The first steps after arrival are covered in Moving to the UAE 2026.
More on visa routes and costs on the UAE residence page.
Choosing the visa route, documents, application and Emirates ID, end to end, with specialists on the ground and payment in stages.
Learn about our supportFrequently asked questions
At most banks, an Emirates ID is mandatory. But ENBD and some other banks sometimes accept a copy of the application for it, especially if you are opening a salary account through your employer (based on residents' experience, 2026).
In residents' experience, usually 5–7 working days after biometrics. At busy times, up to 10–14 days. The electronic version in ICA Smart usually appears before the physical card.
Yes, most organisations accept the electronic Emirates ID from the ICA Smart app on a par with the physical card.
Renew it as soon as possible. An expired Emirates ID blocks banking and causes problems at the border. For renewing more than a month after expiry, according to u.ae, AED 20 a day applies (up to AED 1,000); for overstaying the visa itself, AED 50 a day.
If changing employers involves cancelling the old visa and issuing a new one, yes, the Emirates ID is reissued. In residents' experience, the 15-digit ID number usually stays the same, but the card has to be reissued.