How to apply for Emirates ID for residency in Dubai?

Residency in Dubai

An Emirates ID is required if you want to have a permanent residence in Dubai. This card must be carried with you at all times, regardless of the city you live in. It is issued by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) and contains an electronic chip with all necessary data. Everything is saved in this small chip, from your fingerprints to other basic details and images, and it will assist you in nearly any transaction in the UAE, such as buying a home for sale, renting an apartment, short term rentals, buying a car in Dubai, and more.

An Emirates ID can be used for a variety of things in addition to being your official identification in the UAE. For example, you can use it to pay utility bills, register automobiles, and pay penalties, among other things. Furthermore, if you don’t have an Emirates ID, you won’t be allowed to buy property in Dubai or any other emirate.

For UAE nationals, the procedure for obtaining an Emirates ID is as follows:

Where can I get an Emirates ID?

If a UAE national needs to apply for an Emirates ID, they must go to an FAIC centre or a typing centre that has been approved. FAIC centres are positioned in certain happiness centres throughout the city.

Documents are required:

To have their application completed, a UAE national must provide the following documents:

Original Family Book Original Passport (required only if the application is made through a typing centre)

If the applicant is under the age of 15, the following documents are required to proceed:

Photograph with a backdrop

Original birth certificate or emirate ID/passport of their father

An ID number is necessary for new-born applications, which is issued at the time of registration in the Population Register.

Application Fees:

The cost of an Emirates ID is determined by how long it will be valid. Furthermore, the method of application has an impact on the fees. Take a peek at the particulars:

Original birth certificate or emirate ID/passport of their father

An ID number is necessary for new-born applications, which is issued at the time of registration in the Population Register.

Application Fees The cost of an Emirates ID is determined by how long it will be valid. Furthermore, the method of application has an impact on the fees. Take a peek at the particulars:

Applying through an FAIC Centre:

  • AED 290 for Emirates ID valid for 5 years
  • AED 390 for Emirates ID valid for 5 years

Applying through a Typing Centre:

  • AED 170 for Emirates ID valid for 5 years
  • AED 270 for Emirates ID valid for 5 years

Process to Apply:

You will be notified when your card is available to be picked up after the processing is completed.

If you applied through FAIC centres, you will be able to pick up your card within 24 hours. It may take up to 5 working days for your ID to be issued if you applied through a typing centre. Once it’s been issued, go to the post office you specified in your application to pick it up.

Expats’ Guide:

Expats, like UAE natives, are expected to keep their Emirates ID with them at all times. Whether they want to pay a bill or search for houses for sale in Dubai, they will need an Emirates ID to execute any transaction.

Where Should You Submit Your Application?

You can ask your employer to sponsor you and apply for an ID on your behalf if you are moving to Dubai for work. You can also do it on your own by submitting an application to a recognised typing centre in Dubai.

  • Documentation is required.
  • Authentic passport
  • A legal residency permit or an original entrance permit

These additional documents are required for those under the age of 15 or new-borns:

  • White background for a personal photo
  • Original birth certificate, or father’s Emirates ID, or passport
  • In the event of new-born, the applicant’s sponsor’s visa and passport are required.

 Fees for applications:

Similarly, to the Emirates ID card for citizens, the fee for an expat ID card is determined by the validity period. Additionally, customers must pay additional service fees. These fees also differ depending on the form of application.

Using an FAIC Centre or a Smart App to Apply:

  • AED 140 for a one-year validity period
  • AED 240 for a two-year validity period
  • AED 340 for a three-year validity period

Using a Typing Centre to Apply:

  • AED 170 for a one-year validity period
  • AED 270 for a two-year validity period
  • AED 370 for a three-year validity period

How to Apply for an Application:

  • When applying for an Emirates ID for expats through a typing center, follow these instructions:
  • Fill out the application form with all of the required information. You must pay the application fees. After that, you will receive an SMS confirming that your application has been received.
  • You must get your biometrics collected by an accredited Preventive Medicine Centre if you are 15 years or older. Fingerprints and pictures will be taken by authorized staff.
  • After that, your visa will be stamped, and your application will enter the processing stage. You will be given a tracking number that you may use to track and verify the status of your application.
  • You will receive an SMS after your card has been issued. The ID usually takes 5 working days to be issued. You must go to the post office you specified in your application to obtain your Emirates ID.

For the Nationals of the GCC:

The procedure for applying for an Emirates ID for GCC nationals is comparable to that for UAE nationals. They must, however, provide documentation of their residency in this city. It might be a letter of employment, a legitimate trade license, or a document stating that they studied in the UAE. Emirates ID is valid for 5 years for GCC nationals.

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