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Emirates ID renewal for a UAE resident costs AED 100 for each year of the residence permit plus a AED 100 smart application fee, paid to ICP (the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security). You can renew in the final six months of the card. ICP gives 30 days after expiry, then fines AED 20 a day up to AED 1,000.
This page is a guide. DubaiTypingCenters.com does not issue or renew Emirates ID cards and does not offer an Emirates ID service. The card is an ICP service, and the steps below are the ones ICP publishes. If you have never held a card, you need a new card instead, covered in our Emirates ID application guide.
What the renewal costs
| Who renews | ICP fee | Smart fee | Urgent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident (expat) | AED 100 per year of residence | AED 100 | Not listed |
| UAE citizen under 21 (5 year card) | AED 100 | Not listed | AED 150, centers only |
| UAE citizen 21 and over (10 year card) | AED 200 | Not listed | AED 150, centers only |
| GCC citizen (5 year card) | AED 100 | AED 100 | AED 150 |
Source: ICP service page for Emirates ID renewal, checked .
So a resident on a two year visa pays AED 300 to ICP, and a resident on a three year permit pays AED 400. If you use a typing center to fill in the form, its charge comes on top. Published price lists of Dubai typing centers, PRO firms and free zones show an Emirates ID form at about AED 40 to 100, checked . Ask for the typing charge before the form is printed, because it varies between shops.
When to renew, and the late fine
ICP lets residents renew at expiry or at any time in the card's last six months. After the expiry date you have 30 days. From day 31 the fine is AED 20 per day, capped at AED 1,000, which is reached after 50 days of fines.
There is a second fine people forget. If your details change (a new passport, for example) and you do not report it within 30 days, ICP can fine AED 20 a day for that too, again capped at AED 1,000. If you got a new passport during the life of the card, the renewal is a good moment to bring your file up to date.
Why the visa decides everything
A resident's Emirates ID is tied to the residence permit. It expires when the visa expires, and it is cancelled automatically when the visa is cancelled. That has two practical effects:
- You cannot keep a valid card on an expired visa. If your visa runs out first, renew the residence visa and the card renewal follows with it.
- The card length matches the permit. A two year visa gives a card priced at two years; a longer permit costs AED 100 more per extra year.
The visa cost calculator on the UAE visa page adds the Emirates ID to the GDRFA and medical test fees, so you can see the full government total for a renewal.
Documents ICP asks for
- A new personal photo. It must not be the same photo as on your current card.
- Your passport, valid for at least 3 months.
- Supporting documents for your category, if ICP asks for them.
A medical test is not part of the card renewal itself, but it is part of most residence renewals for people aged 18 and over. The medical test guide covers the fee levels and the Dubai Health centers.
Where to apply
You have three routes:
- ICP smart services online, where you fill in the application and pay yourself.
- A typing center, which fills in the form and submits it for a small charge. Typing centers still do Emirates ID typing; it is one of the jobs they kept after visa work moved to Amer centers. Our guide to what typing centers do explains the split.
- An ICP customer happiness center for urgent cards and biometrics. ICP's service page lists its centers by name, among them Al Rashidiya and Al Barsha.
An Amer center handles the GDRFA residence visa. If you renew the visa through Amer, ask whether the Emirates ID application is included in the same file. Our list of Amer centers in Dubai shows where they are.
Fingerprints and collection
Card holders aged 15 and over only go in for fingerprints and signature when ICP asks for them. Most renewals do not need a visit. ICP lists 5 days to complete the renewal. The standard card is delivered by courier, so keep your phone number on the ICP file current. Urgent cards are collected at a service center.
To follow your application, use the application number ICP gives you. Our Emirates ID status check guide shows the ICP tracking page and what each result means.
Common problems
- Same photo as last time. ICP rejects a photo that matches the one on the current card. Get a fresh one before you apply.
- Passport too close to expiry. Less than 3 months left means you renew the passport first.
- Waiting for the visa that already lapsed. Once the residence permit has expired, the card cannot be renewed on its own. Deal with the visa, and check the overstay rules if the visa expired some time ago.
- Lost card instead of expired card. A lost or damaged card is a replacement, not a renewal, with a different fee. See what to do if you lose your Emirates ID.
