Emirates ID status - 3 easy steps to check it
What is Emirates ID?
Emirates ID is a document that any UAE resident must hold. It is issued after the residency visa is stamped into your passport and valid for the same period as your visa.
Emirates ID is used for a number of reasons such as:
- Applying for different government services like DEWA etc.
- Sponsoring dependents under your visa
- Renting an apartment
- Passing through the immigration e-gates at UAE airports
How to Check the Validity of an Existing Emirates ID/Visa.
You can check when you are not really aware of the exact date of expiry or in case you got stuck abroad and not sure if your residency status in UAE is still valid.
Visit the Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) website: https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/fileValidity
How to Check Emirates ID Application status:
Once you have applied for the ID or renewal, you can track its status online.
To check the status, you must have the Emirates ID number or the registration application number (you can find it on the application form).
Steps to check the Emirates ID status:
1) Visit the Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship (FAIC) website: www.ica.gov.ae (link is only available in the UAE). At the right side of the first page, there is a segment titled Check ID status menu option.
2) Enter your Application Number or Emirates ID number (don’t include the hyphen).
3) A popup box will appear with the Application status.
You can always keep a track of ID processing using the website of FAIC.
However, if you are facing any difficulties to get the detailed status from the website you can contact the authority directly on: 600 522222.
They will share with you the accurate status of the application.
How to get Emirates ID?
Emirates ID is applied for during the procedure of UAE visa application. If you make your visa with the help of a business setup consultancy company, normally UAE residence visa cost will include the Emirates ID expenses as well.
The visa cost is different depending on the Emirate and the authority from where it is issued. It starts from 2,500 AED and goes up to 7,000 AED.
The process of UAE residency goes as follows:
- Application for an entry permit
Entry permit can be issued either for company owners who did business setup in UAE or for the employees who got hired by a UAE based company.
Entry permit is a prerogative of the residence visa. It is an electronic document which is issued for any visa applicant. ENtry permit is valid for 60 days. Within this time you have to do Medical check and apply for Emirates ID, after which the resident visa will be stamped into your passport. - Medical checkup
Medical checkup is a mandatory procedure after the entry permit is issued. You should do it at any Preventive Medicine Center. The tests are done for AIDS, Hep B and Tuberculosis. If the results of the test are good, you can go ahead with the visa. If you are suspected to have one of those diseases, extra tests will be done. In case any of them is confirmed, UAE resident visa will not be issued to you. - Application for Emirates ID
It can be done in any office of Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.
Many offices are located next to Preventive Medicine Centers to make the process faster. During the application, your eye scanning will be done and fingerprint scans will be taken as well. This biometric data will be kept in the Authority’s system and you won’t need to go through the scanning at the time of Emirates ID renewal. - UAE visa stamping
The last step of UAE residency is UAE visa stamping into your passport. Most visas are valid for 3 years, but in some free zones or Mainland you may get a 2 year visa if you are an employee.
The validity of Emirates ID of UAE residents is linked to the validity of your visa.
Emirates ID costs
The costs of the ID depend on its validity:
| Emirates ID validity | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 year validity | 170 AED |
| 2 years validity | 270 AED |
| 3 years validity | 370 AED |
When you make an application, make sure that the ID validity is the same as the validity of your visa.
It usually takes 7-10 days to get the ID card after you have done the visa stamping into your passport.
You will be receiving SMS messages during the processing of your ID with the updates. When the ID is ready, you will be able to collect it from one of the branches of Emirates post, which will be indicated in the message.
Emirates ID Renewal
Once your ID has expired, the government offers a 30 day grace period for anyone to renew their IDs. If you fail to do so, late renewal fines of AED 20/day will apply.
The authority will also send you an SMS reminding you to renew your ID.
In order to do the renewal, you will have to make application form and pay the fees.
You won’t need to update your biometric data because it was collected during your first ID card processing.
The ID renewal application will be needed for visa renewal. You have to submit it to the free zone where your visa was issued or to the Immigration authority (General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs) if your visa is under a mainland company.
Once the visa is renewed, the ID will be issued and sent to an Emirates Post branch.
Cancelling Emirates ID
There could be a few reasons to cancel your ID:
- You are changing job or setting up a business in Dubai and getting a new UAE residency visa
- You are leaving UAE for good
ID cancellation will be a part of your residence visa cancellation. You will have to hand in your card to your employer or to the Immigration authority when you submit your passport for visa cancellation.
What does the long Emirates ID number mean?
Each Emirates ID card has a unique 15 digit number which is divided into 4 parts. Here is what they mean:
- 1-st part is the same on all the cards and it represents UAE international code, which is 784
- 2-nd part usually matches your year of birth, but it could also be different
- 3-rd part has 7 digits, which do not mean anything and are put together randomly by the system
- 4-th part is just a 1 digit and it stands for a verification number, which could be a digit from 0 to 9
The number of the ID is designed for each person and stays with that person forever. It cannot be changed or amended. Even if you stop being a UAE resident and leave the country, in case you come back after a few years to get your residency again, the number assigned to your card will be the same again.
What happens if I lose my Emirates ID?
In case you lost Emirates ID card, your actions should be the following:
- Go to a police station and file a report about lost ID card. The cost of such service is 70 AED.
- Notify Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship about the lost card within 7 days of losing it.
- Go to any office of Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship and order a new card by paying 300 AED and an additional application fee of 70 AED if you apply personally or 40 AED in case you apply online. Total fee will be 370 AED or 340 AED.
- Get your new card through Emirates post office
Conclusion
Emirates ID processing is an easy and straight forward procedure. It is done together with your visa processing.
In case you have employment visa, normally the application will be done by your employer.
In case your have a freelance visa or your own business, you can do the application by yourself or hire a business setup consultancy company like Emirabiz to help you with formalities and running around job.
You can always keep a track of ID processing using the website of FAIC.
