In short
Every UAE resident needs an Emirates ID, issued by ICP together with the residence visa. A new card or a renewal costs AED 100 per year of residence plus AED 100 smart services, and anyone aged 15 or over gives fingerprints at an ICP centre. Renewal opens six months before expiry; after one month past expiry the late fee is AED 20 a day, up to AED 1,000. A lost card must be reported to ICP within 7 days, and the replacement is AED 300 plus AED 100. Residence applicants aged 18 or over also pass a medical fitness test, done in Dubai at Dubai Health centres.
Who needs an Emirates ID and a medical test
Every resident gets an Emirates ID linked to their residence visa, children included. The medical fitness test is required for residence applicants aged 18 and above, both for a first visa and for a renewal. Children under 18 skip the medical, and children under 15 do not give fingerprints. For family members the sponsor submits the application, because the ID and the residence go on one unified form.
Emirates ID and medical requirements
| Service | What you need and the official fee |
|---|---|
| New Emirates ID | Passport and ICAO-standard photo; a "Fit" medical result. AED 100 per year of residence + AED 100 smart services (ICP) |
| Emirates ID renewal | Passport valid at least 3 months and a new photo, not the one on your current card. AED 100 per year + AED 100 smart services (ICP) |
| Lost or damaged card | Report a loss within 7 days. Replacement AED 300 + AED 100 smart services; urgent service AED 150 at ICP centres |
| Fingerprints | Everyone aged 15 or over, at an ICP service centre |
| Medical fitness test (Dubai) | Aged 18 and over. Registration form, original Emirates ID or passport, white-background photo, e-visa copy |
| Late renewal | AED 20 a day after one month past expiry, up to AED 1,000 |
How it works, step by step
- Tell us what you need. New visa, renewal or lost card. Send the passport, visa and current ID on WhatsApp.
- Medical test. For applicants aged 18 or over, we register the Dubai Health medical application and you visit a medical fitness centre for a blood test and chest X-ray.
- Application. We submit the Emirates ID with the residence, or as a renewal or replacement, and pay the ICP fees.
- Fingerprints. Applicants aged 15 or over attend an ICP service centre for fingerprints and a signature.
- Delivery. The card is delivered by courier; urgent cards are collected from an ICP centre.
Emirates ID and medical timeline
| Stage | When it happens |
|---|---|
| Medical result | Typically within 24 hours, by email and SMS, and sent to GDRFA electronically |
| New card, renewal or replacement | ICP lists 5 days |
| Renewal window | Opens 6 months before the card expires |
| Lost card | Report it to ICP within 7 days of the loss |
| Late fee | Starts one month after expiry: AED 20 a day, up to AED 1,000 |
Outside Dubai, ICP files the ID renewal together with the residence renewal on one form; in Dubai the residence is renewed through GDRFA. For the full residence renewal see family visa renewal; for a first visa see the family visa, spouse visa and child visa pages, and if you are still on a visit visa, start with a status change. Leaving the UAE? The ID is cancelled with the visa: see visa cancellation.
Official sources: ICP: new ID card · ICP: ID card renewal · ICP: lost or damaged ID · u.ae: Emirates ID · dubai.ae: medical fitness · Dubai Health: medical fitness exam
Ready to start? Send your documents on WhatsApp to +971 52 505 3494. We check them before anything is submitted, and the first consultation is free.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a new or renewed Emirates ID cost for a resident?
ICP lists AED 100 for each year of residence plus AED 100 smart services fees, for both a new card and a renewal.
When can I renew my Emirates ID?
From six months before it expires. If you renew more than one month after expiry, the late fee is AED 20 a day, up to AED 1,000.
I lost my Emirates ID. What should I do?
Report the loss to ICP within 7 days, then apply for a replacement. ICP lists AED 300 plus AED 100 smart services, and the new card keeps the same validity as the old one.
Who has to give fingerprints?
Everyone aged 15 or over, at an ICP service centre. Younger children do not.
Who needs the medical fitness test?
Residence applicants aged 18 and above, for a first residence visa and for a renewal. In Dubai the test is done at Dubai Health medical fitness centres.
How long do medical results and the card take?
In Dubai the medical result is typically ready within 24 hours by email and SMS. ICP lists 5 days for a new card, a renewal or a replacement.
How much is the medical test?
Dubai Health publishes the price of each medical fitness package, and faster packages cost more, so we confirm the current price for your case before you pay.