Emirates ID renewal: fees, documents and ICP process
How do I renew my Emirates ID?
As of November 2026, renew through ICP’s official smart channels using UAE Pass, review the record, provide requested documents and pay the listed fees. Resident ID renewal is AED 100 per residence year plus AED 100 smart application fees. Complete any required biometrics and coordinate residence renewal separately.
Published . Updated .
Content record as of November 2026. Official sources checked on 12 November 2026. Unreadable service details and unverified figures are omitted; individual immigration and police records are not accessed.
Residents can renew during the final six months of ID validity. ICP lists a 30-day renewal grace period, then AED 20 per day in late fines, capped at AED 1,000.
In this guide
When should you renew your Emirates ID?
As of November 2026, ICP’s current FAQ allows residents and GCC nationals to renew during the final six months of card validity. UAE nationals have a final-year renewal window. These are renewal windows, not extra periods of valid residence.
For expatriate residents, organise the ID application alongside residence renewal. ICP’s service card says the unified residence and identity form applies in emirates other than Dubai. In Dubai, coordinate the residence side with GDRFA and the ID side with ICP.
Start by checking the card expiry, passport details and residence record. If your sponsor handles the application, ask who will submit each part and where you will receive official updates. Keep access to your own contact details and receipts.
Expired card or lost card? Renewal is the service for a card reaching expiry. If the problem is loss, theft, damage or incorrect details, ask ICP which service applies before paying for a renewal application.
The current ICP renewal card should guide the application. Select your category before using its document list or fee table; the page contains different requirements for citizens, GCC nationals and residents.
Emirates ID renewal fees and late fines
ICP publishes the following resident ID charges on its renewal service card. They are not an all-inclusive quote for medical fitness, residence renewal or a private representative’s services.
| Item | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Resident identity card renewal | AED 100 for each year of residence |
| Smart application fees | AED 100 |
| Late renewal after the permitted period | AED 20 per day, capped at AED 1,000 |
For example, a hypothetical resident application with two years of approved residence has an ID component of AED 200 plus the AED 100 smart application fee: AED 300 for those listed items. That arithmetic is not a quote for the whole residence-renewal package.
The ICP FAQ gives a 30-day period from card expiry to complete renewal. After that grace period, the prescribed late fine applies. Do not assume the period extends your residence or prevents restrictions under another service.
Ask for an itemised receipt if a representative quotes a package. Separate the identity card, residence application, medical examination and assistance charges. Check whether the quote includes a late fine rather than treating every difference as an increase in the card fee.
An urgent option is mentioned on the service card for eligible categories. Do not assume every expatriate resident renewal qualifies for it. Ask ICP about availability for your application before making a travel or delivery plan.
Documents and details to prepare
ICP’s renewal card requires a passport valid for at least three months. For the expatriate resident category, it lists a passport and personal photo. The service also depends on the residence process and required approvals. Review the live application because data may be retrieved through government integration rather than uploaded again.
- Keep your passport available and check the number, name and expiry entered in the form.
- Prepare a recent photograph that meets ICP’s current specifications.
- Have your existing Emirates ID details available for matching the record.
- Keep the residence-renewal reference and sponsor’s contact details together.
- Use an email address and mobile number where you can receive and act on updates.
ICP says the new photograph must not simply repeat the photograph currently printed on the card. Check the image preview for cropping and legibility before submission. Do not rely on a studio’s statement that an old image will always be accepted.
If you are applying for a child, relative or someone you legally represent, select that relationship accurately. The card allows submission by specified family or legal representatives. Follow any additional evidence requested for that capacity.
Citizen and GCC requirements differ from expatriate resident requirements. A long combined list on the service page does not mean every applicant must produce every item. Match the documents to the selected category and any message on your actual application.
How to renew online through ICP
Use the Start Service link on ICP’s renewal card or its official smart application. The service card specifies UAE Pass login. This guide does not collect ID numbers or submit applications for you.
- Select the renewal service and category. Confirm that you are renewing the correct person’s card rather than starting a first-issue or replacement request.
- Review retrieved data. Compare names, passport details and personal information with the supporting documents. Make the corrections allowed by the service.
- Provide documents when required. ICP asks for attachments if integrated retrieval fails. Follow the file and photo instructions shown.
- Check residence dependencies. Coordinate approvals and any medical-fitness requirement with the sponsor or responsible authority.
- Review and pay. Read the itemised total and retain the government receipt and application reference.
- Complete follow-up steps. Attend any fingerprint or signature appointment and respond if the application is returned.
If you use an authorised centre, check the typed form before it is submitted. A paid typing service does not transfer responsibility for an incorrect passport number or address. Ask for a copy that shows the actual application reference.
Do not share a UAE Pass approval code with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. For an application you initiated, read the approval prompt and confirm the service and applicant before authorising it.
Biometrics, approvals and card delivery
ICP’s renewal process includes fingerprints and signature at its service centres if required. Its card identifies biometric requirements for people who have reached age 15. Follow the appointment instruction on your own case rather than assuming every repeat applicant must attend or can skip attendance.
A residence-related medical-fitness examination is a different step from ID biometrics. Completing one does not show that the other has been completed. Ask your sponsor which result or approval is still outstanding if the application stops moving.
The service card lists a five-day completion duration. Treat that as the published service duration, not a guaranteed delivery date from the moment you start entering the form. Missing documents, residence approvals and appointments can affect completion.
For the standard service, ICP describes delivery through an authorised courier. Check the address and contact details carefully. A courier problem is different from an application rejection, so use the correct reference when following up.
Keep any delivery message until the card reaches you. When it arrives, check the printed personal details and validity. If something is wrong, contact ICP with the application record instead of changing your details independently across several services first.
How to follow up without starting again
Keep the application reference, submission date, payment receipt and latest notification in one place. Use the official account or channel where the request was submitted to check its progress.
If the form is returned for amendment, read the reason and deadline. ICP says applications can be cancelled when required procedures or corrections are not completed within the specified period. A payment receipt alone does not show the returned form was corrected.
- For a photo issue, compare the rejection reason with the image requirements.
- For a passport mismatch, compare the submitted data with the current and previous document.
- For a residence dependency, ask for the residence application’s actual stage.
- For delivery, distinguish approval from courier dispatch and receipt.
If you believe an ID late fine should be exempted, use ICP’s delay-fee exemption service. It is submitted with the ID request and requires supporting evidence. An exemption request can be accepted, returned or rejected; it does not itself complete renewal.
Before filing a second paid request, ask whether the existing application should be amended or continued. Duplicating a form without resolving the first problem can make your own follow-up harder.
Keep ID renewal separate from other deadlines
If your residence has also expired or been cancelled, use our official visa-status routes and confirm your last permitted day. The ID grace period does not establish the immigration grace period.
Likewise, the ID late fee is separate from a visa overstay fine. Ask which record generated a balance before paying. Keep the transaction descriptions so you can show which obligation was settled.
After renewal, ask each bank, insurer, employer or utility provider how to update its records securely. Do not assume every private account updates automatically when ICP issues the card.
If this is part of a relocation or job change, put the remaining actions into your settling-in checklist. The useful finish line is a correct card, confirmed residence position and updated records, not simply a successful payment screen.
Common questions
What are the Emirates ID renewal fees?
ICP lists resident ID renewal at AED 100 for each year of residence, plus AED 100 smart application fees. This is not an all-inclusive residence-renewal package. Check the itemised total for your category and channel.
How do I complete Emirates ID renewal online?
Start from ICP’s Identity Card Renewal service, log in using UAE Pass, review the details, attach requested evidence and pay. Complete any biometrics or correction request and follow the delivery instructions.
When can I renew my Emirates ID?
ICP allows residents and GCC nationals to renew during the final six months of validity. UAE nationals can renew during the final year. Coordinate the ID application with the residence process where applicable.
What is the fine for late Emirates ID renewal?
ICP’s FAQ states that the fine begins after 30 days from expiry: AED 20 for each day of delay, capped at AED 1,000. This ID fine is separate from immigration overstay fines.
What documents are required for Emirates ID renewal?
For expatriate residents, ICP lists a passport and personal photo. The passport must have at least three months of validity. Follow the live checklist and residence approvals; other applicant categories have different requirements.
How long does Emirates ID renewal take?
ICP’s renewal card lists five days as the service completion duration. It is not a guaranteed delivery date from starting the form. Missing evidence, required appointments and residence dependencies need to be resolved.
Can I request exemption from an Emirates ID late fine?
ICP has a delay-fee exemption request linked to the ID application. Supply supporting evidence under the applicable conditions. The request may be accepted, returned or rejected; it does not itself finish renewal.
Official sources
- ICP — Identity Card Renewal service card — checked
- ICP — Current frequently asked questions — checked
- ICP — Request for Exemption from Delay Fees — checked
SettleUAE is an independent guide, not a government website, and is not affiliated with any UAE authority. This is general information, not personal legal, financial or immigration advice.