Independent guide · Updated October 2026
Emirates ID Renewal in UAE: Fees, Steps and Late Fines 2026
Emirates ID renewal is done through ICP, on its website, in the UAEICP app or at a Customer Happiness Centre. Residents can apply from six months before the card expires, and UAE nationals from one year before. This guide gives you the official fees, the steps and the late-fee rule in plain words.
We are not ICP or any UAE government body. We never ask for your ID number, and you apply and pay only on ICP’s official channels.
Most people look up Emirates ID renewal when the expiry date on the card is close, or already gone. The rules are short. You have a wide window to apply, a 30-day cushion after expiry, and a fee list that ICP publishes on its own service page.
Below you will see who can renew and when, what each group pays, the documents ICP asks for, the exact steps online, and what to do if something gets stuck. Every figure comes from ICP or u.ae. Where only news reports say something, we tell you.
In This Guide
What Is Emirates ID Renewal?
It is the ICP service that issues you a new card when your current one has expired or is close to expiring. ICP, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security, calls it “Identity Card Renewal”. Your 15-digit ID number stays the same. The card, the photo and the expiry date are new.
Why this matters:
Already applied and waiting? You can check your Emirates ID status with your application number, or with the ID number for a renewal.
When Can You Start Your Emirates ID Renewal?
ICP sets the window by who you are. Its service page says UAE nationals qualify when the card has expired or has less than one year left. Everyone else qualifies when it has less than six months left.
| Applicant | Earliest you can apply | Card validity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE national under 21 | 1 year before expiry | 5 years | ICP service page |
| UAE national aged 21 or over | 1 year before expiry | 10 years | ICP service page |
| GCC national living in the UAE | 6 months before expiry | 5 years | ICP service page |
| Expatriate resident | 6 months before expiry | Same as the residence permit | ICP service page and u.ae |
The one-year window for nationals is new. News reports relaying ICP say it took effect on 14 July 2026, up from six months.
💡 Tip: Look at the expiry date on the front of your card today and set a phone reminder six months before it. That is the first day a resident can apply.
⚠️ Warning: Many websites still say you can only renew 30 days before expiry. That is wrong. Thirty days is the grace period after expiry, not the window before it.
Emirates ID Renewal Fees in 2026
These are the fees on ICP’s Identity Card Renewal page. They are the only amounts we could confirm on an official source.
| Applicant | Card fee | Extra fees listed by ICP |
|---|---|---|
| UAE national under 21 (5-year card) | AED 100 | Urgent service AED 150 |
| UAE national aged 21 or over (10-year card) | AED 200 | Urgent service AED 150 |
| GCC national (5-year card) | AED 100 | Smart services fee AED 100, urgent service AED 150 |
| Expatriate resident | AED 100 for each year of residence | Smart services fee AED 100 |
So a resident with a two-year residence permit pays AED 200 for the card plus the AED 100 smart services fee, which makes AED 300 on ICP’s list. A three-year permit works out at AED 400. That is our own arithmetic from the official figures, so check the total on the payment screen.
A little more detail (so it never fails):
⚠️ Warning: ICP has warned the public about fake accounts and offices that promise fast-track services for a fee. According to news reports citing ICP, it gives no office any special right to speed up an application.
Documents and Conditions
The list is short. ICP’s steps say you attach documents only when the system cannot retrieve them.
| Applicant | What ICP lists |
|---|---|
| UAE national | Passport and a recent personal photo |
| GCC national | Valid GCC ID (a parent’s ID if under 21), proof of work, study or investment in the UAE, passport and a recent photo |
| Expatriate resident | Passport and a recent personal photo, with a valid residence permit on file |
💡 Tip: Take the new photo and save it on your phone before you open the application.
How to Renew Your Emirates ID Online: Step by Step
There are 3 methods by which you can apply: the ICP Smart Services website, the UAEICP mobile app, and a Customer Happiness Centre. The online steps are the same on the website and in the app.
Step 1: Sign in with UAE Pass
Open ICP Smart Services or the UAEICP app from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Sign in with UAE Pass.
Step 2: Choose the renewal service
Pick Identity Card Renewal. Residents whose permit is also ending will be offered a combined residence and ID service, which Gulf News describes as “Residence Permit and Emirates ID Renewal”.
Step 3: Review the data ICP retrieves
Check your name, passport number, mobile number and delivery address, and fix anything that is out of date.
Step 4: Attach the photo and any missing document
Upload the new photo. Add a passport copy only if the system says it could not retrieve one.
Step 5: Pay the fees
Pay online. Any late fee is added here, so you see the full amount before you confirm.
Step 6: Complete biometrics if you are asked
ICP’s steps list biometric capture at a service centre “if required”. Follow the instruction in your application if a visit is needed.
Step 7: Receive the card
ICP states that a standard card is delivered through its authorised courier, and an urgent card is collected from an ICP centre.
💡 Tip: Save the application number (PRAN) from the confirmation message. You will need it to track the card.
Online, App or Centre: Which Method Is Best?
| Method | What you need | Fingerprints taken there? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAEICP app | UAE Pass and a phone | No | Most residents and nationals |
| ICP Smart Services website | UAE Pass and a browser | No | Applying on a laptop with files to upload |
| Customer Happiness Centre | Passport and a recent photo | Yes | Urgent service, biometrics or help from staff |
So, the UAEICP app is the best method because your data is already there after the UAE Pass sign-in and you can add the photo from the same phone. Go to a centre if you need the urgent service or ICP has asked for your fingerprints.
Renewal for Residents, Dubai Visas and Urgent Cases
Expatriate residents
Your card’s validity matches your residence permit. News guides from Gulf News and Khaleej Times explain that residents renew the card when the residence permit is renewed, in one flow. Anything the residence renewal needs, such as a medical fitness test, comes first.
Dubai residence permits
According to Gulf News, residence permits issued in Dubai are handled by GDRFA Dubai, while ICP handles the other six emirates. The identity card itself is issued by ICP in every emirate. The GDRFA help line is 800 5111.
Urgent service
u.ae describes a 24-hour urgent service. For renewals it covers UAE nationals and GCC nationals. Expatriate residents can use it only for replacing a card, so plan a resident renewal early.
If you are outside the UAE
ICP’s renewal page is silent on applicants who are abroad. Call ICP on +971600522222 before you rely on applying from another country.
If your card is lost or damaged, not expired, that is a different service. See how to replace a lost or damaged Emirates ID.
Emirates ID Renewal Late Fee and Grace Period
ICP’s FAQ says a fine of AED 20 is charged for each day of delay, up to AED 1,000, and that it starts after 30 days from the expiry date. u.ae says the same in different words. Here is what that means day by day, using our own arithmetic.
| Days after expiry | Late fee |
|---|---|
| 1 to 30 | None |
| 40 | AED 200 |
| 60 | AED 600 |
| 80 or more | AED 1,000 (the cap) |
The fee is not a separate bill. It appears inside your renewal application and you pay it with the card fee. Our Emirates ID fine check guide explains where each type of fine shows up.
Can the late fee be waived?
ICP has a service called “Request for Exemption from Delay Fees”. You file it with the renewal, and ICP lists two days for a decision. Its page names cases such as a passport held because of a court case. Details are on ICP’s exemption page.
⚠️ Warning: The 30 days protect you from the late fee only. A bank, telecom shop or clinic can still refuse an expired card on day one.
How Long Does It Take, and How Do You Track It?
ICP lists a completion time of 5 days for the renewal service. Treat that as the listed service time, not a promise. A biometrics visit or a returned request can add to it.
To follow the request, open ICP’s ID Card Status page and enter your PRAN or your ID number. No login is needed. We explain the stages in how long an Emirates ID takes after biometrics.
Common Emirates ID Renewal Problems and Fixes
Tips for a Smooth Renewal
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I do my Emirates ID renewal online?
Sign in to ICP Smart Services or the UAEICP app with UAE Pass, choose Identity Card Renewal, review your data, upload a new photo and pay the fees.
How much does Emirates ID renewal cost in 2026?
ICP lists AED 100 per year of residence plus an AED 100 smart services fee for residents, and AED 100 or AED 200 for UAE nationals by age.
How early can I renew my Emirates ID?
Residents and GCC nationals can apply when less than six months are left. UAE nationals can apply when less than one year is left.
What is the fine for late Emirates ID renewal?
AED 20 per day, capped at AED 1,000. It starts 30 days after the card expires.
What documents are required to renew an Emirates ID?
ICP lists a passport valid for at least three months and a recent personal photo. GCC nationals also add their GCC ID and proof of work, study or investment.
Do I need biometrics for Emirates ID renewal?
ICP says applicants aged 15 or over complete fingerprint and signature procedures at a centre, and its steps list this “if required”.
How long does Emirates ID renewal take?
ICP lists a completion time of 5 days, with courier delivery after that. It is a listed time, not a guarantee.
Can expats use the urgent service to renew an Emirates ID?
u.ae says the 24-hour urgent service covers renewals for UAE and GCC nationals. Expatriate residents can use it for replacement only.
Can I renew my Emirates ID without renewing my visa?
For residents the card’s validity follows the residence permit, so news guides say both are renewed together.
Can I renew my Emirates ID from outside the UAE?
ICP’s renewal page does not describe a process for applicants abroad. Call ICP on +971600522222 first.
How do I track my renewed Emirates ID?
Enter your PRAN or ID number on ICP’s ID Card Status page. No login is needed.
Who is exempt from Emirates ID fees?
ICP’s FAQ names social security beneficiaries, people of determination and people with autism.
Can a typing centre do my Emirates ID renewal?
News reports citing ICP list approved typing offices as a valid channel. They add their own service fee, and ICP still issues the card.
Official ICP Contacts
These are ICP’s and GDRFA Dubai’s details, not ours. We cannot renew a card or speed up a request.
| Authority | What it handles | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| ICP call centre | Emirates ID renewal questions and status | 600522222 inside the UAE |
| ICP from abroad | The same, for callers outside the UAE | +971600522222 |
| ICP email | Written enquiries | [email protected] |
| ICP online | Applications, live chat and the status page | icp.gov.ae and the UAEICP app |
| GDRFA Dubai | Dubai residence permits | 800 5111, gdrfad.gov.ae |
Final Thoughts
I really suggest you start your Emirates ID renewal in the first weeks of your window, in the UAEICP app, with a fresh photo and a passport that still has months left. You pay ICP’s listed fees, you skip the queue, and you keep the 30 days after expiry as a safety net you never need.
Rules do change, as the new one-year window for nationals shows. If you spot something out of date here, tell us through the contact page.
Sources and Last Updated
ICP: Identity Card Renewal service page (conditions, documents, steps, fees and completion time), FAQ (late fee and fee exemptions), Request for Exemption from Delay Fees service page, ID Card Status page and Contact Us page. UAE Government portal: Emirates ID page, last updated 17 February 2026. News reports, as marked: Sharjah24 (16 July 2026) on the one-year window for nationals, Gulf News and Khaleej Times on the combined residence and ID flow and on Dubai permits. Last reviewed: 7 October 2026.
Ismail Ahmad, Emirates ID Status Check Online writer
Ismail Ahmad (Writer of Emirates ID Status Check Online)
Ismail Ahmad is the writer behind Emirates ID Status Check Online. His work covers the Emirates ID services run by ICP, including status checks, renewal, replacement, fines and the UAEICP app.
Ismail builds each guide from the official ICP and u.ae pages, walks readers through the steps as they appear on screen, and flags the errors people hit most often. He reviews the guides when the official rules change.
