Emirates ID renewal for a resident opens when less than six months remain on the card, according to the federal identity authority, ICP. The official resident fee is AED 100 for each year of residence, plus an AED 100 smart application fee. Late renewal costs AED 20 a day, capped at AED 1,000.
Several ranking pages quote different prices. We read ICP’s renewal service page and the UAE government portal on 8 October 2026. General information only, not official advice.
| Who | Renewal opens | Official fee |
|---|---|---|
| Resident (non-UAE national) | Less than six months before expiry | AED 100 per year of residence, plus AED 100 smart application fee |
| UAE national, under 21 | Less than one year before expiry | AED 100 for a five-year card |
| UAE national, 21 and over | Less than one year before expiry | AED 200 for a ten-year card |
| GCC national | Less than six months before expiry | AED 100 for a five-year card, plus AED 100 smart application fee |
Emirates ID renewal: when you can renew and what ICP charges
ICP’s identity card renewal page says the service covers cards that have expired, or that have less than six months left for non-UAE nationals. UAE nationals can renew with less than a year left.
On the portal’s Emirates ID page, renewal is possible after expiry or as early as six months before. Residents pay per year of residence, and ICP gives no worked total.
One ranking page lists AED 170, 270 and 370 for one-, two- and three-year cards. Those figures do not match the two lines ICP publishes, and we could not find what explains the gap. We have not added the lines up for you. ICP does not say how they combine.
Renewal steps for residents
Residents apply together with the residence application, through a unified residence and identity form, says ICP. Every emirate except Dubai follows this route. Approvals and a medical examination with a “fit” result are also needed.
- Your passport must be valid for at least three months.
- Upload a recent photo that is not identical to the one on your current card.
- Anyone aged 15 or over completes fingerprints and a signature at an ICP service centre.
- If both the card and the passport are eligible, use the combined Emirates ID and passport renewal service.
You can apply on the ICP smart services website, in the ICP smart app, or at a Customer Happiness Centre. Login uses UAE Pass. Five days is ICP’s listed service completion time. A standard card arrives by courier.
The late fine and when it starts
ICP sets the late renewal fine at AED 20 for each day of delay, not exceeding AED 1,000, which by our arithmetic means the cap is reached after 50 days.
Sources disagree on the start point, and the gap matters if you are close to the limit. Per the portal, the fine applies when renewal happens after one month since expiry. ICP’s service page says only that the permitted renewal period has ended, with no number. A third-party guide says 30 days.
We would not rely on a grace period you have not seen in writing. Late reporting of a change in personal details draws the same AED 20 daily rate, capped at AED 1,000.
Urgent service: not for most expat renewals
A 24-hour urgent service exists for UAE nationals and GCC nationals living in the UAE, including renewal of expired cards, says the portal. Other expatriate residents get it only when replacing a card.
Some sales pages describe it differently. ICP lists the AED 150 urgent fee on the national and GCC panels, and its resident panel shows no urgent line. A visit to an ICP service centre is needed too.
Reporting changes, lost cards and cancellation
Three time limits come from the portal. Report a change in personal details within one month. Report a lost card within seven days. The card is cancelled with the residence visa.
Cancellation follows the visa: the sponsor submits the request, and the card is deactivated once it is approved. A job change is a common trigger, and our UAE sick leave and probation guide covers the probation notice rules that come with it. Employers may not withhold an employee’s card, per the portal.
What we could not confirm
Several practical points are left open by the official pages, and we found no answer to any of the four below.
- How the resident fee lines add up for a given residence length. ICP gives no example.
- How Dubai residents renew. ICP excludes Dubai from the unified form and does not say what replaces it.
- How many days make up the late-fine grace period. The portal says one month, and ICP gives no number.
- Typing-centre, courier and VAT charges. They are not on ICP’s page.
For a case that does not fit the table, call ICP or check your sponsor’s instructions.
Quick answers on Emirates ID renewal
When can I renew my Emirates ID?
For non-UAE nationals, once less than six months remain, per ICP. The portal says renewal is possible after expiry or up to six months before.
How much does renewal cost for a resident?
ICP lists AED 100 for each year of residence plus an AED 100 smart application fee.
What is the late renewal fine?
AED 20 a day, up to AED 1,000, per ICP and the portal.
Can a resident get the urgent service?
Per the portal, non-GCC expatriates get urgent service only for card replacement, not renewal.
Last checked on 8 October 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with ICP before paying anyone.
