Emirates ID renewal in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman: who renews, documents, photos and fees (2026 guide)

# Key takeaways

• Every UAE resident, children included, needs a valid Emirates ID. For most expatriate residents the card is renewed together with the residence permit, because the Emirates ID is now the main proof of residency.
• You can renew yourself on the ICP website or the UAEICP app. An assisted service is only worth paying for if you want someone to check your documents, submit the application and track it for you.
• There are always two cost layers: the government fee set by ICP, paid at actual cost with the official receipt, and, if you use one, a service fee from whoever helps you. Servia's Emirates ID assist is AED 79, 5% VAT included.
• Most delays come from avoidable issues: a photo that does not meet ICP's specification, a passport close to expiry, or a name spelled differently from the passport.

An Emirates ID is renewed by submitting an application to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), either online, through the UAEICP app or through an authorised typing centre, with your passport, a compliant photo and, for most residents, a valid or renewing residence permit. Once the application is processed you may be called for biometrics, and the new card is delivered by courier. This guide covers who needs to renew and when, what to prepare, how the do-it-yourself route compares with an assisted one, and where each dirham of the cost actually goes.

# Who must renew, and when

The rules differ slightly depending on who you are:

• Expatriate residents. Since the UAE moved away from passport visa stickers, the Emirates ID carries your residency. In practice, renewing your residence permit and renewing your Emirates ID happen in one combined application, whether you are in Dubai, Sharjah or Ajman.
• Children. Every resident child needs their own card, including newborns once their residence is issued. Children's cards follow the same cycle as their residence.
• UAE and GCC nationals. Cards are renewed on their own cycle rather than with a residence permit.
• Lost or damaged cards. This is a replacement, not a renewal, and has its own application type on the ICP channels.

It is sensible to begin before the card expires. ICP allows renewal ahead of expiry, and it applies a grace period and late fines after expiry; the length of that period and the fine amounts are set by ICP and can change, so check icp.gov.ae rather than relying on an old forum post.

# Documents and photo specifications

For a standard resident renewal, have these ready as clear colour scans:

1. Passport valid for comfortably longer than the new residence period (renew the passport first if in doubt).
2. Current Emirates ID, or its number if the card is lost.
3. Residence renewal documents where the Emirates ID is being renewed alongside residence (sponsor's documents for dependants; employer's documents for employees).
4. A recent colour photograph.
5. Any supporting document ICP asks for in your case, such as a medical fitness result for a residence renewal.

# Doing it yourself vs an assisted service

Renewing on your own is completely realistic. The UAEICP app and the ICP website let you fill in the form, upload documents, pay the government fee and track the application without visiting anyone. If you are comfortable scanning documents and reading an application screen carefully, you do not need to pay anyone.

Servia's role is assistance, document preparation and submission through authorised typing centres and licensed PRO partners. You send your documents on WhatsApp, we check them against ICP's requirements, send an itemised quote and, once you approve, submit, typically the same or next working day after the documents are complete. See the typing and visa services page for the full list.

# Where the fees actually come from

People often ask why two quotes for "the same" Emirates ID renewal differ. The government portion is identical wherever you apply, because ICP sets it. What differs is the service fee layered on top.

The urgent add-on covers our handling only: we prepare and submit the same day. It never changes ICP's processing time, which is decided entirely by the authority.

# Biometrics, delivery and tracking

After submission, ICP may send an SMS asking you to attend a service centre for fingerprints and a photograph. Whether you are called depends on factors such as age and whether your biometrics are already on file, so wait for the message rather than turning up unasked. Keep your application number: it is how you track progress on the ICP website or app, and how any assistant tracks it for you. Cards are delivered by courier to the address on the application, so make sure your mobile number is correct and reachable.

If you live in the older Dubai districts, Servia covers Deira and Karama; in Sharjah, Al Nahda is one of the busiest areas we serve.

# FAQ

Does my child have to give fingerprints for an Emirates ID?

It depends on the child's age and ICP's current biometric rules. Younger children are commonly not asked for fingerprints, while teenagers and adults usually are. ICP's SMS after submission tells you whether a service centre visit is needed, so there is no need to book one in advance.

What if the name on my Emirates ID does not match my passport?

Treat it as a correction rather than a routine renewal. ICP matches the card to the passport, so any spelling difference, missing middle name or swapped surname should be flagged before you submit. Bring the passport exactly as issued; if the passport itself changed, include the new passport details in the application.

Can someone else submit my Emirates ID renewal for me?

Yes. A family member, a typing centre or an assisted service such as Servia can prepare and submit the application using your documents. What nobody can do on your behalf is attend biometrics: if ICP calls you in, you go in person.

How does Servia handle copies of my passport and ID?

Copies are used only as needed for your application, shared only with the authorised typing centre or licensed PRO partner submitting it, and handled in line with the UAE Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL). If you prefer to do the renewal yourself later, you can ask us to delete the copies we hold.

Ready to hand it over? Start on the typing and visa services page, or, if you run a company with staff renewals, see PRO services.