Replacing a lost Emirates ID: the procedure and fees
A replacement keeps the original card’s validity. Reporting a loss, replacing the card and renewing residence are separate matters, including for Golden Visa holders.
The UAE Government requires loss to be reported within seven days. A replacement retains the original validity. ICP lists AED 300 for replacement, AED 100 for smart services and AED 150 for urgent service at its centres.
A lost Emirates ID should be reported promptly to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security. The UAE Government’s current guidance requires reporting within seven days of the loss.[1] Holding a valid Golden Visa does not remove the need to address a missing identity card.
Apply through the official replacement service
The authority, commonly known as ICP, offers the service through its smart website, official app and service centres. Online access uses UAE Pass. Residents should select the relevant category and prepare the photograph, passport and other documents requested for the application.[2]
An existing card number or copy can help identify the record, but the current application determines the evidence required. Replacement and changes to personal details are different service matters; relevant changes should be disclosed to the handling channel.
Match the fees to the service selected
ICP’s current service page lists AED 300 for a lost or damaged card replacement and AED 100 for smart services. It separately lists AED 150 for urgent service, available through its service centres.[2]
The page also shows a fee for replacement following a data update. These entries should not all be added together regardless of the application type. The payable amount should correspond to the chosen transaction and official payment breakdown, with any intermediary charges identified separately.
The original validity remains
Both the service page and ICP’s service guide state that a replacement retains the original card’s validity.[2][3] A card with six months remaining does not acquire a new full Golden Residence term simply because it is replaced.
Where expiry is approaching, the holder should confirm whether replacement or renewal is the appropriate transaction. Issuance of a replacement card does not itself establish that residence permission has been extended.
Confirm production and collection through the application
ICP currently lists a five-day service completion duration. The government also describes a 24-hour urgent service; for expatriate residents who are not GCC nationals, that service is available only for identity card replacement.[1][2]
Published service times do not replace an individual appointment, document review or collection notice. Anyone travelling soon should check progress against the actual application and separately confirm passport, residence and airline requirements before relying on a return date.
Official sources
General policy information; individual circumstances and the competent authority’s requirements govern each application.