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Updated February 2024
In an earlier announcement, the UAE government mandated that the applications for the issuance of residency permits and Emirates IDs would be unified—the two applications were previously handled individually. According to the latest update from ICP, Emirates ID would take the role of the visa stamp on residents’ passports, coming as another significant modification to the visa system.
Read further to know more as Wego unveils the new visa stamping process in the UAE.
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UAE visa stamping new rules
The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has announced that citizens of the UAE can now submit a single unified application to obtain both their Emirates ID and residency visa to ease the application process and to shorten the application time.
The Emirates ID cards being issued to residents of the UAE will now have all the same information as the residency sticker, including personal and professional data, both readable and non-readable, as well as information about the issuer. Airlines will also be able to verify a person’s UAE residency by using their Emirates ID and passport number with the help of a passport reader.
Previously, individuals applying for a new residence visa or renewing their visa had to submit their passports to be stamped with the visa.
How to obtain the new Emirates ID/visa stamp on the new unified service?
To obtain the Emirates ID/visa stamp with the new process, you need to visit the official ICP website or the mobile app UAEICP that you can get on App Store or Play Store.
- log in via the UAE Pass.
- choose the ‘residence permit and Emirates ID issuance’ service from the list of services on your dashboard.
- enter the details in the application form. ICP advised residents to make sure that the data they enter in the application is correct to avoid any delays in processing the application. This includes details like the Emirates ID number, expiry date, mobile number, and email address.
- click ‘Submit’.
- review the details and confirm. You will then be asked to pay the fees. The cost of the process will vary depending on the duration of the residence visa which you are applying for.
- once you have made the payment, you will then receive your Emirates ID through certified delivery companies.
