Quick Answer
If your Emirates ID is lost, stolen, or damaged, you must report it and apply for a replacement through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), not through GDRFA. You have 7 days to report a lost or stolen card. A standard replacement costs around AED 300 for the ID itself, plus an application fee of AED 40 online or AED 70 through a typing centre, and a AED 30 printing fee, with normal processing taking 2 to 5 working days. Urgent same-day or 24-hour options exist for an extra AED 150. A damaged card must be physically surrendered as part of the application.
Published: 1 September 2026
Losing your Emirates ID is stressful, especially since it is needed for almost everything in the UAE: opening a bank account, signing a lease, picking up a parcel, even checking into some clinics. The good news is the replacement process is straightforward once you know the right order of steps. This guide walks through exactly what to do, what ICP asks for, and how the process differs depending on whether your card was lost, stolen, or damaged.
Step 1: Report the Loss or Damage Immediately
The moment you realise your Emirates ID is missing, damaged, or stolen, report it. Doing this quickly matters for two reasons: it protects you if someone else tries to misuse your ID, and UAE law requires you to notify ICP within 7 days of a lost or stolen card.
For a lost or stolen card:
– Notifying ICP directly deactivates the card in the system and starts the replacement process. You can do this through the ICP smart services portal, the UAEICP mobile app, or in person at any ICP Customer Happiness Centre.
– If your card was stolen, or you suspect misuse (fraud, identity theft, unauthorised transactions), file a police report with the police force in the emirate where it happened. Most emirates let you file this through their police app in a few minutes, and it is normally free.
– Even where a police report is not strictly required for a routine lost-card replacement, having the report reference number on hand speeds up the ICP process and gives you a paper trail if the ID is later misused.
For a damaged card:
– There is no reporting deadline in the same way as a lost card, but you cannot use a badly damaged ID for most transactions, so apply for replacement as soon as possible.
– The damaged card itself must be physically brought to the typing centre or ICP centre and surrendered as part of the replacement application. Keep it safe until then; do not throw it away.
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
The documents needed depend on your status:
For UAE residents (expatriates):
– A valid passport copy.
– A copy of your valid UAE residence visa.
– A recent passport-sized photograph with a white background (some typing centres take this on-site).
– The police report reference number, if one was filed.
– The damaged physical card itself, if applicable.
For UAE nationals:
– Original passport.
– Family book.
If your Emirates ID and passport were both lost together, replace your passport first: contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document or replacement passport, then apply for the Emirates ID replacement once you have a valid passport in hand. ICP cannot process the ID replacement without valid, current passport details on file.
Step 3: Apply for Replacement
You have three ways to submit the application:
- ICP smart services portal (smartservices.icp.gov.ae): apply and pay online, then visit a centre only if biometrics need updating.
- UAEICP mobile app (iOS and Android): the fastest route for most people, since it links directly to your existing ICP profile.
- In person at a typing centre or ICP Customer Happiness Centre: useful if you need help with the form, want same-day processing, or your card was damaged and needs physical surrender.
At a Customer Happiness Centre, the officer can deactivate the lost card in the system immediately during your visit, which is worth doing in person if you are worried about someone using the card before the online deactivation takes effect.
What Does It Cost in 2026?
| Fee component | Amount (AED) |
|---|---|
| Emirates ID card fee | 300 |
| Application fee (online) | 40 |
| Application fee (typing centre) | 70 |
| Printing fee | 30 |
| Fawri express service (24-hour) | +150 |
| Same-day printing at select centres | +150 |
| Late replacement penalty (after 30 days past expiry) | AED 20/day, up to AED 1,000 |
Total for a standard online replacement is typically around AED 370, and around AED 400 if applying through a typing centre. These are official ICP fee components; always confirm the exact current amount at icp.gov.ae before paying, since government fees are periodically revised.
Sponsors should note that for employees or dependents on a company or family visa, the replacement fee is usually paid by whoever holds the sponsorship obligation for that person’s Emirates ID, the same as with a normal renewal, though the applicant can also pay directly through the portal if the sponsor prefers.
Does It Matter Which Emirate I’m In?
ICP is a federal authority, so the reporting and application process is the same regardless of which emirate you live in: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or any other. What can differ slightly is where you file a police report if one is needed, since that goes through the local police force of the emirate where the loss or theft happened, not a federal police body. If you lost your card while travelling within the UAE, file the report with the police in the emirate where the loss occurred, then complete the ICP application from wherever you are, since that part is fully centralised and works the same nationwide.
How Long Does It Take?
- Standard processing: 2 to 5 working days.
- Fawri express service: delivery within 24 hours at designated ICP Customer Happiness Centres, for an additional AED 150.
- Same-day printing: at select centres, walk in with your police report (if applicable), passport, and proof of payment, and the card can print within 30 to 60 minutes for an additional AED 150.
You can track the application status at any time through icp.gov.ae or the UAEICP app. ICP sends an SMS once the card is ready, and you can collect it at a Customer Happiness Centre or arrange optional home delivery for a small extra fee.
After You Get Your New Card: What Else Needs Updating
A replaced Emirates ID keeps the same Emirates ID number as before, so you generally do not need to update the number itself with banks, telecom providers, or other institutions. What does change is the card’s issue date and, in some cases, the expiry date if the replacement also coincided with a renewal cycle. It is still worth doing a quick round of updates after collecting the new card:
- Banks: some banks ask for a scan of the current physical card on file, especially if the old one was reported stolen, since fraud checks sometimes flag an outdated ID scan.
- UAE Pass and other government apps: these usually sync automatically once ICP updates its central records, but it is worth confirming your profile shows the new issue date.
- Employers: HR departments typically keep a copy of every employee’s Emirates ID for visa and WPS purposes, so share the new card once you have it, particularly if the old one was reported stolen and might otherwise still appear as “active” in an old file.
None of these updates are urgent in the way the original ICP report and application are, but doing them within a week or two avoids awkward mismatches later, for example if a bank’s fraud system flags a transaction because the ID on file was reported lost.
What to Do If You Need to Travel Without Your Emirates ID
While your replacement is being processed, the physical card is not the only proof of identity accepted. The digital Emirates ID inside the UAEICP app and UAE Pass is accepted for most banking, healthcare, government service, and immigration purposes during the waiting period. For domestic and some international travel purposes, check directly with your airline, since requirements vary and a valid passport remains the primary travel document. If you need urgent verification for a specific transaction (like a bank visit or a government appointment), the Fawri or same-day service is usually the fastest fix.
Lost/Damaged Replacement vs Normal Renewal: What’s Different
A lost or damaged Emirates ID replacement is not the same process as a standard renewal, even though both end with a new physical card:
| Lost/Damaged Replacement | Normal Renewal | |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Card is lost, stolen, or physically damaged | Card is approaching or has passed its expiry date |
| Reporting requirement | Must report within 7 days if lost/stolen | No loss report needed |
| Old card | Surrendered if damaged, deactivated if lost | Surrendered at collection of new card |
| Urgency options | Fawri (24hr) and same-day printing available | Standard urgent services also available |
| Late penalty | Applies to late replacement after loss in some cases | AED 20/day after 30 days past expiry, up to AED 1,000 |
If your card is simply due to expire and has not been lost or damaged, see our separate guide on Emirates ID renewal in the UAE for that process instead, since the document requirements and timing rules differ slightly.
Common Mistakes That Slow Down Replacement
- Waiting past the 7-day reporting window for a lost or stolen card, which can complicate the process and, in some cases, attract penalties.
- Throwing away a damaged card instead of keeping it to surrender at the typing centre.
- Applying with an expired residence visa on file. ICP will flag this and the Emirates ID application will stall until the visa status is resolved.
- Not filing a police report when theft is suspected, leaving no paper trail if the card is later misused for fraud.
- Assuming the digital ID replaces the physical card everywhere. Some transactions and border/travel scenarios still require the physical card, so don’t delay collection once it’s ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a police report mandatory to replace a lost Emirates ID? Not always. Reporting the loss directly to ICP is generally sufficient to deactivate the card and start a routine replacement. A police report is strongly recommended, and sometimes required, when theft or fraud is suspected, since it creates an official record.
How many days do I have to report a lost or stolen Emirates ID? 7 days from the date of loss or theft, under UAE regulations.
Can I use my Emirates ID digitally while waiting for the physical replacement? Yes. The digital Emirates ID in the UAEICP app and UAE Pass is accepted for most banking, healthcare, government, and immigration purposes during processing.
What if my Emirates ID and passport are lost together? Replace your passport first through your embassy or consulate, then apply for the Emirates ID replacement once your new or emergency passport is available, since ICP needs valid passport details on file.
How much does a lost Emirates ID replacement cost in 2026? Around AED 370 total for standard online processing (AED 300 card fee + AED 40 application fee + AED 30 printing fee), or roughly AED 400 through a typing centre. Add AED 150 for express same-day or 24-hour service.
What happens if I don’t replace my Emirates ID after it’s lost? Beyond the practical difficulty of daily transactions requiring a valid ID, delaying replacement past applicable deadlines can attract late fees, and operating without a valid Emirates ID can create complications with residency status checks.
Do UAE nationals follow the same replacement process as residents? The core steps (report, apply, pay, collect) are the same, but UAE nationals use their original passport and family book instead of a residence visa copy.
Can someone else collect my replacement Emirates ID for me? Standard collection generally requires the cardholder in person, though home delivery is available for a small additional fee if you cannot visit a centre. Check the specific option through the UAEICP app when your card is ready.
Where do I check my Emirates ID application status? Through the ICP smart services portal (icp.gov.ae) or the UAEICP mobile app, using your application or Emirates ID number.
Is the replacement fee different if my card was damaged versus lost? The core fee structure (card fee, application fee, printing fee) is the same for both scenarios. The main practical difference is that a damaged card must be physically surrendered, while a lost card is deactivated remotely.
Need Help With the Paperwork?
Lost ID situations often collide with other document problems, an expiring visa, a passport that also needs replacing, or paperwork that needs attesting before it’s accepted anywhere. Yalah Dubai handles document clearing, typing centre services, and Emirates ID processing for residents across Dubai so you don’t have to navigate ICP’s system alone. Message us on WhatsApp at +971 52 580 2100 and we’ll walk you through it.
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