How to Replace a Lost Emirates ID in UAE

Losing an Emirates ID, or having it stolen or damaged, requires a formal replacement process through the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), and importantly, it also requires reporting the loss within a specific window rather than simply applying for a new card whenever convenient.

If an Emirates ID is lost or believed stolen, the loss generally needs to be reported to ICP within 7 days of discovering it's missing. This reporting step matters beyond just administrative tidiness, since an unreported lost card remains technically active in the system, and reporting it promptly helps protect against potential misuse of the card's identifying information. Once the loss is reported, the replacement application can proceed through ICP's customer happiness centres or its smart services platform, generally requiring the original passport, a copy of the current residence visa, and a recent passport-style photograph.

For a damaged card rather than a lost one, the process is similar but doesn't require the same loss-reporting step first, since the damaged card itself typically needs to be submitted or shown as part of the replacement application, providing its own evidence of the issue. In both cases, biometric data (fingerprints and facial scan) generally only needs to be recaptured if it isn't already on file from a previous application or if ICP specifically requests an update, rather than being required for every replacement regardless of history.

Replacement fees are separate from standard renewal fees and are generally higher, reflecting the fact that a replacement is triggered by loss, theft, or damage rather than routine expiry. Given that the Emirates ID underpins access to banking, telecom, and most government services, a lost or stolen card left unreported and unreplaced creates disruption well beyond the inconvenience of not having a physical card on hand, so treating the reporting step as urgent, rather than something to get to eventually, is generally the more prudent approach.