Lost, Stolen or Damaged Emirates ID in the UAE: Replacement Cost, Documents & Complete Procedure (2026)

Lost your Emirates ID, found it cracked, or had it stolen with your wallet? Getting a new one is quicker than most people expect. ICP — the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security — uses one procedure for lost and damaged cards, with the same documents and the same fee. The government fee is AED 456 (up to AED 486 through a typing centre or service provider), no police report is needed, and the new card is normally delivered in about 2–3 working days, usually without visiting any government office. The one condition people miss: you must be inside the UAE when you apply. This guide covers the documents, every fee, the complete procedure, photo and signature updates, delivery, what happens to your old card, and what to do if it was stolen.

🧭 Lost, damaged or stolen: is the procedure different?

No. ICP has one replacement procedure, and it doesn't matter whether the card was misplaced, broken or taken. You fill in the same application, upload the same documents and pay the same fee, and you receive a newly printed card that keeps your original expiry date.

Simple rule: lost or damaged → apply straight away. Stolen → apply straight away and take the five protection steps in the stolen-card section below.

🚫 Do you need a police report for a lost Emirates ID?

One of the most common misconceptions is that a lost card must be reported at a police station before ICP will replace it. For the regular replacement procedure, it doesn't. The only time a police report makes sense is theft: it isn't part of the ICP application, but it protects you if someone tries to use your card.

📍 The one condition: you must be inside the UAE

Lost your Emirates ID while travelling? You can't start the replacement from abroad. Return to the UAE first, then apply once your immigration status shows you are back inside the country.

📄 Documents required for an Emirates ID replacement

Only four, and the last one is optional:

1. 1Recent digital photo — good quality, plain white background
2. 2Passport copy
3. 3UAE residence visa copy
4. 4Copy of the old Emirates ID — only if you have one

No copy of the old card? You can still apply with the other three documents. No police report, lost-item certificate or police clearance certificate is needed.

🏢 Where can you apply for an Emirates ID replacement?

There are three channels. Whichever you choose, ICP processes and prints the card — the only difference is who fills in the application.

💰 Emirates ID replacement cost in the UAE

The government fee is the same for a lost, damaged or stolen card — and the same flat amount whether your card is valid for two years or it is a 10-year Golden Visa card. These are the figures in the FamilyVisa.ae calculator:

Under the ICP fee guidelines, a typing centre, Amer centre or service provider may add a service charge of up to AED 30 — if you are asked for more, ask what it covers. Fees checked on 8 October 2026; government fees can change without notice, and the live calculator is the final reference before payment.

🗺️ How to replace a lost or damaged Emirates ID: step by step

A standard replacement is done online from start to finish. The tag on each step shows who handles it.

📸 Updating your photo or signature

A replacement is a good moment to refresh an outdated photo. The two updates work differently:

Keep your current signature and the whole replacement stays online, from application to delivery.

📸 Only want a new photo? Read our guide: Emirates ID photo change: size, requirements and fee

🗓️ Issue date and expiry date on the new card

A replacement is a newly printed card, not a renewal. This is what changes and what doesn't:

Example: your card was issued last year and expires next year. A replacement issued today shows today's issue date, and it still expires next year on the original date — because replacement and renewal are different services.

🔒 What happens to your old Emirates ID after replacement?

Once the replacement is issued, the old card becomes inactive and is no longer valid for electronic identity verification — even if its chip still reads and the printed expiry date hasn't passed. This matters when someone else finds your lost card.

How the smart chip check works

Every Emirates ID has a smart chip, like the one on a bank card. Banks, telecom companies, couriers and other service providers increasingly put the card into an electronic reader instead of only looking at the printed name, photo and expiry date — including couriers who deliver bank cards.

So if someone finds your lost card and presents it at a telecom shop or for a bank-card delivery, a reader connected to the current record can show that a replacement has been issued. A replacement does not remove every risk, though: copies or photos of your old card can still be misused.

Found your old Emirates ID later?

Keep using the new card. Finding the old one doesn't make it active again — its chip may still read, but it is no longer the valid card.

🚨 Emirates ID stolen? 5 steps to protect yourself

For a stolen card, ICP's procedure and fee are exactly the same as for a lost one. The difference is the risk that someone uses it, so on top of the replacement:

🚚 Delivery and same-day delivery

After printing, the delivery partner sends you a notification so you can schedule delivery to the UAE address in your application. There is no in-person card collection for a normal replacement.

Same-day delivery — AED 100. Once the printed card is with the delivery partner and you have the delivery notification, you can ask for same-day delivery for an extra AED 100, paid directly to the delivery partner. In no hurry? Normal delivery is fine.

🏛️ Do you need to visit an ICP service centre?

Not for a normal replacement. You can apply online, upload your documents, update your photo, pay the fee and receive the card at your address — no police station, no service centre and no in-person collection. The one exception is a signature update, which needs a visit to the designated service centre.

📝 Quick recap

• Lost, damaged or stolen: one ICP procedure, one fee, and the same expiry date on the new card.
• No police report is needed; for a stolen card, file one anyway for your own protection.
• You must be inside the UAE, and your immigration status must show it, when you apply.
• AED 456 when you apply yourself; up to AED 486 through a typing centre, Amer centre or service provider.
• About 2–3 working days including delivery; same-day delivery is an optional AED 100 paid to the courier.
• Photo update online; a signature update needs a service-centre visit.
• The old card becomes inactive for electronic verification once the replacement is issued.

🔗 Related guides

• Emirates ID photo change: size, requirements and fee
• Lost or damaged Emirates ID replacement service
• Emirates ID 2026: application, renewal, fees and replacement
• Family visa renewal cost in Dubai (2026)
• How to get a family visa in Dubai (2026)
• UAE Golden Visa cost 2026: fee breakdown

❓ Frequently asked questions

1. Do I need a police report if I lose my Emirates ID in Dubai?

No. A police report, lost-item certificate or police clearance certificate is not required for a regular lost Emirates ID replacement. You can apply directly through ICP, or through an Amer centre, typing centre or service provider.

2. My Emirates ID was stolen. Is the procedure different?

No. ICP uses the same replacement procedure and fee as for a lost card. For your own protection, report the theft to the police, check the phone numbers registered to your ID with TDRA's free Hesabati service, and tell your bank.

3. How much does it cost to replace a lost Emirates ID in the UAE?

The ICP government fee is AED 456 (AED 300 replacement fee plus AED 156 ICP service fees). A typing centre, Amer centre or service provider may add up to AED 30, so the standard total is up to AED 486.

4. Is the fee different for a damaged Emirates ID?

No. Lost and damaged cards use the same replacement application and the same government fee.

5. Is the replacement fee higher for a 10-year Golden Visa Emirates ID?

No. The replacement fee is flat: AED 456 whether your card is valid for two years or ten.

6. Can I apply for an Emirates ID replacement while I am outside the UAE?

No. You must be physically inside the UAE, and your immigration status must show that you are inside the country. If you lose the card abroad, return first and then apply.

7. Can I fly back to the UAE without my Emirates ID?

Your residence is linked to your passport, but airline check-in staff abroad sometimes ask residents for the physical card. Call your airline before you travel and keep your digital Emirates ID from the UAEICP app or UAE Pass ready to show.

8. What documents are required for a lost Emirates ID replacement?

A recent, good-quality digital photo, a passport copy, a UAE residence visa copy, and a copy of the old Emirates ID if you have one. No police report is needed.

9. Can I apply without a copy of my old Emirates ID?

Yes. The copy is needed only if you have it; you can apply with the other documents.

10. Can I apply for an Emirates ID replacement online?

Yes. Apply yourself on the official ICP portal at icp.gov.ae or in the ICP app, logging in with UAE Pass.

11. Can I replace my Emirates ID through an Amer centre or typing centre?

Yes. An Amer centre or typing centre that offers the service can prepare and submit the application, or a service provider such as 800 DOCS can file it for you online. ICP processes the card either way.

12. How long does it take to replace a lost Emirates ID in Dubai?

Normally about 2–3 working days, including processing, printing and delivery.

13. Can I update my photograph when replacing my Emirates ID?

Yes. Choose the photo update option and upload a recent photograph with the application. The new card is printed with it, and no service-centre visit is needed.

14. Can I change my signature during an Emirates ID replacement?

Yes, but choosing the signature update option means visiting the designated service centre in person. Without a signature update, no visit is needed.

15. Will the expiry date change after an Emirates ID replacement?

No. The expiry date stays the same; only the issue date changes to the date the new card is issued. A replacement does not renew or extend your Emirates ID or your residence visa.

16. Will my replacement Emirates ID be delivered to my home?

Yes. After printing, the delivery partner sends a notification so you can schedule delivery to the UAE address in your application.

17. Can I get same-day delivery, and does it speed up printing?

Yes, same-day delivery costs AED 100, paid directly to the delivery partner after the card is printed. It is a delivery upgrade only and does not speed up ICP approval or printing.

18. Do I need to visit an ICP service centre for the replacement?

Not for a normal replacement: you apply online and receive the card by delivery. Only a signature update needs a visit.

19. Will my old Emirates ID be deactivated after the replacement?

Yes. Once the replacement is issued, the old card becomes inactive for electronic verification, even if its printed expiry date has not passed.

20. Can someone use my lost Emirates ID after a replacement is issued?

The old card no longer passes electronic card-status checks, and banks, telecom companies and couriers often use chip readers that detect inactive cards. Copies or photos of the old card can still be misused, so keep them private.

21. I found my old Emirates ID. Can I use it again?

No. Finding the card does not reactivate it. Its chip may still read, but it is no longer the valid card, so keep using the new one.

Last reviewed 8 October 2026. Government fees are the figures shown by the FamilyVisa.ae calculator on that date and can change without notice; the live calculator remains the final pricing reference before payment. FamilyVisa.ae is operated by 800 DOCS LLC, a DET-licensed UAE visa services company in Dubai.