Lost Emirates ID: Replacement Steps and Fees
If your Emirates ID is lost, stolen or damaged, report it to ICP within seven days and apply for a replacement. The replacement card costs AED 300, plus an AED 100 smart service fee, and takes about five days. A replacement that also updates your personal details costs AED 150. The new card runs for the same validity period as the original.
- Report the loss or damage to ICP within seven days.
- Apply for the replacement at icp.gov.ae or a typing centre.
- Pay the fees and attend a centre for a photo if asked.
Report the loss within seven days
This is the deadline people miss. If you lose your Emirates ID, you must report it to ICP within seven days of the loss. The same applies to a damaged card: if it is partly or completely unusable, notify the nearest Emirates ID service point within seven days.
Reporting matters for more than compliance. Your Emirates ID is the key to banking, medical and government services, and it is linked to the residence file explained in our UAE visa and immigration guide, so a card in someone else’s hands is a real risk. Reporting it flags the card and starts the replacement process at the same time.
How to apply for a replacement?
Once the loss is reported, the replacement application is much like a renewal. The new card is issued for the same validity period as the one it replaces, so you are not buying extra time on the card.
- Report the loss or damage to ICP, at a service centre or through icp.gov.ae.
- Apply for the replacement online, in the UAEICP app, or at an accredited typing centre.
- Provide your passport, a personal photo, and proof of residence if your category requires it.
- Pay the fees, then attend a service centre if new biometrics or a photo are needed.
ICP lists a completion time of about five days. If you need the card sooner, the urgent service costs AED 150 extra. Once submitted, you can follow the card’s progress with our Emirates ID status check guide.
Emirates ID replacement fees
A replacement costs noticeably more than a straight renewal, which is worth knowing before you assume the card is gone for good and give up looking for it.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Replacement card, lost or damaged | AED 300 |
| Replacement with a data update | AED 150 |
| Smart service fee | AED 100 |
| Urgent service | AED 150 extra |
So a standard lost-card replacement comes to around AED 400 once the smart service fee is added. Typing centres charge their own handling fee on top. By comparison, a routine renewal is AED 100 per year of validity plus the AED 100 application fee, as set out in our Emirates ID renewal guide.
Changing your details instead
Not every new card is a replacement. If the card itself is fine but your personal or civil details have changed, such as your name, passport or marital status, that is a data update rather than a lost-card replacement. The fee for a replacement card with a data update is AED 150.
There is a separate deadline here, and it is different from the seven-day loss rule. Changes to your personal or civil data must be reported within 30 days of the change. Miss it and the penalty is the familiar AED 20 per day, capped at AED 1,000, the same structure as the Emirates ID late renewal fine. For the full set of ID tasks, see our Emirates ID guide.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if I lose my Emirates ID?
Report the loss to ICP within seven days, then apply for a replacement online at icp.gov.ae, in the UAEICP app, or at an accredited typing centre. You need your passport, a personal photo, and proof of residence for some categories. The new card takes about five days.
How much does an Emirates ID replacement cost?
A replacement card for a lost or damaged Emirates ID is AED 300, plus the AED 100 smart service fee, so roughly AED 400 in total. Urgent service adds AED 150. A replacement that also updates your personal details is AED 150.
How long do I have to report a lost Emirates ID?
Seven days from the date of loss. The same seven-day window applies to a card that is damaged badly enough to be unusable. Report it at the nearest Emirates ID service point or through ICP, which also starts the replacement process.
Is a replacement card valid for a new period?
No. The replacement is issued for the same validity period as the original card, so it expires on the same date. Losing your card does not extend it, and you will still need to renew as normal when that expiry date arrives.
Last verified: August 2026
Written by Roman Shah ยท Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Source: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP)
