UAE: Residents to no longer get visa stickers in passports

Authorities in the UAE have confirmed that starting April 11, foreigners residing in the UAE will no longer be issued with residence visa stickers in their passports.

The Emirates ID card issued to them will instead serve as the alternative to proving their residence status within the country, according to the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security.

The authority pointed out that the cancellation decision was in implementation of the decision of the UAE Cabinet to reduce the steps associated with the process of issuing and renewing residence permits of foreigners.

Major General Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, acting director general of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, said that the previous model of the residence sticker will be available electronically only through the authority’s smart app. This step aims to enhance flexibility towards using the identity card as an alternative during transitionary period.

The residence and the identity card apps will be joined in a new unified form that includes the issuance and renewal of the residence and identity card services in one app, instead of the previous separate apps, according to news agency WAM.

The authority added that its smart app provides the possibility to obtain the electronic copy of the identity card, with new generation of the Emirates ID card issued to foreigners residing in the UAE featuring all the details mentioned previously in the residence sticker that proves their identity along with information on their personal and professional data, the issuing entity and other readable data on the surface of the card.

تعرف على مميزات بطاقة الهوية الجديدة.

Learn about the features of the new Emirates ID card.
____
⁧#الهيئة_الاتحادية_للهوية_والجنسية_والجمارك_وأمن_المنافذ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣#IdentityCitizenshipCustomsAndPortSecurity pic.twitter.com/AzhZEs6SaK

— Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security UAE (@UAEICP) March 31, 2022

Al Rashidi confirmed that the authority has developed the technical facilities to obtain individuals’ residency details through a printed form that can be applied for with the authority’s stamp, through individuals’ accounts using the authority’s application or through the smart services system via the website www.icp.gov.ae, which allows the possibility of printing the residence details form in three steps.