Abu Dhabi: The three-day deadline extension for children under the age of 15 to register for national ID cards helped 52,320 children register without fines, Emirates Identity Authority (Emirates ID) revealed on Tuesday.
The authority extended its September 30 deadline until October 3 following technical glitches reported on its e-payment system due to a last-minute rush of applicants on the final day.
During the three-day grace period, 52,320 children registered, making the total number of children registered in the last 33 days before the deadline up to 250,000.
More than 120,000 registered during the last ten days before the deadline.
September witnessed the highest number of registrations of children in the year since Emirates ID announced the deadline for children under 15 a year ago. There was a 300 per cent increase in registrations in September, compared with July and August.
Expatriate children across the country whose residence visa expires by December 31 can register along with the renewal of their visa. This exemption is applicable to all expatriates in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah emirates whose visa expires by December 3.
All other categories of people have to pay a Dh20 fine per day which goes up to a maximum of Dh1,000 after the deadline of a respective category.
Meanwhile an authority spokesman told Gulf News that a new requirement for children’s registration made by the authority recently will continue. Children under the age of 15 have to produce either a birth certificate or their father’s original passport, he said.
