Abu Dhabi: A new online application form for national ID cards, which was officially launched on Sunday, will save companies and individuals in the UAE Dh120 million annually, a top official said.
The online applicants can fill the application form either in Arabic or English within 10 minutes and save the Dh30 typing fee, which they have to pay otherwise at the typing centres, Dr Ali Al Khoury, Director General of Emirates Identity Authority (Emirates ID), said at a press conference.
About 40,000 applicants have already successfully used this during a 40-day-long trial stage to apply for new ID cards, renewing existing one and replacing damaged cards without visiting the typing centres, he said. The payment can be made online using credit cards.
Compared to the previous online application form, the new online application asks for less data from applicants and it can be completed in ten simple steps, the official said.
Al Khoury explained it is very difficult to make errors on this new application.
An applicant has to create an online account on www.emiratesid.gov.ae to access the application. Once completed, a text message will be sent to the applicant’s mobile number with RAN [registration and application number], Al Khoury said. They can also print the application for reference, if required, he said.
Emiratis have to scan and upload passport and family book, and expatriates the passport only.
“Expatriates have to scan the first page and the visa page colour or black and white is irrelevant but it should be clear and readable,” he explained.
Typing centres are prohibited from using this application form without permission from the authority. However its e-version for typing centres has been introduced in the northern emirates, especially at Tasheel’offices that have attained a high rate of Emiratisation of employees.
The e-form will be extended to typing centres across the country during the second half of this year.
Emirates Identity Authority will open the online application form for use by companies that can fill the application forms of its employees.
As Gulf News reported on March 4, if an employer opens a new account on the online system, it can process any number of applications on behalf of its employees.
Since applying for and renewal of employees’ ID cards has become the responsibility of employers, they can save the Dh30 typing fee but they should not charge the employees, Al Khoury had said then.
