The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has launched an online service that allows parents to obtain a two-year residence permit for babies born in the UAE—entirely through the ICP smart app or the web portal.
How it works:
Parents log in using their UAE Pass, upload documents such as the child’s passport, birth certificate, and proof of health insurance, pay a fee of AED 350, and receive an electronic residence permit within 48 hours. Applications must be submitted within 120 days of birth to avoid fines.
Benefits for expatriate families and employers:
The upgrade eliminates multiple visits to typing centers and immigration counters, easing the administrative burden on HR teams that sponsor hundreds of dependents each year—especially in construction, healthcare, and hospitality. The paperless process also aligns with the government’s “Zero Bureaucracy” initiative, which aims to cut physical paperwork by 80 percent by 2031.
Support available:
If assistance is needed at any stage of this fully digital application, VisaHQ’s Dubai-based team can help verify documents, liaise with ICP on your behalf, and expedite the delivery of the newborn’s Emirates ID. Start your application or speak with an advisor at: https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
Practical implications:
Companies should update onboarding guides, remind employees of the 120-day deadline, and ensure payroll and insurance systems can integrate the child’s Emirates ID once issued. For employees working outside their home emirate, the digital platform removes courier delays and enables “anytime, anywhere” applications.
Wider trend:
The newborn residence permit marks another step toward life-cycle e-immigration, following last year’s merger of visa and Emirates ID records and the rollout of a single application tool for resident families.
