Emirates ID must for AD visa from Sunday

Expatriates in Abu Dhabi seeking to renew their residence or get a new visa will have to be holders of the UAE national identity card when a new rule linking the two is enforced on Sunday, local media reported on Thursday.

The Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA), which is supervising an ambitious ID project through the UAE, said visa applicants who do not have an identity card must apply before they are allowed to have a blood test for visa.

“Once those applicants complete registration measures for the ID, they can proceed with the blood test, which is needed for the visa procedures,” EIDA said in a statement carried by local Arabic language newspapers.

EIDA said all registration offices in the emirate have been instructed to enforce the new measures from Sunday. It said linking the ID to residence visa issuance would contribute to encouraging all those who have not registered yet to apply for the identity card.

“The link between ID and residence visa will be applicable in all UAE emirates from January 1, when a cabinet decision to impose a Dh20 fine on each day of delay in having the card issued or renewed is enforced,” the statement said.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.