Abu Dhabi: The UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security will no longer provide “Residence Stickers” for foreigners residing in the country from April 11, 2022.
The Authority will instead issue Emirates ID to foreigners which will serve as the alternative for proof of address. The move is seen as a step to reduce the steps associated with the process of issuing and renewing the residence.
The residence and the Identity card applications will now be united to accommodate the issuance and renewal of the residence and identity card services in one application. The smart application could also incorporate a feature to obtain the electronic copy of the identity card in support of the flexibility of use upon request.
The decision to stop issuing residence stickers and adopting the Emirates ID card issued to a foreigner residing in the UAE to prove residency comes as an extension of the package of supporting decisions towards providing the best facilities to customers and raising the level of government services, noting that the previous model of the residence sticker will be available electronically only through the Authority’s smart application.
Major General Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, Acting Director General of Residency and Foreigners Affairs observed.
The Acting Director General explained that the Authority has strengthened work with the relevant authorities at the aviation sector to enable holders of valid residence permits as well as visitors who are outside the UAE to come to the country, after verifying that entry criteria are met through the use of the passport reader available at the platforms of companies operating in the air transport sector at airports.
Major General Al Rashidi confirmed that the Authority has developed all the necessary 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 official website, which facilitates the printing of the residence details form in just 3 steps.
Major General further added that the entry into force of the decision will stop the service of receiving and handing over a resident’s passport previously designated for the installation of the residence sticker. This allows achieving a complete smart transformation of the Authority’s residency services, which enhances the happiness of customers and adds qualitative flexibility in the issuance and renewal processes.