Emirates ID and visa at the same time from home

You will now be able to renew your Emirates ID and residence visa online at the same time, saving you precious time and money.

According to a senior General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs official, those who want to renew their Emirates ID and residence visa can fill up the application form online at the same time without the need to visit typing centres.

All residents have to do is visit the GDRFA app, Colonel Arif Al Shamsi, director general of GDRFA Sharjah said.

The app also allows you to apply for visit visas and residence visas from inside and outside the country, as well as track progress of applications.

Applications received via the app will be renewed within one to three days, compared to the two-week waiting time earlier.

Through the app, applicants can track the status of their visas and clarify their concerns via the chat feature linked to a customer service representative.

"The chatrooms also cater to the deaf and the blind and can process complaints, suggestions and other enquiries," the official said.

For companies and sponsors applying for the visas of their staff who are outside the country, procedures are completed within a week.

People on a three-month visit visa who no longer have to leave the country to extend their visas may also apply for the renewal online, at a fee of Dh500. However, they should allow enough time for processing and apply a few days before their visa expires.

To ensure the success of the application, all requirements must be submitted properly, including a clear scanned copy of the Emirates ID and a valid passport, among others.

For procedures where a medical fitness test is required, Lt Juma said that since the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship is linked with the health ministry's centres, test results are synced seamlessly.