Property worth Dhs1m or Dhs240,000 annual income must to obtain UAE residency permits for retirees

Emadeddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) has identified six steps, conditions and controls that must be met in order to benefit from the service of issuing a residence permit and Emirates ID card to retired residents in the UAE, which will remain valid for a period of five years.

The ICP explained the four-step process for applying for the issuance of a residence permit and an ID card for a retired resident via the website smartservices.icp.gov.ae and the smart application UAEICP.

The steps are as follows: Applicant must first logs in to his/her account through the (UAE PASS), then chooses the ID and residence card service, then reviews the retrieved data and update it where applicable, and pays the prescribed fees and finally, receives the ID card through approved delivery companies.

Furthermore, ICP specified that there are two conditions and controls that must be met in order to obtain the service. In order to qualify for the service, the individual must have resided in the country or outside it for a minimum of 15 years prior to retirement, or be at least 55 years of age, and possess one or more properties with a value of at least one million dirhams. Alternatively, the individual must demonstrate an annual income of at least Dhs240,000, or its equivalent in foreign currencies, as evidenced by a bank statement covering the previous six months.

In another context, the ICP outlined the steps for applying for an exemption from late fees related to the identity card via the website www.gov.ae and the smart application UAEICP.

These steps are as follows: first log in to (UAE PASS), then select the identity card renewal service, review the retrieved data, and update it where necessary. The exemption will then be reversed for the relevant beneficiary categories before the fees are paid. Finally, the application must be submitted and the fees paid.

ICP pointed out that three categories are exempt from late fees related to the Emirates ID card. These include individuals who have left the country and more than three months have passed since their departure, as well as individuals whose ID cards have expired after their deportation by an administrative order or decision or a judicial ruling. Furthermore, the exemption applies to individuals whose passports have been seized pending legal proceedings, provided that this is evidenced by a document issued by the relevant authorities that deported or detained the individual pending legal proceedings.

Additionally, the exemption encompasses individuals, who have not been issued an ID card for the period preceding their acquisition of nationality and the subsequent issuance of their family book.