To enhance the services offered to citizens, residents, and tourists through its smart services system, the Federal Authority for Identification and Citizenship (ICA), Customs and Ports Security of the UAE on Wednesday announced the introduction of a new package of upgrades. The addition of a one-time 30-day visa extension service for 90-day visit visas is one of the major upgrades.
A list of 15 services that were upgraded in the ICA’s smart services system as of February 1, 2023, has been adopted. The renewal of residence visas has also undergone adjustments, with a new rule restricting renewal requests if the residence validity is longer than six months (a separate residence service).
For GCC nationals registered without an Emirates ID, the ICA has also launched additional services for canceling and updating visa information.
The list also covers services for extending the pre-entry validity of visas as well as services for extending the visit visa of a relative or friend for a single trip or multiple trips for a duration of 30, 60, or 90 days. The smart service system offers services for printing residence and visa information in visa holders’ accounts.
The PRAN NUMBER reference number for identity requests has been added to the financial receipt in the ICA’s smart services system. The delegates’ service, the facilities’ fund services, and all associated features and verification processes have also been stopped.
According to the agreed terms, the Dh100 smart service fee that was recently added to the price of a visa and an Emirates ID was also added to the system.
The ICA has also added a service to the smart system for people with residence visas who have spent more than six months abroad.
The smart system has also been updated to provide a service for issuing visas for family groups traveling to the UAE for tourism, and medical treatment, or to accompany a patient for a single journey or several trips lasting between 60 and 180 days.
The updated package of services and procedures also includes providing an exceptional service from Emirates ID procedures (fingerprints and ICAO) in individual accounts in the E-Channel and ceasing to charge or collect fees from people of determination (UAE citizens) when they submit applications for the issuance, renewal, and replacement of their passports. Also, they were exempted from the requirement to provide a financial guarantee for the opening of a sponsorship file and the provision of fee recovery services for this group.
The upgraded services also include updating twins’ residency information to reflect the classification of jobs associated with certain types of residency.
The services have been made accessible in accounts for both individuals and businesses in a way that makes accessing them easier and raises the likelihood of doing so.
The creation of smart services is a dynamic process carried out by the authority within the context of its perspective for the future, according to the authority’s director general, Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili. Additionally, it means understanding consumer wants and meeting them most quickly and easily as possible to enhance people’s quality of life.
