Changing Your Name on Emirates ID and Residence Visa in the UAE

For residents who marry, divorce, obtain a legal name-change decree, or need to fix a spelling error made at registration, this guide explains how a name change flows through your UAE records, which authority handles it, what it costs, and how long it takes.

A name change in the UAE always starts with your passport, because your residence visa and Emirates ID must match it exactly. Once your new passport is issued, you amend your residence file through ICP’s Amendment of Residency Permit Data service (or GDRFA in Dubai), which reissues your Emirates ID. The core ICP amendment costs around AED 150 for the new Emirates ID plus a roughly AED 100 smart-services fee, and the amendment itself is processed in about two working days, with the new card delivered roughly a week later. You do not need to exit and re-enter the country.

This article covers the two very different scenarios people mean by “changing my name” (a genuine legal change versus correcting a data-entry typo), the exact sequence from passport to Emirates ID, the documents and attestation you need, the fees at ICP and GDRFA Dubai, processing times, and the linked records (driving licence, bank, tenancy, title deed) you must update afterward. Fees and steps are drawn from the official ICP, GDRFA, and MOFAIC service pages, but government charges change, so confirm the current figure before you apply.

Start with the passport: why sequence matters

UAE immigration systems treat your passport as the single source of truth for your identity. Your residence visa is stamped or recorded against your passport, and your Emirates ID is issued against your residence file. If the name on any of these does not match, the mismatch blocks renewals, property transfers, banking, and travel. For that reason you cannot change your name on the Emirates ID or visa in isolation. You change the passport first, then align the UAE records to it.

The practical order is: obtain a new passport in your changed name from your home country or its consulate in the UAE, attest the document that proves the change if it was issued abroad, amend your residence file so a new residence permit is recorded, let the system reissue your Emirates ID, and finally update every other record that carries your name. Skipping the passport step and trying to amend the Emirates ID first will not work, because ICP aligns the card to your travel document.

Answer Block: Do I need a new passport before changing my name on Emirates ID?

Yes, for a genuine legal name change. Your UAE residence visa and Emirates ID must match your passport, so you must first obtain a passport showing the new name from your home country or consulate. Only then can ICP or GDRFA amend your residence file and reissue the Emirates ID. A registration typo where the passport is already correct is the one exception.

Two scenarios: legal name change vs correcting a data-entry error

“Changing my name” covers two situations that follow different paths. Identifying which one you are in decides whether you need a new passport.

A genuine legal name change happens after marriage (adding a spouse’s surname), divorce (reverting to a maiden name), a court-issued name-change decree or deed poll, adding a father’s or grandfather’s name, or a religious conversion. Here your passport name is actually changing, so you must get the new passport first, then amend the UAE file.

Correcting a data-entry error is different. If a typing centre or officer mis-spelled your name when your visa or Emirates ID was first created, your passport is already correct and the UAE record is wrong. You are aligning the record to the existing passport rather than changing your legal name, so no new passport is needed. Both cases use the same ICP Amendment of Residency Permit Data service, but the correction case skips the passport and attestation steps.

One point worth clearing up: ICP does run a low-cost Data Update service for around AED 50, but that service covers only non-essential contact details such as your phone number, email, and address. It does not cover your name. A name correction, even a simple typo, still runs through the paid amendment and Emirates ID reissue, so budget for the reissue fee rather than expecting a free fix.

Which authority handles it: ICP or GDRFA

The authority depends on where your residence visa was issued, while the Emirates ID is always issued federally by ICP.

Record	Dubai residents	All other emirates
Residence visa amendment	GDRFA Dubai (website with UAE PASS, or an Amer centre)	ICP (icp.gov.ae, UAEICP app, Customer Happiness Centres, or accredited typing offices)
Emirates ID reissue	ICP (federal, all emirates)	ICP (federal, all emirates)

In Dubai, GDRFA handles the visa file and ICP handles the card, so a name change touches both. Elsewhere, ICP handles both the visa amendment and the card. The good news is that the Emirates ID replacement is generated automatically once the visa amendment is approved, so you do not file a separate card application from scratch.

Attesting your supporting document

If the document that proves your name change was issued outside the UAE, for example a foreign marriage certificate or a court decree, it must be legalized before a UAE authority will accept it. The standard chain is: authenticate the document with the issuing country’s foreign ministry, then have the UAE embassy or consulate in that country endorse it, then complete MOFAIC attestation inside the UAE, which costs around AED 150 per certificate. The document usually also needs a legal Arabic translation. The process is the same one used for degree certificates, so our guide to MOFA certificate attestation in the UAE walks through the identical steps in detail. If your name change follows a UAE marriage, see how the union itself is recorded in our guide to marriage registration in the UAE.

Answer Block: Does my marriage certificate need to be attested to change my name?

If the certificate was issued abroad, yes. It must be authenticated in the issuing country, endorsed by the UAE embassy there, and then attested by MOFAIC in the UAE, with a legal Arabic translation. A marriage registered in the UAE is already recognized and does not need this foreign-document chain. MOFAIC attestation costs roughly AED 150 per certificate.

Step-by-step: updating the name after you have a new passport

Once your new passport is in hand and any foreign document is attested, the UAE side is straightforward.

Step 1 — Prepare documents. You will need your new passport, current Emirates ID, a recent white-background photograph, and the attested and translated proof of the name change. GDRFA Dubai also requires the passport to be valid for more than six months and, where relevant, sponsor documents such as the establishment card or labour contract.

Step 2 — Apply to amend the residence file. Dubai residents submit the amendment through the GDRFA amendment of residence permit data service or an Amer centre. Residents of other emirates use the ICP Amendment of Residency Permit Data service online or through a typing office. The application records a new residence permit in your updated name.

Step 3 — Emirates ID reissue. Approval of the visa amendment automatically generates an Emirates ID replacement request, so you do not apply for the card separately. The new card is printed and delivered by courier or to a nominated post office.

Step 4 — Collect and verify. When the card arrives, check that the spelling matches your passport exactly, including the order of given and family names. You can confirm the visa update through the online UAE visa status check in the meantime.

Step 5 — Update linked records. Your name now differs from your driving licence, bank accounts, tenancy contract, DEWA account, and any property title deed. Update each one, starting with the records you use most. Renewing the card or visa later follows the normal path in our guides to Emirates ID renewal and renewing a UAE residence visa.

Fees and processing times

The table below sets out the main official charges. ICP publishes the amendment fee as an Emirates ID reissue charge plus a smart-services fee; a typing centre that handles the paperwork for you will add its own service charge, which is why all-in quotes are often higher.

Item	Fee (AED)	Notes
ICP amendment — Emirates ID reissue	150	Core card charge for a name amendment
ICP smart-services fee	~100	Applied to the online amendment
GDRFA Dubai amendment (urgent)	100 + 10 innovation	Plus ~AED 100 courier printing where applicable
MOFAIC attestation (foreign certificate)	~150 per certificate	Only for documents issued outside the UAE
Typing centre / all-in service	Varies (often AED 300 visa + AED 450 card)	Higher quotes bundle typing, urgent, and courier charges

On timing, the ICP amendment is stated as a two-working-day service, and the replacement Emirates ID typically reaches a post office or your address within about a week of the visa update. If you factor in obtaining the new passport and attesting a foreign document, the realistic end-to-end timeline is closer to two to six weeks.

Answer Block: How long does a UAE name change take?

The ICP residence-file amendment is processed in about two working days, and the replacement Emirates ID usually arrives within a week. Including the time to obtain a new passport and attest any foreign document, the full end-to-end process typically takes two to six weeks. No exit and re-entry is required; the amendment is done while you remain in the country.

The one-month reporting rule and the single-name passport trap

Under the guidance published on the UAE Government portal for updating Emirates ID details, cardholders are expected to report a change in their card details to ICP within one month of the change. Acting promptly after your passport is reissued keeps you compliant and avoids downstream mismatches.

A specific pitfall affects people whose passport shows only a single name with no separate surname. UAE systems require both a given name and a family name, and since late 2022 single-name passports have been refused for visit and on-arrival travel because identity checks need both fields. Existing residents with a valid visa and Emirates ID are generally treated as exempt from that travel restriction, but the safest course is to have your passport reissued with both a given name and a surname and then align your visa and Emirates ID to match, so you avoid problems at renewal or when you next travel.

Updating everything else after the name change

Your amended Emirates ID is the anchor document, but several other records carry your name and will not update automatically. Prioritize the ones tied to money and mobility. Update your bank so that your account name matches your ID; our guide to opening and managing a UAE bank account explains the KYC refresh banks run. Update your UAE driving licence with the RTA or the relevant emirate authority. If you own property, the name on your title deed with the Dubai Land Department should be corrected, and if you rent, your Ejari tenancy record and DEWA account should be updated too. Employers also need the new details for payroll and labour records.

FAQ

How do I change my name on my UAE residence visa after marriage?

First obtain a passport in your married name from your home country or consulate. Attest your marriage certificate through MOFAIC if it was issued abroad, then apply to amend your residence file through GDRFA in Dubai or ICP in the other emirates. Approval reissues your Emirates ID in the new name. No exit from the country is required.

Can I change my name on my Emirates ID online?

Yes. Residents outside Dubai use the ICP website or UAEICP app to submit the Amendment of Residency Permit Data application, and Dubai residents use the GDRFA website with UAE PASS or an Amer centre. The Emirates ID reissue is triggered automatically once the visa amendment is approved, and the card is delivered by courier.

How much does it cost to change your name on an Emirates ID?

The ICP amendment is around AED 150 for the reissued Emirates ID plus a roughly AED 100 smart-services fee. GDRFA Dubai charges about AED 100 plus a small innovation fee and courier printing. A foreign certificate adds around AED 150 for MOFAIC attestation. Typing centres charge more because they add their own service fee.

Do I have to leave the UAE to change my name on my visa?

No. A name change is processed as a data amendment to your existing residence file while you remain in the country. There is no cancellation and re-entry. Once approved, a new residence permit is recorded and your Emirates ID is reissued to match your updated passport.

What is the difference between a spelling correction and a legal name change?

A spelling correction fixes a typo made when your visa or Emirates ID was created, so your passport is already right and no new passport is needed. A legal name change alters your actual name through marriage, divorce, or a decree, which requires a new passport first. Both use the same ICP amendment service to update UAE records.

Do I apply to ICP or GDRFA for a Dubai visa name change?

For a Dubai residence visa, the visa amendment goes through GDRFA Dubai, via its website or an Amer centre. The Emirates ID itself is always issued by ICP, federally, so a Dubai name change involves both. In every other emirate, ICP handles both the visa amendment and the card.

Is the AED 50 ICP Data Update service enough to change my name?

No. The AED 50 ICP Data Update service covers only contact details such as phone number, email, and address. A name change or correction is not included and must go through the paid Amendment of Residency Permit Data service, which reissues the Emirates ID. Do not expect a free name fix, even for a typo.

My passport has only one name. Can I still get a residence visa and Emirates ID?

Existing residents with a valid visa and Emirates ID are generally accommodated, but UAE systems expect both a given name and a family name, and single-name passports have been refused for visit and on-arrival travel since late 2022. The recommended fix is to have your passport reissued with two name fields, then align your visa and Emirates ID to match.

How long do I have to report a name change to ICP?

Guidance on the UAE Government portal states that cardholders should report a change in Emirates ID details to ICP within one month of the change. Report promptly after your passport is reissued to stay compliant and to avoid a mismatch that could hold up a future renewal, banking, or a property transaction.

What other records do I need to update after changing my name?

After your Emirates ID is reissued, update your bank accounts, driving licence, tenancy or Ejari record, DEWA account, any property title deed with the Dubai Land Department, and your employer’s payroll and labour records. None of these update automatically, so work through them starting with the accounts you use most to prevent identity mismatches.

Official Sources

The following official service pages set out the fees, documents, and processing times referenced above. Government charges change periodically, so use these as your primary check before applying.

• ICP — Amendment of Residency Permit Data (fees, documents, processing time)
• ICP — Data Update service (contact details only, not name)
• UAE Government portal — Updating details on your Emirates ID
• GDRFA Dubai — Amendment of residence permit data
• MOFAIC — Attestation of official documents and certificates
• ICP — Services for individuals (channels and Customer Happiness Centres)

Information is current as of July 2026. Fees, documents, and processing times are set by ICP, GDRFA, and MOFAIC and change periodically; confirm the current requirements on the official portals before applying. This article is general information, not legal advice.