The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) has announced a significant overhaul in the passport issuance process for Emiratis, as well as the issuance of Emirates ID cards and residency permits for expatriates.
Formerly involving four separate steps, these services have now been consolidated into a single, streamlined process aimed at enhancing efficiency and customer convenience.
This initiative aligns with the UAE's Zero Government Bureaucracy program, which seeks to simplify governmental procedures. To achieve this, unnecessary fields in service requests have been eliminated. Specifically, for passport services, four out of ten fields have been removed, while six fields have been omitted for ID card and residence permit services. By displaying the customer's last registered address and automatically populating the remaining fields based on previously provided data, the application process has been significantly simplified.
These services also need fewer attachments. With the recent changes, passport services no longer require personal photos as an attachment. Similarly, ID card and residency permit services no longer require three primary attachments.
Instead, data and photos are retrieved from existing systems, with customers having the option to change their photo if desired. Additionally, the requirement for a passport loss circular document has been replaced by an electronic circular, and health insurance documents for residents are now retrieved through institutional linkage.
In addition, ICP has simplified the payment process by introducing smart payment channels like Google Pay and Apple Pay. Customers now save time since there are fewer fields and procedures to enter payment information.
Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili, Director General of ICP, emphasized the importance of prioritizing customer aspirations and needs. He highlighted the role of the new procedures in enhancing service efficiency and customer satisfaction.
The overhaul of passport issuance and related services by ICP represents a significant step towards simplifying governmental procedures in the UAE, ultimately benefiting both Emiratis and expatriates alike.