Your daily life is now associated with different cards these days – Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Privilege Cards and the list goes on. E-gate card is another such one which helps in reducing your time spend in Queuing considerably. It is a credit card used in union with your finger prints to make your exit and leaving UAE easier, by just a swipe and at the e-gate and a touch at the panel to match your fingerprint and you are in saving your precious time.
Issuing Authority & the airports which the service is available
It is issued by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, in association with the Department of Civil Aviation. This helps passengers quicker access through immigration process at Dubai Airport, Abu Dhabi Airport and Al Ain Airport and more airports are expected to be added to the list.
Procedures & Requirements to own an E-Card
Those who enter UAE with valid entry permits are entitled for such a card. Of course UAE nationals, expatriates who are over the age of 18 can surely get one. The cost of the E-gate card is AED 200 and is valid for two years. When you set out to apply just remember to carry your passport, there is no need for passport size photos as they will be taking your photos there. Your physical presence is must at the issuing office with your passport which should not be expiring within 6 months. If your visa status changes, like from resident to visit visa, you need to apply for new. No extra fee is required for that. But if you are changing from visit visa to resident visa you are required to pay AED 200 and the validity is until original expiry date. You can use the card repeatedly if you are on a visit visa status, however if you cross the land border your file number changes, in that case you have to visit the e-gate to update the status. When your passport expires and you have renewed it then you need to get a new card. In cases where an e-card holder is traveling with his children under the age of eighteen who don’t have an e-gate card, the passport control officer may let them through by checking their passports.
Documents Required for the E-Gate Card in Dubai
- Original Passport
- You must be either a UAE citizen or an expatriate holding a valid residence visa.
- In the case of GCC citizens you should produce a passport or ID Cards.
- For diplomats, consuls and members of International organizations – Resident permits issued by Foreign Affairs.
You need to submit these documents and do a fingerprint. The whole procedure takes only 5 to 10 minutes.
Locations that you can get E-entry cards
- Dubai Airport
- Abu Dhabi Airport and Al Ain Airport
- Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Naturalisation and Residency Departments
- From DNRD Jebel Ali Branch
- Some DNRD external Offices
- DNATA Dubai Airline Centre on Shaikh Zayed Road.
- A'amal Centre – Hyatt Regency
- Residence Section – headquarters of Naturalization & Residency Administration Abuhail centre
Other cities in UAE are also in the process of implementing this card. It will be soon implemented in other land borders also.
Please visit the website of General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs for more details : www.dnrd.ae