In a move aimed at streamlining administrative procedures, the United Arab Emirates has introduced a new service that allows families to complete all residency-related transactions through a single application, eliminating the need for submitting separate requests for each family member.

The initiative — called “Resident Family” — was launched by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security (ICP) as part of the country’s larger “Zero Bureaucracy” strategy. The goal is to simplify government services and reduce redundant steps that traditionally slowed down the process for residents sponsoring family members.

What Has Changed?

Previously, residents needed to submit individual applications for each family member when applying for, renewing, or canceling residency. Now, with the new service:

• Only one application is needed for the entire family.

• Data entry, document uploads, and payment are all done once.

• There’s no longer a need to repeat the process for every individual in the household.

This not only saves time and effort but also cuts down on errors and delays that could arise from handling multiple submissions.

Part of a Bigger Push for Simplicity

This update falls under the UAE’s Zero Bureaucracy initiative, a nationwide campaign focused on reducing administrative burdens and offering smarter, faster, and more user-friendly public services. The new family residency service is one of several enhancements rolled out in recent months to support this vision.

For example, UAE residents can now also:

• Renew passports and Emirates ID cards in one single step.

• Issue, renew, or cancel domestic worker visas entirely online through a unified platform.

These measures show a clear shift toward digital convenience and streamlined processes, making life easier for residents across the country.

This new one-step residency application service is a welcome change for expatriate families in the UAE. It simplifies what used to be a complicated, multi-step process — and brings the country closer to its goal of offering efficient, tech-enabled government services.

If you’re a UAE resident planning to sponsor your family or renew their residency, now is the perfect time to take advantage of this unified service.