How to apply for UAE PASS and access government services online

Pay bills, apply for visa, set up a business all through facial recognition on your phone

Dubai – If you are wondering what the easiest way is to get all government work done, without stepping out, the answer is simple - UAE PASS. A smart initiative launched by the UAE government, the UAE PASS is a single digital signature that you can use to access more than 5,000 government services. Following an announcement on April 7, applicants don’t even need to visit a kiosk anymore, to provide their biometric data through their fingerprint. Now, facial recognition technology will be used to verify the identity of individuals.

So, if you want to know how you can apply for the UAE PASS these are all the details.

What is the UAE PASS?

UAE PASS was launched in 2018 as part of the UAE government’s long-term strategies – UAE Vision 2021 and UAE Centennial 2071. UAE Vision 2021 aims to make the UAE among the best countries in the world by the Golden Jubilee of the Union on six basic pillars. One of the six pillars, or national priorities, is providing sustainable environment and infrastructure.

The Strategic Affairs Council had adopted the UAE PASS policy in the Emirate of Dubai as of May 1, 2020, as one of the Dubai Councils’ initiatives. Users can access more than 5,000 government services by using a single username and password.

DubaiID, SmartPass and UAE PASS – what is the difference?

DubaiID, as the name suggests, is exclusive for Dubai government related services. For Abu Dhabi and other emirates, residents could register for a Smart Pass. However, the UAE’s move towards providing integrated smart government services has led to the unification of these services under UAE PASS, which provides access to a range of government-related services, regardless of the Emirate you are in.

The UAE PASS is a collaboration between Smart Dubai, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) and Abu Dhabi Digital Authority and was launched in 2018.

The UAE PASS allows UAE residents and visitors to access government services and make regular payments, like your home and mobile phone bills, it provides access to services like DubaiNow and even legal processes like applying for your residence visa or buying a property. This is possible using the electronic signature.

One of the biggest security features of the UAE PASS is that it provides users with an electronic signature, which is equivalent to you signing a documents with a pen. Your electronic signature will be legally valid under UAE law. So, whether you are securing a new contract or making a big purchase, like a property or car, if you are using the UAE government’s smart services, you can use your UAE PASS signature. This is the first time digital signature solutions have been provided in the region.

How secure is my signature?

The UAEPass signature and the online services are secured through various measures to provide a safe operating environment for users. Digital signatures are protected using the SHA-256 hashing algorithm.

How to apply for the UAE PASS?

Step 1 – Download the UAE PASS application on your phone.

The app – UAE PASS – is available for Apple and Android devices.

Once you have downloaded the app, tap on ‘Create account’.

Go through the terms and conditions and check the box confirming that you have read them.

Tap on ‘Continue’.

Step 2 – Scan your Emirates ID

You will then be asked to scan your Emirates ID.

Tap on ‘Yes, scan now’ and then enable permissions for the app to access your camera.

Scan the front and back of your Emirates ID.

Step 3 – Confirm personal details

The app will show your full name, Emirates ID number, date of birth, nationality, gender and Emirates ID expiry date.

Carefully review these details and then click ‘Confirm’.

Step 4 – Mobile number and email verification

You will then be asked for your mobile number and email address.

The app will send a one-time password to your mobile number. Once you enter it correctly, it will then send a one-time password to your email address.

Once both your mobile number and email address have been verified, you can move to the next step.

Step 5 – Create pin

You will be asked to create a four-digit pin for using the UAE PASS, which you will be asked for whenever you use the app to access government services.

Step 6 – Face verification

The app will then ask you to allow face verification. Tap on ‘I’m ready’ and the app will then do a face scan.

Once the app has verified your identity, you can move to the next step.

Step 7 – Set a password

You will then be asked to set a password, which you can use to log in.

Once you have successfully set the password, you will then be able to access over 5,000 different services, including paying your government bills, registering a business, filing a complaint or sponsoring a visa.