Thousands of Indian expats residing in the United Arab Emirates are facing unexpected tension due to the imminent expiration of their passports, especially during the peak summer travel season. Securing an appointment for document renewal has become a significant problem.
Several residents reported to Khaleej Times about difficulties in obtaining slots for passport renewals, describing days of uncertainty and anxiety as travel dates approached. The situation intensified after Indian missions in the UAE switched passport and other consular services to a system requiring prior booking, whereas previously many services were available on a walk-in basis.
Neha Bhagwat experienced an emotional ordeal when she discovered that her son's passport did not meet Thailand's requirement of six months validity, having only three days left. She stated that because tickets had already been purchased, she was extremely worried. The uncertainty was compounded by changes in the passport service process and issues accessing the booking portal. 'The booking link they shared with me simply didn't work, probably because too many people were trying to access it during the booking window,' she reported.
Bhagwat noted that repeated attempts by her and her husband were unsuccessful, and even a colleague who tried to help could not register. Eventually, the appointment was secured using her son's details. 'As soon as the appointment was secured, my husband and I went to the Consulate on Friday. There was a queue outside almost a kilometer long, and security checked whether applicants had confirmed appointments,' she recounted. She emphasized that visitors without confirmed slots were denied entry. After submitting the documents, the accumulated stress finally took its toll, and she couldn't hold back tears, stating: 'I can't believe I was standing there crying at the Indian Consulate.'
For some residents, the issue remains unresolved. Hasib Khan reported repeatedly trying to book an appointment but failing to complete the process. 'I couldn't book an appointment. I tried many times, but I don't receive any confirmation email. I need to travel outside the UAE for urgent matters. I don't know what to do now,' he said.
Harmeet Suri expresses concern about whether the renewed passports will arrive before the planned trips. 'We have to travel in the first week of August, and we recently realized that my daughter's passport expires soon. We went through the application process and provided all necessary documents,' he shared. The family received an email stating that the passport might take about 'three weeks for delivery,' which causes them anxiety given the approaching departure date.
Meanwhile, Indian missions stated that the transition to appointment-based service is aimed at managing the large flow of visitors during the peak tourist period. The Consulate in Dubai is recording a significant increase in applicants, with over a thousand people arriving for consular services on most days. Applicants are advised to use exclusively the official booking portal: book.passportindiauae.com.
In a recent public notice, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi reiterated that appointments for passport, visa, and legalization services can be booked directly through the official portal free of charge. The notice stated: 'All appointments for passport, visa, and legalization services can be booked directly through the official booking portal at no cost. The booking portal is book.passportindiauae.com. No fee is charged for booking an appointment, and no third party is authorized to charge a fee for this service.' The mission also warned residents not to pay agents or unofficial service providers claiming to arrange appointments, including BLS International, SGIVS Global, or other individuals and agencies.
Indian missions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are optimizing access to consular services by allowing expatriates to book appointments for passport, visa, and document legalization services amid ongoing agency changes.
Expatriates of Indian origin residing in the UAE have been facing increased demand and delays in receiving consular services. Following a disruption in the outsourcing process, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai temporarily began providing these services directly.
After the transition of service providers, hundreds of applicants were awaiting document renewals and related documentation processing. This transition led to limited capacity and changes in the appointment system. Since July 1, both Indian missions are providing core consular services directly, but they have now also implemented an online booking system for those needing passport, visa, and legalization services.
This decision was made after the expiration of contracts with previous outsourcing agencies, such as BLS, and due to delays in onboarding the new service provider, Alhind Tours & Travels LLC, which was awarded the contract following a tender. However, the transition stalled because non-tender participants challenged the award in the Delhi High Court, alleging irregularities during the technical evaluation phase. These legal proceedings temporarily suspended the handover to Alhind, forcing the Indian missions in the UAE to take over service management directly.
To reduce the burden on visitors arriving without a prior appointment, a booking portal has been activated on the website book.passportindiauae.com. The mission stated that 'for administrative reasons, passport, visa, and legalization services are currently provided directly on a walk-in basis at the premises of the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai.'
Walk-in services will be available at both the embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Authorities reported that priority will be given to emergency cases, including documents for newborns and urgent certificates. Applicants with a prior appointment may enter 15 minutes before their scheduled time. To prevent crowding, entry is permitted only for applicants, except for minors, who require the presence of both parents.
The embassy has also designated entry points and service counters for different applicant categories, urging visitors to follow instructions carefully to avoid delays. The entry point to the Embassy in Abu Dhabi for CPV application submissions is the Main Gate on Al Safarat Street, Abu Dhabi. All inquiries and clarifications, including document delivery questions, will be handled in the Consular Wing, located at Unit No. 101, 1st Floor, Guardian Tower (Technip Building), Al Ishirah Street, Abu Dhabi. At the Consulate General of India in Dubai, entry for Passport and Visa applications is through Gate No. 2, while Legalization services use Gate No. 1. All other matters, such as document delivery, inquiries about submitted applications, employment issues, etc., will be addressed through Gate No. 1.
Officials advised applicants to arrive with a complete set of documentation and correctly filled forms. Applicants are recommended to adhere to the following rules to ensure fast and smooth service: they must appear with fully completed forms and supporting documents. The passport application form can be filled out at mportal.passportindia.gov.in/mission/. Before filling out the form and uploading photos, signatures, and documents, applicants should carefully review the instructions. Passport applicants must ensure that signatures/fingerprints are uploaded correctly on a white background. Applicable fees are accepted only in cash, so applicants are advised to have the exact amount. The new passport fee, effective July 1, 2026, should also be noted. For assistance, applicants can contact the missions toll-free at 800 46342 (800 INDIA), via WhatsApp at +971 54 309 0571, or by email at pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in.
The provision of Indian consular services in the United Arab Emirates has faced delays due to a legal dispute concerning a contract, leaving many expatriates in an uncertain situation.
The conflict arose between two companies that failed to pass the tender process and the decision by the Government of India to award the contract for providing consular services in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Australia. This dispute is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court of India.
Consequently, as of Thursday, temporary service for passport renewals and other types of services in the UAE is being provided by the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Dubai and the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi.
Earlier this year, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi announced the replacement of BLS, which had been handling passport, visa, and consular services for over ten years. The new contract was awarded to Alhind Tours & Travels following a competitive bidding process in November 2025. Alhind was chosen because it offered the lowest financial bid among the four companies that passed the preliminary selection.
However, the transition, originally scheduled for July 1st, was postponed by the Indian mission in the UAE citing 'administrative reasons.' In a social media post, the mission stated that it would begin providing consular services 'on a limited basis' starting July 2nd.
The two companies that failed to win the tender jointly challenged the bidding process and the decision itself in court, claiming they were disqualified 'without any stated reason.' These companies questioned the reason for exclusion during the technical evaluation stage, despite their proposals meeting all requirements. One company scored 67.5 percent in the technical evaluation, just below the threshold of 70 percent, but the company argues that the evaluation was 'arbitrary.'
In documents submitted to the court, the company provides examples of what it calls an 'explicitly arbitrary' assessment. For instance, under a criterion related to application processing times, the company was assigned zero points. Yet, the company explicitly promised to complete application processing within 30 minutes—the exact benchmark required by the tender. According to the evaluation rules, zero points should only be given if the participant proposed a processing time exceeding 30 minutes.
Similarly, the companies were given 'disproportionately low scores' on other criteria, including application assistance services, complaint resolution mechanisms, and the company's market reputation. The company asserts that it submitted 'detailed proposals' for each of these areas, but the evaluation committee 'provided no justification' for the low scores. The participant claims that the 'constant refusal to disclose reasons' renders the decision 'unfounded, non-transparent, and violating the principles of fairness and transparency.'
The case was previously heard in the High Court of Delhi, India. On June 5th, the High Court adjourned the hearing until July 13th without halting the transition. This allowed the new provider to begin taking over operations even while the legal challenge remained unresolved.
The unsuccessful participants have now approached the Supreme Court, arguing that allowing the transfer of cases before the court reviews the evaluation records will lead to 'irreversible' consequences. The company warns that once the handover is complete and application processing begins, 'contractual rights will crystallize,' and 'third-party rights will arise,' making it difficult to overturn the decision even if the court later finds the tender process flawed. Simply put, the legal challenge will become 'substantially meaningless.'
The Supreme Court had previously directed the government to provide the losing party with a breakdown of the scores received. However, the company states that the 'main reasons for disqualification remain confidential,' which violates the 'principles of transparency that should govern public procurement.'
The Supreme Court is expected to review this case soon. Depending on the outcome, the implementation of consular services may continue as planned, be further delayed, or even be subject to re-evaluation.
Currently, the Indian mission in the UAE has announced limited acceptance of citizens at the point of application starting July 2nd, offering passport, visa, and legalization services based on a 'first come, first served' principle from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Nevertheless, for many expatriates awaiting passport renewals, visa applications, or certificates for children's college admissions, the uncertainty is far from over.
Several Indian expats in the United Arab Emirates have encountered unforeseen delays in receiving consular services, jeopardizing their future plans. One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, told Khaleej Times that his daughter's college admission was put in question because of this delay.
He explained that after deciding on a college for his daughter and starting the enrollment process, they discovered she required an Indian Non-Resident Certificate (NRI). However, they only learned about the necessity of this document after the previous service provider ceased operations. For the past week, the family has been waiting for the resumption of consular services to apply for the certificate, fearing that late submission would affect his daughter's admission.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Indian consular services were being transferred from BLS, which had provided them for over ten years, to Alhind Tours & Travels. The contract was awarded following a tender conducted in November 2025, and the company was selected from four shortlisted firms for submitting the lowest financial bid.
Manju Sreekumar, a Dubai resident, shared her experience: in recent days while the previous service provider was operational, she traveled to Umm Al Quwain to renew her passport. She mentioned that she and her husband applied for a UK visa to attend her daughter's graduation, but her visa was rejected because her passport was less than six months from expiry. She urgently needed to renew her passport, but finding free time was difficult as people rushed to complete their documents before the change of service providers. Eventually, she managed to find renewal slots in Umm Al Quwain and traveled there for processing.
Manju Sreekumar added that the delay in launching consular services is frustrating given its impact on Indian expats. She noted that many of her friends' travel plans are stalled because they cannot renew their passports. She emphasized that people do not always carefully monitor passport validity dates, and some realize they only have a few months left on their passports after planning a trip, causing uncertainty about whether they can travel.
On Wednesday, the Indian mission in the UAE announced that starting Thursday, July 2nd, it will provide consular services in a limited capacity due to administrative reasons. These Limited Consular Services (Passport, Visa, Attestation, and Other Services) will be provided by the Embassy and the Consulate General of India on a walk-in basis, according to a first-come, first-served principle, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
