The Indian Consulate in Dubai has said it is working to eliminate the backlog of urgent passport applications before Independence Day, with priority being given to the Tatkal category after disruptions caused by the transition to a new outsourced service provider.
During his first media interaction since assuming office, Consul General Dr E. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy said the mission is focused on restoring passport processing to the standard timelines following operational challenges that emerged after Alhind Tours & Travels took over passport, visa, attestation and other consular services in the UAE, according to Gulf News.
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The company is currently operating through 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the country as the interim service provider.
The Consulate said it is working to reduce delays in all passport services, while giving immediate priority to clearing pending Tatkal applications. Tatkal passport applications are currently taking up to three days to process, compared with the earlier same-day service for eligible applications submitted before noon. However, the mission said same-day processing continues to be available in genuine emergency cases.
Tatkal only for eligible applicants
The Consulate clarified that the Tatkal scheme is not available for all passport applicants and should only be used by eligible applicants with urgent requirements. Walk-in applications are accepted for Tatkal cases, newborns and emergency certificates, but applicants seeking Tatkal service are expected to provide supporting documents to establish the urgency of their request.
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Under Government of India rules, Tatkal is available for limited categories, including passport renewals with no change in particulars, address changes, addition or deletion of a spouse's name, name split and ECR to Non-ECR conversion. Fresh passport applications, lost or stolen passports, re-issue cases, changes in personal details such as name, date of birth or parents' names, and several other categories are not eligible under the scheme.
Advisory against private agents
The Consulate also advised Indian expatriates not to use private typing centres that charge higher fees for passport application assistance. It said the outsourced service provider offers typing, photography, photocopying, printouts and domestic courier services at a nominal charge, and applicants should use these facilities instead. The mission also plans to conduct awareness sessions for workers in coordination with Dubai Police.
The Consulate also shared details of the media interaction on X.
