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The Economic Times
The Economic Times

Indian passport, visa appointment suspension in UAE extended till July 1

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai will continue to provide only emergency consular services until July 1, 2026, citing administrative reasons.

In a press release issued on June 19, the mission said the restriction applies to passport, visa, miscellaneous consular and attestation services, with only emergency cases being handled during the period.

The Indian mission added that details regarding the resumption of regular consular services from July 2, 2026, will be announced in due course through the official communication channels and social media handles of the Embassy and the Consulate.

Also Read: Indian passport, visa services to move to a new system in UAE. Here's what changes from July 1

Indian nationals have been advised to rely only on official updates for further information.

New provider to handle Indian consular services in UAE

Indian passport, visa and other consular services in the UAE will transition to a new system from July 1, 2026, with Alhind Tours and Travels LLC replacing BLS International and SGIVS Global (IVS) as the single outsourced service provider.

The move follows a competitive tender by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi to streamline passport, visa and other consular services under one operator across the UAE. As part of the transition, BLS and IVS stopped accepting new appointments after June 25.

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Under the new Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC) framework, applicants will be able to access a range of services, including passport and visa processing, OCI cards, Police Clearance Certificates (PCC), Surrender Certificates, Global Entry Programme verification, document attestation and other consular services.

The new network will cover all seven emirates, with centres planned in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Khor Fakkan and Kalba, with detailed location information to be announced before the rollout.

Emergency services remain unchanged

The Embassy said the existing emergency contact details remain unchanged. Applicants requiring urgent assistance can reach the toll-free helpline at 800 46342 (800 INDIA), WhatsApp at +971 54 309 0571, or email (pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in).

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