Indian expats in the UAE may soon be able to renew their passports without visiting a consular centre. Alhind Group, the new provider of Indian Embassy consular services in the UAE, is testing a home-based passport renewal system ahead of its official launch on July 1.The company will replace BLS International after securing the outsourcing contract from the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

According to a spokesperson, the new service is being developed using advanced technology and could become a major convenience for the UAE’s 4 million-strong Indian community. 

New Passport Renewal Service for Indians Under Testing in UAE 

Under the proposed system, applicants will be able to submit passport renewal details online. If required, trained staff members will visit homes to collect supporting documents or biometric data.

Alhind said the pilot project is currently in the testing phase, and the early results have been “extremely promising”.

The company described the initiative as a first-of-its-kind service for Indian expats in the UAE. If introduced fully, it could significantly reduce the need for applicants to travel to consular centres for routine passport services.

New Consular Network Across Seven Emirates 

Along with the passport renewal in the UAE project, Alhind Group in the UAE will operate 16 consular centres across all seven emirates from July 1. 

Locations will include Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kalba, Khorfakkan, and Fujairah. One of the largest facilities will be the Bur Dubai consular centre, which will span 12,000 square feet and include more than 45 counters.

The company said the expansion is aimed at reducing waiting times and making appointments easier for Indian expats’ passport and visa services in the UAE. 

Easier Access to Indian Embassy Consular Services 

Alhind said its focus is to simplify Indian Embassy consular services and reduce extra costs for applicants.

Parents applying for passports for newborn babies will be allowed to use the newborn Indian visa walk-in facility without booking appointments in advance. 

Each centre will also provide complete documentation support under one roof. Dedicated counters with Arabic-speaking staff will assist Emiratis applying for Indian visas.

Over 400 Staff Hired Ahead of Launch

To support the rollout, Alhind has recruited more than 400 staff members for its UAE operations. The company expects all centres to be fully operational by June 15 before officially taking over services on July 1.

Dh19 Additional Service Fee 

The company representative previously said the company would charge only Dh19 above the embassy-approved service fees. The amount will include support services such as photography and photocopying, helping make NRI passport renewal services in the UAE more affordable and transparent for the Indian diaspora in Dubai and across the Emirates.

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