India has recently announced a massive administrative shift in its Visa and passport consular services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). From the first of July, India is changing its passport service provider. This change will also mean an entirely new system that will affect millions of Indian expatriates who are living in the UAE as of now. This announcement was made by the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi, and here is what they said.
India Appoints New Passport, Visa Services Provider
🔔 Important Update: Change in Outsourced Service Provider for Indian Passport, Visa and Consular Services in the UAE. pic.twitter.com/6GER045Jn1
— India in UAE (@IndembAbuDhabi) June 12, 2026
For the longest time, these consular services were provided by the BLS International Services Ltd. and SGIVS Global. However, after a competitive tendering process, India has now switched to Al Hind Tours and Travels LLC.
Also Read: Do You Need Separate Visas For Dubai And Abu Dhabi? UAE Visa Rules, Costs & Application Guide
Here is the full list of services that Al Hind Tours and Travels LLC will be responsible for starting July 1, 2026.
- Passport applications and renewals
- Visa applications (For Foreign Nationals)
- Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
- Passport surrender certificates
- Attestation of legal and commercial documents
- Global Entry Programme (GEP) verification
Also Read: UAE Launches Golden Visa For Indians At INR 23 Lakhs, No Investment Needed
What You Can Expect Now
It is important for all expats living in the UAE to note that until July 1, all visa and passport services or applications for any of the procedures mentioned above should be done via existing BLS and SGIVS offices. After July 1, Al Hind Services will take over these processes.
Also Read: UAE Launches Blue Visa, Here’s Everything To Know
In the coming days, the embassy will release more relevant details pertaining to this administrative shift. Details like new center locations across cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and other emirates, the revised procedures for bookings and operational hours, and updated fee services and processing charges will be revealed in the coming days.
The embassy also issued an official alert advising applicants to stick to official channels exclusively and not to rely on third-party or unofficial avenues for these procedures.
Also Read: Etihad Launches Free 15-Day Medical Travel Insurance For Visitors Arriving In Abu Dhabi
Summing Up
This move aligns with the Indian Embassy’s larger goal to streamline the process of visa and passport processing. This new move will modernize the infrastructure and provide more accessible, higher-quality, and speedier consular services for the large number of non-resident Indian (NRI) population in the UAE.
