Indian Passport, Visa and Attestation Services in UAE to Pause for 5 Days

Indians in the UAE planning to renew a passport, apply for a visa, or complete document attestation have a narrow window to act. Regular consular services will be unavailable from June 26 to June 30 as Indian missions switch to a new outsourced service provider.

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi has confirmed that Al Hind Tours and Travel LLC will officially take over passport, visa, and attestation services across the UAE from July 1, 2026. Until then, existing providers BLS International and SGIVS Global will stop accepting fresh applications after business hours on June 25.

No Routine Appointments for Five Days

During the transition period, applicants will not be able to book or attend routine appointments for:

• Passport services
• Visa services
• Document attestation services

Anyone planning travel, passport renewal, or document legalisation should submit applications before June 25 or wait until services resume under the new system on July 1.

For the large Indian expatriate community in the UAE, including frequent travellers flying between Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kochi, this temporary pause could affect travel timelines if documents are nearing expiry.

Emergency Services Will Remain Available

Indian missions have clarified that emergency passport, visa and attestation services will continue throughout the five-day suspension. Applicants needing urgent assistance can contact:

• Toll-free: 800 INDIA (800 46342)
• WhatsApp: +971 54 309 0571
• Embassy and Consulate official email channels

New Appointment Portal Launches July 1

Al Hind Tours and Travel will launch a new online appointment system on July 1, the same day it begins operations.

Indian nationals have been advised to follow only official updates issued by the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai, as appointment procedures and service booking methods will change under the new provider.

16 Service Centres Across the UAE

Earlier announcements confirmed that Al Hind will operate 16 consular service centres across all seven emirates, giving applicants a wider physical service network than before.

This shift also reflects a broader trend. Governments are increasingly reassessing outsourced visa and consular contracts, with greater emphasis on digital booking systems and wider service coverage rather than simply adding more counters.

What Indians in the UAE Should Do Now

• Submit pending passport, visa or attestation applications before June 25.
• Avoid scheduling non-urgent document work between June 26 and June 30.
• Watch for the launch of Al Hind’s appointment portal on July 1.
• Use only official Indian mission channels for updates.

Travelobiz Take

We see this as a temporary inconvenience rather than a problem. The five-day pause is manageable, and a larger 16-centre network could make consular services more accessible for Indians across the UAE.