Indian expats in the UAE waiting to renew their passports or access other consular services could face continued delays after the Why Indian passport renewals in the UAE could face longer delaysCourt ordered a fresh tender process for outsourced consular operations.

The ruling affects the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai, as well as Indian missions in Kuwait, Singapore and Australia.

The court cancelled the previously awarded contract and directed India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to issue fresh Requests for Proposal (RFPs) within one month.

Why did the court intervene?

The case was brought by two companies that were eliminated during the technical evaluation stage of the bidding process.

While they did not challenge the technical assessment itself, they argued that the evaluation lacked transparency.

The Delhi High Court agreed, ruling that the authorities had failed to disclose how technical marks were awarded, effectively invalidating the tender process.

What happens now?

The contract had been awarded to Alhind Tours & Travels, which was due to take over consular operations from July 1 after submitting the lowest financial bid.

The Kerala-based company had already prepared to operate 16 service centres across the UAE, including a large facility in Bur Dubai with more than 45 service counters.

However, following the court’s ruling, Alhind can no longer formally assume the contract until a fresh tender process is completed.

How are passport services operating now?

Since July 1, passport, visa and other consular services have been handled directly by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai, marking the first time in 17 years that the missions have managed these services in-house.

The missions currently process applications for:

• Passport renewals
• Visa services
• Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards
• Police Clearance Certificates (PCC)
• Surrender Certificates (SC)
• Global Entry Programme (GEP) verification
• Document attestation

Authorities have also warned applicants against unauthorised agents claiming to secure appointments, stressing that bookings through the official portal are free of charge.

Will services be disrupted?

The High Court said existing service providers may be allowed to continue temporarily to minimise disruption, but the final decision now rests with the Indian missions and the Ministry of External Affairs.

Until a new tender is completed and a service provider is officially appointed, applicants may continue to experience longer waiting times for appointments and document processing.

Indian nationals in the UAE will have to pay more for passport and related consular services from July 1, following a revision in fees announced by the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.

The new charges apply to passport applications submitted through the embassy, consulate and the new Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the UAE.

Why are the fees increasing?

The revised charges follow updated passport rules introduced by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on June 20. The new fee structure applies to Indian passport services worldwide, including in the UAE.

What are the new passport fees?

The revised fees are as follows:

• 36-page passport (new or renewal): Dh450
• 60-page passport (new or renewal): Dh630
• 36-page Tatkal passport: Dh900
• 60-page Tatkal passport: Dh1,080
• Replacement of a lost or damaged 36-page passport: Dh900
• Tatkal replacement of a lost or damaged 36-page passport: Dh1,350
• Replacement of a lost or damaged 60-page passport: Dh1,080
• Tatkal replacement of a lost or damaged 60-page passport: Dh1,530

Who will be affected?

The revised fees apply to all eligible passport applications submitted from July 1, including:

• New passport applications.
• Passport renewals.
• Tatkal (urgent) applications.
• Replacement of lost or damaged passports.

What should applicants do?

If you’re planning to apply for or renew your Indian passport in the UAE, check the revised fees before booking your appointment.

The updated charges will apply at:

• Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi.
• Consulate General of India, Dubai.
• Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the UAE.

With around 4.5 million Indians living in the UAE, the revised fee structure will affect one of the country’s largest overseas communities.

If you’re travelling from the UAE to India, there’s a new travel requirement you shouldn’t miss.

India has introduced Air Suvidha 2.0, a mandatory online health declaration system for all international arrivals. The form must be completed within 24 hours before your flight and is required before passengers are allowed to board.

The new system was introduced by India’s civil aviation authorities as a precautionary measure in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

What is Air Suvidha 2.0?

Air Suvidha 2.0 is an online self-declaration portal where travellers must provide their recent travel and health information before flying to India.

Passengers will be asked to submit details including:

• Their travel history over the past 21 days
• Any possible exposure to infectious diseases
• Whether they are experiencing any related symptoms

Once the form is submitted, it is automatically shared with the Airport Health Organisation (APHO) under India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Is the form mandatory?

Yes. All international passengers travelling to India are required to complete the Air Suvidha Self Declaration Form before boarding their flight.

Airlines may ask passengers to show proof that the form has been submitted before allowing them to travel.

Do you need a printed copy?

No. After submitting the form, travellers will receive a confirmation by email, which can simply be shown on a mobile phone upon arrival in India. There’s no need to carry a printed copy.

Completing the form in advance also helps speed up the arrival process by reducing paperwork at the airport.