Effective July 1, 2026, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai have transitioned all passport, visa, and attestation services to be handled directly from their own premises. This significant operational change aims to streamline the processing of Indian consular services in the UAE and eliminate the previously charged unauthorized third-party fees.
New Direct Booking Portal Launched
Indian nationals in the UAE can now book appointments for passport, visa, and attestation services free of cost through the official portal: book.passportindiauae.com. This move follows the official termination of contracts with outsourced service providers BLS International and SGIVS Global.
Warning Against Fraudulent Schemes
In a public notice issued on July 10, 2026, the Indian authorities strongly advised the public against ongoing fraudulent schemes. The embassy explicitly warned applicants not to pay any money to BLS International, SGIVS Global, or any other individual or agency claiming to facilitate appointments on behalf of the embassy or consulate.
"Any representation by any entity, their agents, or representatives claiming to be authorized by the Embassy/Consulate is false and unauthorized," the notice stated, reiterating that no third party is authorized to charge for booking appointments for these essential Indian consular services.
Reporting Misconduct
Individuals who have been misled, overcharged, or misinformed by entities falsely claiming affiliation with the diplomatic missions are urged to report such incidents immediately. Reports should be made directly to the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of India in Dubai through their official contact channels.
The public is encouraged to exercise caution and rely solely on official diplomatic channels for all inquiries and services related to passports, visas, and attestations, ensuring secure and legitimate access to Indian consular services.