Indians in UAE Alert: Passport, Visa & Attestation Services Shift to New Centres from Today – Here’s What Changes
The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has made an important announcement about Indian nationals living in the UAE. As of 22 July 2026, the Passport, Visa, and Attestation services will be outsourced by the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi to Al Hind Tours & Travels LLC, which will provide these services at 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) located in the UAE.
This will result in the applicant not visiting the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi or the Indian Consulate General in Dubai for passport, visa, and attestation purposes. These services will now be provided through various ICACs present in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain, Al Ain, Madinat Zayed, and other places.
What Has Changed?
As per the official notice issued by the Embassy of India, all passport, visa and attestation services have now been relocated to the ICAC network managed by Al Hind Tours & Travels.
It is noteworthy that the above mentioned system became operational from 22nd July, 2026. The objective of adopting this approach was to ensure wider reach of services through centers located throughout the Emirates.
Where Should You Book Your Appointment?
Applicants must now book appointments online through the newly designated portal:
Appointments will be released twice every day at 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM, allowing applicants to choose suitable time slots before visiting an ICAC.
Embassy and Consulate Will No Longer Accept These Applications
One of the most significant announcements made is the discontinuation of Passport, Visa and Attestation services by the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.
The applicants will now need to travel to the nearest Indian Consular Application Centre, which can be booked for appointments online.
Service Timings
All the Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) would be open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Applicants should report 15 minutes prior to the appointment time. Reporting at the centre earlier than that is not allowed.
It has also been instructed by officials that the applicants should be very careful about selecting the right category of service while booking appointments.
Service Charges Explained
The Embassy has made clear that the applicant will keep paying the fee charged by the Government of India for his or her respective service.
Apart from this, Al Hind Tours & Travels LLC will charge a service fee of AED 19 including VAT.
The above mentioned fee includes many additional services such as form filling, photography, typing of documents, printing, photocopier, etc. related to passport, visa, and attestation services.
Tatkal and Emergency Services
The announcement also provides relief for applicants requiring urgent services. Applications for Tatkal Passports, New-born Passport cases, Emergency Certificates (EC), and Senior Citizens aged 60 years and above will be accepted on a walk-in basis at all ICAC centres, subject to availability and handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Why This Matters for Indian Expats
UAE is known to have one of the largest Indian diaspora populations in the world. Through relocation of services to multiple application centers, applicants would enjoy reduced travel time, allocated appointment slots, and consistent delivery of services from the various Emirates.
This change is anticipated to minimize traffic in diplomatic missions and make the consular services easier for the Indians.
Conclusion
Starting 22nd July 2026, all Indian nationals residing in the UAE have to apply at the newly introduced Indian Consular Application Centers (ICACs) for all types of passport, visa and attestation services.
It is advised that individuals book an appointment via the official website prior to visiting their nearby ICAC center as they will no longer be able to avail of the services directly from the Indian embassy or consulate offices.
