Indian passport, visa and attestation services across the UAE will be temporarily unavailable from June 26 to June 30, 2026.
The pause is linked to a change in the outsourced service provider handling Indian consular services in the UAE. Emergency services will continue through the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.
For thousands of Indians living across the UAE, an important change is coming to consular services next week.
The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi has announced that regular passport, visa and attestation appointments will be temporarily suspended for five days as it transitions to a new service provider. The move is part of a wider change that will see Al Hind Tours and Travel LLC take over consular service operations from July 1, 2026.
Residents who have plans to renew passports, apply for visas or complete document attestations may need to adjust their schedules accordingly.
Why are services being suspended?
The temporary suspension is part of the handover process between the current service providers and the newly appointed operator.
At present, passport and visa applications are handled through BLS International, while attestation services are managed by SGIVS Global. According to the Embassy of India, both providers will stop accepting new applications after business hours on June 25, 2026.
To ensure a smooth transition, regular appointments for passport, visa and attestation services will not be available between June 26 and June 30.
While the pause is only for a few days, it could affect residents who have urgent travel plans or time-sensitive paperwork scheduled during that period.
Who will handle Indian consular services from July?
From July 1, 2026, Al Hind Tours and Travel LLC will officially begin managing outsourced Indian consular services across the UAE.
The company will handle services including passport applications, renewals, visa processing and document attestations.
A new appointment booking platform is also expected to go live before operations begin. Residents are advised to wait for official announcements regarding appointment procedures and service centre locations.
The change is significant given the size of the Indian community in the UAE, which remains the country’s largest expatriate population. Every year, thousands of residents rely on consular services for passport renewals, family visas, power of attorney documentation and educational certificate attestations.
What if you have an emergency during the closure?
The good news is that emergency services will continue throughout the transition period.
The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai have confirmed that urgent passport, visa and attestation requests will still be handled directly in emergency situations.
This means residents facing genuine emergencies will still be able to seek assistance even while regular appointment services remain unavailable.
Officials have also urged the public to rely only on information shared through official Embassy and Consulate channels, especially during the transition period when misinformation can easily circulate online.
How does this affect Indian residents in the UAE?
For many residents, the announcement comes at a busy time of the year.
Summer holidays are approaching, schools are closing for the season, and many families are preparing to travel home or abroad. Any pending passport renewal or visa-related application should be reviewed immediately to avoid unnecessary delays.
Those planning international travel in the coming weeks may want to check passport validity and complete any urgent paperwork before June 25.
The transition could also lead to changes in appointment systems, service locations and processing procedures once the new provider begins operations. More details are expected to be announced in the coming days.
What should applicants do now?
Residents who require passport, visa or attestation services should consider completing their applications before June 25 where possible.
Those without urgent requirements may prefer to wait until July, when the new appointment system becomes available.
The Embassy has advised applicants to keep an eye on official updates for information about service centres, booking procedures and timelines.
For now, planning ahead is the best way to avoid disruptions.
FAQs
Q: When will Indian passport services be unavailable in the UAE?
A: Regular passport, visa and attestation services will be unavailable from June 26 to June 30, 2026.
Q: Will emergency passport services continue during the suspension?
A: Yes. Emergency consular services will continue through the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.
Q: Who is the new service provider?
A: Al Hind Tours and Travel LLC will become the new outsourced provider for Indian consular services from July 1, 2026.
Q: Can residents still submit applications through BLS after June 25?
A: No. Existing service providers will stop accepting new applications after the close of business on June 25.
Q: When will the new appointment system launch?
A: The new booking portal is expected to open before July 1. Residents should monitor official announcements for updates.
Indian residents across the UAE should take note of the upcoming five-day suspension of passport, visa and attestation services. While emergency assistance will remain available, anyone with travel plans or pending applications should act early to avoid delays.
With a new service provider set to take over from July 1, further updates on appointment bookings and service centres are expected soon.
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