Indian residents and travellers in the UAE should check their document timelines immediately. The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi has announced that routine passport, visa and attestation appointments will remain unavailable from June 26 to June 30, 2026.
The five-day pause is part of a planned transfer of outsourced consular operations to a new service provider. Current providers will stop accepting fresh applications after business hours on June 25. Emergency help will continue through the Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.
Anyone facing upcoming travel, passport expiry, visa deadlines, university admission, employment documentation or certificate attestation should avoid relying on unofficial agents or forwarded social media messages. The latest instructions are available through the official Embassy notice.
Why Passport And Visa Appointments Are Being Paused
The pause is not a permanent closure or a cancellation of Indian consular services in the UAE. It is a short transition window before Al Hind Tours and Travel LLC begins managing outsourced passport, visa and attestation services on July 1, 2026.
BLS International currently handles passport and visa applications, while SGIVS Global manages attestation services. Both providers will stop taking new applications after the close of business on Thursday, June 25.
Regular applicants will therefore not find routine appointment slots between June 26 and June 30. This applies to passport, visa and attestation work handled through outsourced centres. The temporary gap allows records, systems and application operations to move to the incoming provider.
Reports indicate that the new operator plans to run 16 service centres across all seven emirates. That expansion could make consular access easier for residents outside Abu Dhabi and Dubai. However, applicants should wait for confirmed centre addresses, fees and booking instructions before making travel arrangements.
The new appointment portal is expected to open around the July 1 launch. The Embassy has asked the public to follow only its official website and verified social accounts for portal announcements.
What Applicants Should Do Before June 26
People with urgent but non-emergency work should first check whether an appointment is available before the June 25 cut-off. They should also verify that their forms, photographs, supporting documents and payment requirements are complete before visiting a centre.
Applicants should not assume that submitting an online form means the application has entered processing. A completed appointment and physical submission may still be required, depending on the service. Passport renewal applicants should check their passport expiry date, planned travel and UAE residence visa validity together.
Those who already submitted applications before the cut-off should retain their receipt, application reference number, payment record and courier details. They should follow the tracking route provided at submission until an official migration instruction appears.
Applicants planning to travel in early July should leave extra time. A new portal may face high traffic when bookings reopen, especially after five days without routine appointments.
A Quick Applicant Checklist
Before June 26, applicants should:
- Confirm whether an existing appointment remains valid.
- Save receipts and application reference numbers.
- Avoid booking non-refundable travel around an expiring passport.
- Keep digital and printed copies of supporting documents.
- Monitor the Embassy and Dubai Consulate websites.
- Ignore payment requests from unverified agents.
- Wait for the official Al Hind portal announcement.
The Embassy has also shared the service-provider update through its official X account. Applicants can use this post as a direct verified reference instead of trusting screenshots without dates or account details.
How Emergency Consular Services Will Work
The suspension only covers routine public appointments. Emergency passport, visa and attestation assistance will continue during the transition from June 26 to June 30.
The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai will directly handle urgent cases. Applicants can contact the missions through the toll-free number 800 46342, also written as 800 INDIA.
They may also send a WhatsApp message to +971 54 309 0571 or email [email protected]. Messages should briefly explain the emergency and include the applicant’s full name, mobile number, passport details, location and supporting evidence.
An emergency request should involve a genuine time-sensitive situation. Examples may include a death or severe illness in the family, urgent medical travel, passport loss before unavoidable travel, repatriation needs or another case requiring immediate consular action.
A holiday booking, routine renewal delay or preference for an earlier appointment may not automatically qualify. The mission will decide each case after reviewing the available information.
Applicants should avoid sending repeated messages across every channel unless the case becomes more urgent. A complete first message with the required details can help officials assess the request faster.
What Changes From July 1 And How To Avoid Scams
From July 1, Al Hind Tours and Travel LLC will become the outsourced provider for Indian passport, visa and attestation services throughout the UAE. Applicants will need to use the newly announced portal and authorised centres for fresh appointments.
Until the Embassy publishes the official link, people should not enter passport details, card information, UAE identification numbers or one-time passwords on websites shared through WhatsApp groups. Fraudulent pages often appear during major service changes and may copy official logos.
The safest route is to begin with the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of India in Dubai. Applicants can then follow the official portal link displayed on those websites.
People should also check the fee schedule before paying. They must request a receipt for every official payment and verify whether optional courier, photograph or form-filling services carry separate charges.
The Indian Embassy UAE passport and visa slots pause lasts only five days, but applicants with close travel or documentation deadlines should plan now. Complete urgent submissions before June 25 where possible, preserve existing application records and use emergency contacts only for genuine urgent cases.
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From July 1, check the official mission channels for the new booking portal, centre locations and service instructions before submitting documents or making payments.
FAQs
1. When Will Routine Indian Passport Appointments Stop In The UAE?
Routine appointments will remain unavailable from June 26 through June 30, 2026, during the provider transition.
2. Will Emergency Passport Services Remain Available During The Five-Day Pause?
Yes, Indian missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai will directly assist applicants facing genuine emergencies.
3. Who Will Manage Indian Consular Services From July 1?
Al Hind Tours and Travel LLC will manage outsourced passport, visa and attestation services across UAE.
4. What Is The Emergency Consular Helpline Number?
Applicants can call 800 46342 or send WhatsApp messages to +971 54 309 0571.
5. Where Should Applicants Find The New Appointment Portal?
Applicants should follow official Embassy and Dubai Consulate websites for the verified portal announcement only.