If you’re an Indian expat living in the UAE, heads up. Our go-to place for passport renewals and consular services is about to change. The Embassy of India has handed over its outsourced consular services contract to a new provider: Alhind Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd. So what does this mean for you? I have all the important details you need to know, so keep reading to find out more.
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Out With BLS, In With Alhind
For the past few years, BLS International has been the company handling Indian consular services in the UAE. But that’s changing. The Embassy of India has now awarded the contract to Alhind Tours & Travels Pvt Ltd, an India-based company that’ll be stepping in to take over.
So, What’s Actually Changing?
The process itself stays the same. From applying for a new passport or renewing an existing one will work just like it did before. What’s changing is who handles it, where you go, and the website you’ll use. Alhind will be launching a dedicated website for booking consular services, so keep an eye out for that.
Where Will The New Offices Be?
Alhind will have 16 office locations across the UAE, covering Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kalba, Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, and more. So no matter where you’re based, there should be a convenient option nearby.
Will It Cost More? Nope – Actually Less!
Here’s the part everyone wants to know. According to Alhind Group Chairman Mohammed Haris T, the service fee will be a flat AED 19 on top of the standard embassy charges. And that’s it! No hidden extras. That unified fee covers everything, including photography and photocopying. Haris has said they want to keep things as affordable as possible, and the new rate is expected to be lower than what’s currently being charged.
What Services Are Covered?
Alhind’s contract covers a wide range of consular services, so most of your needs are taken care of in one place. This includes:
- Passport renewals
- Visa processing
- OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) cards
- Police Clearance Certificates (PCC)
- Surrender Certificates
- Global Entry Programme (GEP) verification
- Various attestation services
When Does All This Kick In?
No official date has been confirmed just yet, but Haris is aiming for a July 1 rollout. The team is currently in the final stages of setting up their offices, and residents will be notified with all the details before anything goes live. So watch this space!
Stay tuned to Gulf Buzz – full details will be shared before the switchover, so you’ll have everything you need well ahead of time.
