UAE residents rush to secure passport renewal slots as summer travel demand strains Indian missions.
As thousands of Indian expats in the UAE prepare for summer holiday travel, many are facing unexpected stress after realising their passports are nearing expiry. For some residents, securing a passport reissue appointment has become a difficult task as travel dates approach.
Several UAE residents told Khaleej Times that they struggled to find available appointment slots for passport reissue, with some describing days of uncertainty and anxiety while waiting to complete the process before their planned trips.
The situation has become more challenging after Indian missions in the UAE moved passport and other consular services to an appointment-only system. Previously, many of these services were available through walk-in visits.
The Consulate General of India in Dubai and the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi now require residents to book appointments online in advance before accessing consular services.
Passport renewal delays leave UAE-based Indian expats stressed ahead of summer travel
For Neha Bhagwat, renewing her Indian passport became an emotional experience after she discovered that her son’s passport fell short of Thailand’s six-month validity requirement by just three days.
“My son is travelling to Thailand on July 18, and I recently realised his passport falls short of the required six months’ validity by just three days. With all our tickets already booked, I was extremely stressed and unsure what to do,” she said.
The uncertainty grew after she encountered difficulties with the updated passport service process and struggled to access the appointment portal. “The appointment link shared with me simply wasn’t working, probably because too many people were trying to access it during the booking window,” she said.
‘It felt like the fastest finger first’
Bhagwat said repeated attempts by her and her husband to secure an appointment were unsuccessful, while even a colleague who tried to assist could not get through. An appointment was eventually secured using her son’s details.
“With the appointment in hand, my husband and I went to the Consulate on Friday. There was nearly a one-kilometre queue outside, and security was checking whether applicants had confirmed appointments,” she said.
She added that walk-in applicants were not permitted and those without confirmed appointments were turned away. After completing the passport submission, the stress of the previous days finally caught up with her.
“The moment the submission was complete, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. After the stress and uncertainty of the past few days, I couldn’t hold back my tears,” Bhagwat said.
“I can’t believe I stood and cried at the Indian Consulate.”
For some residents, however, the issue remains unresolved. Hasib Khan said he has made repeated attempts to secure an appointment but has been unable to complete the process.
“I was unable to book the appointment. I have tried multiple times but I am not getting any verification email. I have to travel outside the UAE for some urgent work. I don’t know what to do now,” he said.
Families anxious as travel dates approach
Harmeet Suri is among several residents worried about whether renewed passports will arrive before their scheduled trips.
“We are due to travel in the first week of August and recently realised that my daughter’s passport is nearing expiry. We completed the application process and submitted all the required documents,” Suri said.
The family later received an email stating that passport delivery could take around three weeks, adding to their concerns as the travel date approaches.
“That has left us a little worried because our travel date is approaching quickly, and there isn’t much time left before the trip,” he added.
Indian missions in the UAE have said the appointment-based system was introduced to manage the heavy rush during the peak travel season. The Consulate General of India in Dubai has seen a significant increase in applicants, with more than 1,000 people visiting for consular services on most days.
Residents have been advised to use only the official appointment portal: book.passportindiauae.com.
In a recent public notice, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi clarified that appointments for passport, visa and attestation services can be booked directly through the official portal free of charge.
“All appointments for passport, visa and attestation services can be booked directly through the official appointment portal at no cost whatsoever. The appointment portal is book.passportindiauae.com. No fee is charged for booking an appointment, and no third party is authorised to charge for this service,” the notice stated.
The mission also cautioned residents against paying agents or unofficial service providers claiming to arrange appointments.
It advised applicants not to pay any individual or organisation claiming to provide appointment services on behalf of the Embassy or Consulate, including BLS International, SGIVS Global, or other agencies.
