The Indian Embassy in the UAE has opened a new tender for passport and consular services.
India has launched a new tender for passport and consular services in the UAE, however Al Hind will continue to supply these services until an official changeover takes place.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE has requested new proposals for outsourcing passport, visa, consular, and attestation services across the country, with the new contract expected to last three years.
The essential aspect for applicants is that Al Hind Tours & Travels LLC will continue to provide these services, therefore the new tender will have no immediate impact on where or how Indians in the UAE can apply.
Who provides Indian passport services in the UAE?
Al Hind Tours & Travels became the new outsourced service provider when the previous suppliers, BLS International Services Ltd. and SGIVS Global, ceased accepting new applications at the end of June 2026.
In April 2026, the Embassy awarded the contract to Al Hind after determining that it had the lowest financial bid. The new arrangement includes passport, visa, OCI, police clearance, attestation, and other consular application services.
16 Indian Consular Application Centers.
Al Hind operates 16 ICACs in all seven emirates, allowing applicants to access services outside of the Embassy and Consulate grounds.
The centers open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Applicants may enter an ICAC only 15 minutes before their appointment time.
How to Book an Appointment
Most applicants must schedule an appointment online through the official Consular Seva UAE webpage. Appointment slots are released twice every day.
9 AM
9 PM
When booking, applicants should ensure that they select the relevant service and submit their information accurately.
Who Can Apply without an Appointment?
The Embassy has permitted walk-in applications in four categories at all ICACs, subject to first-come, first-served processing:
Tatkal Passport Applications
Newborn cases
Emergency certificates (ECs)
Senior persons aged 60 and up.
This is one of the more useful modifications for applicants who can't wait for a regular appointment time.
How Much Is the Service Charge?
Applicants pay the applicable Government of India fee in addition to an AED 19 service charge, including VAT, levied by Al Hind.
The AED 19 price covers ancillary services such as form filling, photography, typing, domestic courier, printouts, and photocopying.
What if you already have an appointment?
If you already have an appointment with an ICAC, there is no need to cancel or reschedule it just because the Embassy has released a new tender.
Applicants should keep their current appointments and adhere to the centre's directions. The Indian Embassy will communicate any changes to the service provider, center locations, or appointment process separately.
Walk-in applications are presently accepted for Tatkal passports, infant cases, Emergency Certificates, and applicants aged 60 and up, subject to appropriate procedures.
When Will the New Provider be Selected?
The new tender is for a potential outsourcing relationship. The bids are set to close on October 26, 2026, after which the Embassy will analyze them and complete the selection process.
The selected bidder will eventually take over the new three-year contract, but Al Hind will continue to offer services until an official changeover is made.
This is the section where candidates should pay attention: a new tender is an administrative change in the works, not a directive to transfer providers right away.
What Indian Candidates Should Do
Continue to use the existing Al Hind ICACs for passport, visa, and consular services.
Keep your current appointments unless the Embassy or service center announces a change.
Before visiting an ICAC, see the official website of the Embassy or Consulate.
Don't assume that the new tender means Al Hind has already been replaced.
Avoid agents or third parties saying that appointments must be canceled due to a tender.
Travunited Take:
We see no immediate inconvenience for applications. Al Hind is still the current supplier, so keep existing appointments and wait for official instructions before changing arrangements.
