Indian Consular Services in UAE Suspended for Five Days
Indian diplomatic missions in the United Arab Emirates will halt passport, visa, and attestation services for five days starting June 26, 2026. This temporary cessation comes as the government transitions to a newly appointed outsourced service provider handling Indian consular administrative operations.
Key Takeaways
- Routine passport, visa, and attestation applications will pause from June 26 to June 30, 2026.
- Al Hind Tours and Travel LLC will officially assume operations as the new service provider on July 1, 2026.
- The current vendors, BLS International and SGIVS Global, will stop accepting submissions after business hours on June 25, 2026.
- Emergency consular assistance will remain fully accessible through dedicated phone, email, and WhatsApp channels.
The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi confirmed that normal processing for passport, visa, and attestation demands will restart on July 1, 2026 under the incoming vendor. To facilitate the operational handover, the existing external agencies will refuse fresh submissions once business hours conclude on June 25, 2026.
Under this fresh operational framework, Al Hind Tours and Travel LLC will manage the distribution of decentralized passport, visa, and consular processing across the Emirates starting July 1, 2026. The firm succeeds the outgoing service representatives, BLS International Services Ltd. and SGIVS Global.
Monsoon delays in India have simultaneously triggered a significant moisture deficit in Mumbai, leaving the metropolitan area facing a notable rainfall shortage.
Throughout the five-day transitional window, standard bookings for passport modifications, visa processing, and document legalization will remain unavailable. Nevertheless, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi alongside the Consulate General of India in Dubai will continuously administer emergency document processing for critical contingencies.
To prevent citizens from experiencing severe disruptions, urgent consular support will persist during the brief shutdown. Individuals requiring immediate processing can reach the diplomatic offices through specified communication networks, including telephone lines, WhatsApp connectivity, and electronic mail.
Diplomatic officials recommended that travelers finalize critical documentation before the June 25, 2026 deadline. Citizens must monitor subsequent governmental advisories detailing updated appointment protocols, localized service hub coordinates, and digital reservation frameworks.
Al Hind will introduce an integrated digital application system on July 1, 2026. This upcoming network replaces the legacy appointment scheduling setups operated by BLS and SGIVS.
The restructuring signals a major modification in how domestic diplomatic operations function within the country. Authorities project enhanced processing accessibility and heightened operational throughput once the centralized platform activates.
The diplomatic mission reiterated that current operational partners, BLS International for passport and visa workflows and SGIVS Global for legal attestations, will stop processing applications after regular shifts end on June 25, 2026.
Future Outlook
The transition to Al Hind Tours and Travel LLC represents a strategic push by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to modernize its largest diaspora support network. By consolidating passport, visa, and attestation workflows into a single digital architecture, the government aims to reduce processing backlogs and eliminate system redundancies that previously affected thousands of expatriates monthly across the Emirates.
FAQs
Why are Indian passport and visa services in the UAE being suspended?
Services are pausing temporarily to facilitate an operational transition from the legacy outsourced vendors to a newly appointed service provider, Al Hind Tours and Travel LLC.
What are the exact dates of the service suspension?
The suspension runs for five days, starting on June 26, 2026, and concluding on June 30, 2026. Normal operations will resume on July 1, 2026.
Can I still get an emergency passport or visa during the shutdown?
Yes. The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai will remain open specifically to process emergency and urgent consular cases via telephone, WhatsApp, and email.
When is the final deadline to submit documents under the old system?
The current providers, BLS International and SGIVS Global, will stop accepting new applications at the close of business on June 25, 2026.
