Indian Expats UAE 2026: Passport Fee Hike, New Consular Centres and Air Suvidha Rules
Indian expats UAE 2026 face passport fee hikes of up to 75%, a switch to Alhind's new ICAC consular network, and a mandatory Air Suvidha 2.0 health form for all India-bound flights — all effective from July 1, 2026.
Indian expats UAE 2026 are facing one of the most significant overhauls of consular and travel documentation services in recent years, with three major changes landing in quick succession from July 1. Indian passport fees are being hiked by up to 75 percent, a new service provider called Alhind Tours and Travels is replacing BLS International and SGIVS across all seven emirates under a unified Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC) network, and passengers flying from the UAE to India must now complete a mandatory Air Suvidha 2.0 health declaration form before boarding. For the 4.5 million Indians living and working across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the rest of the UAE, understanding each of these changes — and acting on them before the July 1 deadline — is essential to avoiding delays, unexpected costs, and travel disruption.
Indian Passport Fee Hike 2026 — New Rates From July 1
The most immediately impactful change for Indian expats UAE 2026 is the sharp rise in Indian passport fees, effective July 1, 2026 following a gazette notification issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on June 20. The revision marks one of the steepest fee increases in recent memory, with the standard 36-page adult passport rising from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 — a 67 percent increase — and the 60-page booklet climbing from ₹2,000 to ₹3,500. Tatkal or emergency processing fees have also been revised upward, with Tatkal applications now costing up to ₹6,000 depending on booklet size, and lost or damaged passport replacements under Tatkal processing reaching up to ₹7,500. Other consular services including police clearance certificates, surrender certificates, and emergency travel certificates have similarly been revised upward across the board.
For UAE-based applicants specifically, the Indian missions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi had not yet announced their updated local fee structure in Dirhams at the time of writing. Current UAE rates stand at Dh285 for a 36-page passport, Dh380 for a 60-page booklet, and up to Dh950 for Tatkal services — with ICWF and additional service charges applying on top. The revised Dirham rates are expected to be announced within days of the gazette notification. Any Indian expat in the UAE who was planning to renew their passport should factor the new rates into their budget and avoid assuming the old fee structure still applies when booking their appointment from July 1 onwards.
| Passport Service | Old Fee (India) | New Fee From July 1 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36-page adult passport | ₹1,500 | ₹2,500 | +67% |
| 60-page passport | ₹2,000 | ₹3,500 | +75% |
| Tatkal processing | Up to ₹3,000 | Up to ₹6,000 | +100% |
| Lost/damaged passport (Tatkal) | Up to ₹4,000 | Up to ₹7,500 | +87% |
| UAE — 36-page passport (current) | Dh285 | TBA (revised soon) | — |
| UAE — 60-page passport (current) | Dh380 | TBA (revised soon) | — |
| UAE — Tatkal (current) | Up to Dh950 | TBA (revised soon) | — |
BLS to Alhind — New Consular Service Provider From July 1
The second major change for Indian expats UAE 2026 is the complete replacement of existing consular service providers. From July 1, Alhind Tours and Travels LLC takes over all passport, visa, and attestation services across the UAE, replacing BLS International and SGIVS under a new unified framework called Indian Consular Application Centres (ICAC). The ICAC model consolidates all services — passport renewals, OCI card applications, visa processing, police clearance certificates, and document attestation — under a single platform with a standardised service fee of Dh19 per transaction. Alhind has committed to providing appointment slots within five working days and targeting a processing time of approximately 30 minutes per application.
The transition period creates a short but important service gap that every Indian expat in the UAE needs to plan around. BLS International and SGIVS stopped accepting new bookings after June 25, and routine consular services were suspended from June 26 through June 30 to allow for the handover. Emergency passport services, urgent visa applications, and critical attestation requirements continue to be handled directly by Indian missions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi throughout the transition period. Toll-free support, WhatsApp assistance, and email helplines remain available for urgent cases during the June 26–30 blackout window. The full ICAC network will cover 16 centres across all seven emirates when it launches on July 1, with six centres in Abu Dhabi, two each in Dubai and Sharjah, and additional centres in Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Khor Fakkan, and Kalba — full addresses to be announced before the launch date.
| ICAC Centre Locations | Number of Centres |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 6 centres |
| Dubai | 2 centres |
| Sharjah | 2 centres |
| Ajman | 1 centre |
| Fujairah | 1 centre |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 1 centre |
| Umm Al Quwain | 1 centre |
| Khor Fakkan and Kalba | 2 centres |
| Total across UAE | 16 centres |
Air Suvidha 2.0 — Mandatory Health Form Before Flying to India
The third significant change affecting Indian expats UAE 2026 is the introduction of a mandatory Air Suvidha 2.0 online self-declaration form for all passengers flying from the UAE to India. The form must be submitted within 24 hours before the scheduled arrival time in India and covers travel history and health-related details. Passengers are required to show the downloaded form upon landing at Indian airports — either at the International Travel Health Desk or at the immigration counter — and no physical paperwork needs to be filled out on arrival. The system is designed to improve health screening efficiency and reduce immigration delays at busy Indian airports handling large volumes of returning NRI and tourist passengers.
For Indian expats flying home from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, or Bangalore, the most practical approach is to complete the Air Suvidha 2.0 form during web check-in, which most airlines now prompt passengers to do as part of the online boarding pass process. Filling it out at the airport on departure day adds unnecessary stress and potential delays if internet access is slow or if the form submission requires multiple attempts. The form is available through the official Air Suvidha portal and takes only a few minutes to complete once you have your flight details, travel history, and basic health information ready. Missing this form could result in additional screening or delays at the immigration counter on arrival in India.
Scale of Indian Consular Services in the UAE
The scale of these changes for Indian expats UAE 2026 becomes clearer when you consider the sheer volume of consular activity the UAE handles. With over 4.5 million Indians living across the emirates — the largest Indian diaspora community in any single country outside India — the Indian missions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi process more than 560,000 consular services annually. Of these, over 360,000 are passport-related transactions alone, making the UAE one of the busiest Indian consular posts anywhere in the world. The combined impact of the passport fee hike, the provider transition to Alhind, and the new Air Suvidha health declaration requirement represents the most comprehensive restructuring of India’s consular system in the UAE in recent years.
For Indian passport holders based in the UAE who are also planning travel to other destinations — whether to Thailand, Europe, Southeast Asia, or anywhere requiring a visa — the timing of these changes matters. If your passport is due for renewal, book your appointment with the new ICAC centres from July 1 onwards and budget for the revised fee structure. If you are flying to India for any reason from July 1, ensure your Air Suvidha 2.0 form is completed before you reach the airport. And if you need any consular service urgently during the June 26–30 transition blackout, contact the Indian mission directly in Dubai or Abu Dhabi rather than attempting to go through BLS or SGIVS, which have already suspended new bookings.
FAQs — Indian Expats UAE 2026 Changes
Q: When do the new Indian passport fees take effect for UAE residents, and how much more will I pay?
A: The revised Indian passport fees take effect from July 1, 2026 following a gazette notification from India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued on June 20. In India, the 36-page adult passport rises from ₹1,500 to ₹2,500 — a 67 percent increase — and the 60-page booklet goes from ₹2,000 to ₹3,500. Tatkal processing fees increase to up to ₹6,000. For UAE-based Indian expats, the Dirham fee schedule had not been officially updated at the time of writing — the Indian missions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are expected to announce revised Dirham rates shortly. Check the official Indian mission website or the new ICAC portal from July 1 for confirmed UAE-specific fees before booking your appointment.
Q: What is the Air Suvidha 2.0 form and do all passengers flying from UAE to India need to fill it?
A: Air Suvidha 2.0 is a mandatory online health self-declaration form introduced for all passengers travelling from the UAE to India. It must be submitted within 24 hours before your scheduled arrival time in India and covers travel history and health details. The form is available through the official Air Suvidha portal and should ideally be completed during web check-in. On arrival at Indian airports, passengers show the downloaded form at the International Travel Health Desk or immigration counter — no physical paperwork needs to be filled in on landing. This applies to all flights from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah to destinations across India including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore.
Q: What happens to my BLS appointment or pending application during the July 1 handover to Alhind?
A: BLS International and SGIVS stopped accepting new bookings after June 25, 2026, and routine consular services were suspended from June 26 through June 30 to facilitate the handover to Alhind’s new ICAC network. If you have a pending urgent requirement during this five-day gap, you should contact the Indian mission directly in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, where emergency passport, visa, and attestation services continue throughout the transition period. From July 1, all new applications must be booked through the Alhind ICAC network across its 16 UAE centres. The Dh19 all-inclusive service fee and a target appointment slot within five working days are the key service commitments under the new system.
Final Word
The three changes landing simultaneously for Indian expats UAE 2026 — a passport fee hike of up to 75 percent, a complete switch to Alhind’s new ICAC consular service network, and the mandatory Air Suvidha 2.0 health declaration for India-bound flights — demand immediate attention and proactive planning. Do not wait until July 1 to understand what has changed. If your passport renewal is coming up, budget for the higher fees and book your ICAC appointment from July 1. If you are flying to India anytime from now, set up the Air Suvidha 2.0 form before you reach the airport. And if you need any consular service urgently before June 30, go directly to the Indian mission rather than through BLS or SGIVS, which have already wound down. For the 4.5 million Indians who call the UAE home, staying ahead of these changes is the difference between a smooth process and an avoidable disruption.
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🔗 Official Sources:
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Indian Expats UAE 2026: Passport Fee Hike, New Consular Centres and Air Suvidha Rules
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Air Suvidha 2.0: Mandatory Form for All Flights to India From June 25
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Indian Expats UAE 2026: Passport Fee Hike, New Consular Centres and Air Suvidha Rules
Thailand Heavy Rain Warning June 28: Flash Floods, Rough Seas Until July 3
Aaseem Bhardwaj is a journalist, seasoned traveler and IT professional based in India. With firsthand travel experience across Southeast Asia, East Asia, Middle East and Europe, Aaseem founded Travel Man Today to provide reliable visa updates and travel news for Indian passport holders. He has personally traveled to Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, UAE and Europe. Follow his travel vlogs on YouTube at @travelmantoday
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