Indian Embassy UAE Warning: Avoid Unauthorised Agents for Passport and Visa Services
Indian Embassy UAE warning issued July 10, 2026 — BLS International and SGIVS Global are no longer authorised; book all appointments free at book.passportindiauae.com.
Indian Embassy UAE warning issued on July 10, 2026 is urgent and unambiguous — the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi has formally advised all Indian nationals in the UAE to use only official channels for passport, visa, and attestation services, and to avoid any third party, agent, or intermediary claiming to represent or facilitate appointments on behalf of the Indian missions.
The Indian Embassy UAE warning comes at a particularly sensitive moment. Since July 1, 2026, all consular services — passport renewal, visa processing, and document attestation — have been handled directly by the two Indian missions from their own premises in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, following the end of the outsourcing arrangement with BLS International and SGIVS Global. That transition period has created a window in which fraudulent operators are approaching Indian nationals offering to arrange appointments for a fee — money that no authorised party has any right to collect.
What the Indian Embassy UAE Warning Says Exactly
The Indian Embassy UAE warning was shared through the Embassy of India Abu Dhabi’s official social media platforms on July 10. The advisory contains three clear and non-negotiable points that every Indian national in the UAE must act on immediately.
Point 1 — BLS and SGIVS are no longer authorised. The embassy confirmed explicitly that BLS International and SGIVS Global are no longer authorised service providers for either the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of India in Dubai. Any claim by BLS, SGIVS, or anyone claiming to act through them is false. Do not pay them. Do not provide them with your passport or documents.
Point 2 — Appointments are free and must be booked at the official portal only. All appointments for passport, visa, attestation, and other consular services must be booked exclusively through the official portal at book.passportindiauae.com. Booking an appointment through this portal is completely free. No third party has been authorised to charge any fee for booking appointments on behalf of either mission.
Point 3 — Report fraud immediately. Anyone who has been misled, overcharged, or given false information by individuals or organisations falsely claiming links with the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of India in Dubai must report the matter through the missions’ official contact channels immediately.
| Indian Embassy UAE Warning — Three Key Points | Action |
|---|---|
| BLS International | No longer authorised — do not pay or submit documents |
| SGIVS Global | No longer authorised — do not pay or submit documents |
| Official booking portal | book.passportindiauae.com — completely free |
| Appointment fee | Zero — no third party can charge for appointments |
| Fraudulent agents | Report to the mission immediately |
| Toll-Free Helpline | 800 46342 (800 INDIA) |
Why This Warning Was Issued Now
To understand the Indian Embassy UAE warning fully, it helps to understand the series of events that preceded it. From July 1, 2026, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs transitioned UAE consular services away from BLS International and SGIVS Global to Alhind Tours and Travels LLC, which was awarded a contract to operate a new unified Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC) network across 16 locations in all seven UAE emirates.
However, Alhind’s contract became entangled in legal proceedings in India shortly after the transition date. The ICAC network could not launch as planned. The Indian missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai stepped in directly, resuming full consular services from their own premises as a temporary measure and launching the official booking portal at book.passportindiauae.com to manage appointment scheduling.
This unusual transition — from BLS/SGIVS to a void, and then to direct mission operations — created significant public confusion about who is currently authorised to help with Indian passport and visa services in the UAE. Fraudulent operators have exploited this confusion by approaching Indian nationals — often through WhatsApp groups, social media, and word of mouth — offering to arrange appointments for a fee.
The Indian Embassy UAE warning on July 10 is a direct response to reports of such activity. The missions have made clear that no such operators exist, that no fee is payable to any third party under any circumstances, and that anyone claiming otherwise is operating fraudulently.
What Services the Two Indian Missions Are Providing Right Now
Despite the transition complexity, both Indian missions are fully operational and handling the complete range of consular services directly. Understanding exactly what is available — and where — helps Indian nationals in the UAE navigate the current system correctly.
The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi handles passport services, visa applications, attestation services, and other consular matters for the Abu Dhabi emirate and the northern emirates including Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain. The Consulate General of India in Dubai serves Dubai-based applicants for the same range of services.
Both missions are operating with appointment-only access for most services — booked through book.passportindiauae.com. Walk-in services are restricted to emergency cases only, available from 9am to 11am daily, with priority for newborn registration and emergency travel certificate applications. For all other services, an online appointment through the official portal is mandatory.
The application form for passports must be completed at the online portal mportal.passportindia.gov.in/mission/ before your appointment. All fees are paid in cash at the mission — card payments are not accepted. Bring exact change for the relevant service fee.
| Current Indian Mission Service Access | Details |
|---|---|
| Appointment booking | book.passportindiauae.com — free |
| Walk-in services | Emergency only — 9am to 11am |
| Passport application form | mportal.passportindia.gov.in/mission/ |
| Fee payment | Cash only — exact change required |
| Abu Dhabi — Passport/Visa | Main gate — Al Safarat Street |
| Dubai — Passport/Visa | Gate No. 2 at Consulate |
| Dubai — Attestation/Delivery | Gate No. 1 at Consulate |
| Toll-Free Helpline | 800 46342 (800 INDIA) |
| +971 54 309 0571 |
How to Identify and Avoid Fraudulent Agents
The Indian Embassy UAE warning highlights a pattern of fraudulent activity that Indian nationals must know how to identify and avoid. Here are the most common red flags to watch for.
Any individual or service offering to book your passport or visa appointment for a fee is operating fraudulently — period. There is no authorised intermediary currently operating for Indian missions in the UAE. The official portal is free. If someone is charging you to use it, they are scamming you.
Be particularly cautious of approaches through WhatsApp groups. The Indian community in the UAE has extensive WhatsApp networks, and fraudulent operators know this. If someone posts in your community group offering passport or visa appointment services for a fee, do not engage. Report the post to your group admin and to the mission directly.
Do not hand over your passport, copies of your Emirates ID, or any personal documents to anyone who is not an official mission employee. Fraudulent agents have been known to collect documents under the pretence of completing applications on your behalf and then either demand additional fees or disappear entirely.
If you are unsure whether a service or person is authorised, contact the missions directly through official channels only. The Toll-Free number is 800 46342. The WhatsApp number is +971 54 309 0571. The email for the Dubai consulate is pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in.
FAQs — Indian Embassy UAE Warning 2026
Q: Who is currently authorised to handle Indian passport and visa services in the UAE?
As of July 10, 2026, only the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai are authorised to handle passport, visa, and attestation services for Indian nationals in the UAE. BLS International and SGIVS Global are no longer authorised. Alhind Tours and Travels LLC’s ICAC network has not launched due to legal proceedings.
No third-party agent, intermediary, or service provider has any authorisation to arrange appointments or handle documents on behalf of either Indian mission. Book your appointment only at book.passportindiauae.com.
Q: Is there a fee to book an appointment for Indian passport or visa services in the UAE?
No — booking an appointment at book.passportindiauae.com is completely free. No authorised party charges any fee for appointment booking. If anyone — whether an individual, a WhatsApp contact, or an agency — asks you to pay for an appointment, they are operating fraudulently and should be reported to the mission immediately.
The only fees that apply are the official government fees for the specific consular service you need, paid in cash at the mission counter on the day of your appointment.
Q: What should I do if I have already paid an unauthorised agent for passport or visa services?
Report the matter immediately to the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi or the Consulate General of India in Dubai through their official channels. Call the Toll-Free number 800 46342 (800 INDIA), WhatsApp +971 54 309 0571, or email pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in for the Dubai consulate.
The Indian Embassy UAE warning specifically asks anyone who has been misled, overcharged, or given false information by parties claiming links with the missions to report the incident so the authorities can investigate and take appropriate action.
Final Word
The Indian Embassy UAE warning of July 10, 2026 is the clearest and most direct statement the missions have issued since the BLS transition began — and it deserves to be taken seriously by every Indian national in the UAE. The official portal is book.passportindiauae.com. Appointments are free. No third party is authorised. BLS International and SGIVS Global are no longer valid service providers. Anyone charging a fee for appointment booking is operating fraudulently.
Report any such activity to the mission immediately and use only official channels for every passport, visa, and attestation need. Share this warning widely within your community — the more Indian nationals who know the correct process, the harder it is for fraudulent operators to find victims.
Also Read:
- Indian Passport UAE Portal 2026 — New Official Booking System
- Indian Expats UAE 2026 — Passport Fee Hike and Alhind ICAC
- How to Book a Dummy Ticket Online Free
Official Sources:
- Gulf News — Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi Warns Against Unauthorised Agents
- Indian Passport UAE Portal
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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