The Indian Consulate in Dubai has committed to resolving delays in urgent passport services following a recent change to a new outsourced service provider. Dr E. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, the newly appointed Indian Consul General in Dubai, addressed the challenges during his first media briefing since assuming office this week.
The transition to Alhind Tours & Travels as the interim service provider, managing 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the United Arab Emirates, has encountered initial operational difficulties. These arose after Alhind secured the contract amid disruption caused by legal complications in India that led to a temporary stoppage of passport, visa, attestation, and other consular services.
Dr Reddy said the consulate is prioritising the elimination of backlogs, especially for Tatkal applications, ahead of India’s Independence Day on August 15. The Tatkal scheme is a government fast-track passport service designed for applicants needing urgent passport issuance or renewal. While the current processing time for Tatkal applications has extended to up to three days, the consulate continues to offer same-day processing for cases demonstrating genuine emergencies.
Highlighting the purpose of the Tatkal scheme, Dr Reddy emphasized that it is intended only for applicants with verifiable urgent needs and not as a convenience option. Walk-in applications are accepted specifically for Tatkal cases, newborn passports, and emergency certificates (temporary travel documents for those without a valid passport). Applicants must provide supporting documentation, such as confirmed flight tickets or proof of emergencies, to qualify for expedited processing.
Eligibility criteria for the Tatkal service are clearly defined and include passport renewals without changes in particulars, minor changes such as address updates or name corrections, re-issue of short validity passports, and cases involving damaged passports or changes in gender, appearance, or parental details. Dr Reddy advised applicants to verify their eligibility before applying under the scheme.
The consulate has also introduced revised fee structures effective since July. Under the new fees, a standard 36-page passport costs Dh450, up from Dh285, while a 60-page passport is priced at Dh630 instead of Dh380. Tatkal fees have similarly increased, with charges now at Dh900 for a 36-page passport and Dh1,080 for a 60-page passport.
In his remarks, Dr Reddy urged Indian expatriates, particularly blue-collar workers, to avoid paying inflated fees to third-party typing centres. The outsourced service provider offers essential services including typing, photography, photocopying, printouts, and courier delivery at a standard rate of Dh19. The consul general cited a recent incident of a worker paying Dh50 unnecessarily and encouraged expats to avail themselves of the official, cost-effective services.
The consulate is working to restore normal service levels as quickly as possible, with a particular focus on clearing Tatkal backlogs to meet contracted delivery timelines. Dr Reddy assured that while challenges remain, the consulate remains committed to improving service quality and reducing passport processing times across all categories.