UAE gets 16 new Indian passport and visa centers under comprehensive overhaul of expatriate services / Image: File
Over four million Indians living in the UAE are set to see a major overhaul in passport, visa and consular services, after India awarded a mega outsourcing contract to Kerala-based India Group, which will launch 16 new service centers in all seven emirates from July 1, 2026.The move ends a long era for BLS International, which has been handling Indian passport and visa support services in the UAE since 2011. Under the new arrangement, Indian residents in the UAE will now use the India-managed centers for renewal of passports, visa applications, OCI cards, Police Clearance Certificates (PCC), Surrender Certificates and other key consular services associated with the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.The announcement is being closely followed across the Gulf region because the Indian community in the UAE is the largest expatriate community in the country, with an estimated number of more than 4.3 million residents. Any change in passport and visa regulations directly impacts the daily lives of workers, professionals, families and businesses across the Emirates.
Transformation of passport and visa services in the UAE in 2026
The contract was formally awarded by the Indian Embassy after a competitive bidding process involving four leading bidders, namely Alhind, VFS Global, DU Digital Global and SGIVS Global.
According to the embassy, India obtained the deal after submitting the lowest financial offer.The Indian mission confirmed in an official notification that the contract includes:
- Passport renewal and new applications
- Indian visa processing
- OCI Card Services
- Police clearance certificates
- Delivery of certificates
- Global Entry Program Verification
- Authentication and legalization services
The company says the transition will officially begin from July 1, with operations rapidly expanding across the UAE.Speaking to Gulf media, Mohammed Haris T said the aim is to make services “more affordable and accessible” for Indian residents.
He confirmed that the company will provide a unified and comprehensive service fee of 19 dirhams above the embassy fees, which will include services such as photography and filming.“We want to make the process as affordable as possible,” Haris said while explaining the company’s expansion plans across the Emirates.
16 new Indian consular posts across the UAE
One of the biggest changes for Indian expatriates will be the expansion of physical service centres. India says it plans to operate from 16 locations across the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Al Ain, Kalba and Khor Fakkan.For many Indian residents outside central Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the new offering could significantly reduce travel time for routine paperwork and passport appointments.The company also plans to significantly digitize its backend operations. According to Arun Radhakrishnan, while the application process itself will remain broadly familiar, the company intends to introduce upgraded electronic systems and digital processing tools.“The website will change, the process will be similar, but we plan to digitize everything,” Radhakrishnan said.This shift is also creating a major employment wave in the UAE. The India company has announced hiring for more than 300 new operations-related positions, including introduction officers, operations managers, branch heads, and front office staff. The company says that recent graduates with valid UAE residency visas are also being considered for several positions.
India’s expansion into the UAE
Founded in Kerala in 1992, India began operations in the Gulf region in the mid-1990s and has since expanded to include travel, foreign exchange, IT services and luxury transportation companies. The company is also building a larger aviation presence in India after receiving approval to launch a domestic aviation venture.Although India is better known in travel circles than large-scale consular outsourcing, the company already operates authorized attestation and apostille collection centers across India and has experience in managing notarization systems.However, for the Indian community in the UAE, the focus now turns to how smooth the transition period will be in July. With millions relying on passport and visa services every year, the success of the rollout could shape the future of Indian consular operations across the Gulf for years to come.
Why change is big news
This development is attracting huge interest among Indian residents as consular services are essential for almost every major life event in the UAE, from visa renewals and passport updates to family sponsorship, newborn registration and emergency travel documents.For many years, many Indian expatriates have linked these services to BLS centers across the UAE. The sudden shift to a new operator therefore represents one of the biggest operational changes for Indian consular services in the Gulf in more than a decade.The move also comes after the Indian Ministry of External Affairs banned BLS International from participating in the tenders for the new Indian mission for two years due to allegations of complaints and legal issues linked to the applicants.
BLS previously said the action would not affect its existing global operations.Industry watchers say the first few months after the shift will be closely monitored due to the sheer volume of Indian expatriates in the UAE. Analysts point out that even small disruptions can affect thousands of appointments, travel plans and document submissions every day.Some concerns also emerged about operational readiness, staffing and data security because consular systems include sensitive personal documents, biometric details and financial information. Experts quoted in the UAE reports have urged the authorities to ensure strong oversight during the launch phase.However, many residents hope that the larger network of centers and lower service fees will ultimately make passport and visa services faster and more convenient.
