Indian residents in the UAE are receiving relief as Indian Consular Application Centres have introduced new measures to management service demand.
- Bur Dubai ICAC facilitates up to 150 eligible walk-in applicants daily.
- Initial backlog of pending passport applications has been cleared.
- Regular passport applications processed in about five working days.
The Bur Dubai ICAC, located at UW Mall in Al Mankhool, is
now facilitating up to 150 eligible walk-in applicants daily. This service is subject to slot availability and is primarily intended for five specific categories: Tatkal passport applicants, newborn passport cases, Emergency Certificate applicants, senior citizens aged 60 and above, and People of Determination. These walk-in sessions operate on a first-come, first-served basis from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, separate from the standard attestation services. According to data from the Indian Embassy, between July 22 and August 22, 2026, the 16 ICAC centers in the UAE processed over 53,000 consular services. This total included approximately 44,000 passport services, 8,000 attestation services, and 1,000 visa services.
Missions report that the initial backlog of pending passport applications has been cleared following the transition to the new outsourced service model.
Processing times have also improved; regular passport applications in Dubai and the Northern Emirates are now being processed in approximately five working days, while Tatkal passport applications are being dispatched in about three days, subject to documentation accuracy and verification status. Appointments continue to be released daily at 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM via consularsevainuae.com. ICAC centers operate from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and appointment holders are advised to arrive 15 minutes before their scheduled time. The official service provider fee is AED 19, inclusive of VAT, which covers ancillary services such as form filling, photographs, document typing, courier, printing, and photocopying. This fee is separate from the Government of India's revised fee structure for passport, visa, and attestation services. Applicants are cautioned against utilizing unofficial agents and are encouraged to ensure all documentation is complete and accurate to avoid processing delays.
