UAE: Covid restrictions on Indian passport services lifted

The Indian Embassy on Monday announced that all previous restrictions imposed on the re-issue of passports, based on their expiry dates, will revert to pre-Covid procedures.

“Any applicant can apply for re-issue of passport before one year of the expiry of existing passport at any of the nearest BLS centres in Abu Dhabi as was being done during pre-Covid-19 times,” the mission stated in its latest advisory.

However, exemption from physical presence for senior citizens (above 60 years), minor children (below 12 years), pregnant women, and differently-abled applicants, and acceptance of passport applicants through company public relations office (PRO) will continue until further notice.

New centre opening in Abu Dhabi

The embassy also announced the launch of an additional centre for services relating to Indian passport applications in Abu Dhabi on February 6. This will be the third BLS Centre to be opened in the UAE’s capital city.

Outsourced service provider BLS International Services will open the additional centre in the Musaffah Industrial Area (M25) behind the Abu Dhabi Labour Court, according to the official advisory.

The Embassy has encouraged all Indian nationals living at Musaffah to approach the centre once it becomes operational.

The centre will accept and deliver all services relating to passport applications only. “Visa applications will not be entertained for the time being,” the advisory stated.

The new centre is located at Cubes Park, Block - 4, Mezzanine floor (M-10), Musaffah Industrial Area (M25), Abu Dhabi.

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com