You do not need to bother about completing paper applications at a passport center if you are a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) in the UAE and your passport is about to expire. You can finish the entire application process online with the help of the Indian Embassy’s Passport Seva service.
All you need to do is fill out your registration form online, sign it, and bring it to the BLS International Centre, which handles applications for Indian passports and visas on your behalf.
So, if your passport is about to expire, here is a thorough, step-by-step guide to renewing it.
How to renew an Indian passport online?
- Go to this website, https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in, and choose the region and nation where you now reside. To do this, select the United Arab Emirates under the “Africa and the Middle East” category.
Then select “Register – Register to apply for passport services.”
- You will be prompted to register an online account with the Passport Seva portal after selecting the category. Use your account information to log in if you already have an account with the portal.
HOW TO REGISTER A NEW ACCOUNT
To register an account, you must fill in the following information:
- Embassy/Consulate: Abu Dhabi or Dubai
- Given Name (first name)
- Surname
- Date of birth
- Email address
After entering these credentials, establish a password, confirm it, and select a “hint question” for added protection, such as your birthplace. After entering the captcha code, press the “Register” button.
After that, Passport Seva will send you a confirmation email with an activation link. After clicking the activation link, enter your email address and password to log in.
- Click the “Register – Register to apply for passport services” function once more after logging in.
- Press the “application for applying for an ordinary passport” button.
- After that, you must select one of the options listed below:
- Passport type: new or renewed passports. Choose “passport reissue” to submit a request for a new passport.
- “Reissue reason,” which may be something like “validity expired within three years or due to expire.”
- Application type: tatkal or regular (urgent).
- 36 or 60 pages in the passport booklet type
- Next, fill in the following applicant details:
- Given name (First name)
- Surname
- Gender
- Have you ever gone by a different name or alias? – Yes/no
- Have you renamed yourself before? – Yes/no
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Is your Place of Birth out of India? – Yes or no
- Region/Country of birth
- Marital status
- Citizenship of India by
– Registration/Naturalisation
– Descent
– Birth
- Enter your PAN (Permanent Account Number) number or Voter ID (if available) – this is optional
- Employment type
- Educational qualification
- Is either parent (if there are minors) or spouse employed by the government?
- Whether the application qualifies for the non-ECR (non-Emigration Check Required) category. Non-ECR is a category for people with higher education and who have passed the tenth grade, according to the 800 46342 Indian Embassy helpline. This indicates that working in some countries is not subject to an emigration check.
- Do you have a recognizable mark that can be seen? In that case, you must describe it in the form.
- Optional Aadhar number, if one is available.
- After that, accept the terms and conditions.
- Click the next button after you have finished filling out the application details.
- You must fill out the following area of the passport renewal application to provide information about your family:
- Father’s full name
- Mother’s Full name
- Legal guardians name (if applicable)
- Spouse’s full name (if applicable)
- If you are submitting an application for a minor, you must include both the parent’s passport numbers. You must indicate the nationality if they are not Indian.
- Type in the address information next. You must input the following information for the address listed on your passport in this section:
- House number
- Village town or city
- District
Closest police station. (Know Your Police Station is a feature offered by the Passport Seva Portal on their website.) You can click on this link to locatePS: https://portal5.passportindia.gov.in. You must enter the state and district, complete the captcha that appears, then click “submit” to discover the nearest police station. The list of police stations in your region will thereafter be available.)
- State
- After that, enter your email and mobile numbers.
- Next, enter the name and address of your emergency contact. Email and a mobile number are included.
- Enter your old passport information:
- Passport number
- Date of issue
- Expiry date
- Place of issue
- The final step in the application process is called “additional details,” which consists of a series of questions to which you must provide a yes or no response.
- If there are any pending criminal investigations
- Found guilty by an Indian court
- If you’ve ever had a passport application rejected
- Have you requested or been given citizenship abroad?
- Have you entered India with an outpass for an emergency?
Once the application form is finished, you must check and double-check the information before clicking “submit.”
After submitting the application form online, you must print it out, take it to the BLS International Services Customer Center, and submit it there in person. You must sign the application in the presence of a BLS International Services Customer Service representative.
Documents required at the BLS Centre:
The following paperwork must also be sent along with your application for a new passport:
- An authentic passport copy
- Copy of the UAE residence visa page
- Two distinct passport photographs. The BLS lists the following photo specifications for an Indian passport:
– 51mm X 51mm, white background, no uniform, no older than three months.
– Wear dark clothes
– No shadows on the face and neck
– No reflections on the glasses.
The BLS center offers the opportunity to have your picture taken. Other forms of identification, including an Emirates ID or a driver’s license, may also be required.
Cost
According to BLS, these are the service fees for renewing a passport:
- For adults – 36 pages: Dh265
- For adults – 60 pages: Dh380
How long does it take to issue a passport?
Depending on the circumstance, the passport renewal procedure may take up to 30 days, according to BLS.
Need to urgently renew your passport? Use the ‘Tatkal’ service
The “Tatkal” programme will expedite your passport renewal if you need to fly to India for a medical emergency or if someone in your family has passed away. With the “Tatkal” service, you can get a new passport in two business days. But you have to schedule a meeting with BLS. The fees for renewing a passport through the “Tatkal” service are higher.
BLS Centres in the UAE
Abu Dhabi
Locations:
Mezzanine Floor, M 02, Hamad Obaid Hamad Ahmed Al Mehairi Building Al-Nahyan -2 Behind Vision Links Hotel – Muroor Rd
St 14 / Tasheel – Musaffah – Musaffah Industrial
Dubai
Locations:
Shop No# 13, Ground Floor, Zeenah Building، Opposite to Deira City Center P3 Parking
Premium lounge: 507, Habib Bank AG Zurich Al Jawarah Building, Bank Street, Bur Dubai, Next to ADCB Bank
Sharjah
Location:
Office No.11, Mezzanine Floor, Abdul Aziz Majid Building – King Faisal St – Sharjah
Umm Al Quwain
Location:
Shop No: 14, Al Abdul Lathif Al Zarooni Building (Same building of DIB Bank) King Faizal Road, Umm Al Quwain
Ras Al Khaimah
Location:
Behind Specialist Medical Centre, IT Computer Cross, Near Sengar Building material Trading, Dahan Road, Ras Al Khaimah