It is now mandatory to submit an online application for Indians living in Dubai and other five emirates under the jurisdiction of the consulate from the start of this week, the Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul told Gulf News.
The Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Navdeep Sing
The applications for passport services need to be submitted on the portal of Passport Seva at Indian Embassies and Consulates at https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/
The diplomats said the integration was done with the support of a technical team that came over from India.
Though there was no public announcement, the consulate has posted the new rules for mandatory online application on its website. BLS website has also listed the new procedures.
The diplomats clarified that physical appearance of the applicants was still required at the centres of BLS International, the service provider to which processing of Indian passport and visa applications has been outsourced.
The applicants have to go to the nearest BLS centre with the printed copy of the application submitted online and the other original documents required for verification.
Applications are also required to be signed before the submission officer at BLS.