The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate-General of India in Dubai have confirmed that passport and related consular fees will rise sharply from 1 July 2026, following a global fee revision issued by New Delhi’s Ministry of External Affairs. In notices published on 30 June, the missions said adult 10-year passports will cost AED 395, up from AED 225, while the fee for a minor’s passport climbs to AED 285. Miscellaneous services such as passport re-issue for lost or damaged documents see similar percentage increases. The spike affects an estimated 4.5 million Indian nationals who make up the UAE’s largest expatriate community and dominate key sectors such as construction, healthcare and ICT. Employers that sponsor workers’ travel documents will face higher compliance costs, while families renewing multiple passports this summer will have to budget several hundred extra dirhams.
![Indian missions in UAE announce up to 75 % hike in passport fees from 1 July]()
Prospective applicants looking for a smoother experience can turn to VisaHQ, whose UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) aggregates the latest government fees, provides step-by-step document checklists and even arranges courier collection, cutting down time spent at outsourced centres for both individuals and HR teams.
The timing coincides with the hand-over of outsourced passport-processing from BLS International and SGIVS Global to Al Hind Tours & Travels, which assumes operations on 1 July after a five-day service freeze. Indian HR managers in UAE-based multinationals should update mobility cost projections and employee-handbook sections on document reimbursement. Companies that bulk-renew passports through corporate counters may also need to adjust cheque limits and purchase orders to reflect the new tariff chart. The missions have clarified that appointments booked before 1 July will be honoured at the old rates even if the physical submission occurs later, provided applicants carry proof of payment. Analysts attribute the move to rising production and security-chip costs as India transitions to biometric “NextGen” booklets with enhanced forgery safeguards. The MEA frames the hike as a one-time adjustment that still leaves Indian passports among the cheapest G-20 documents; the UK, by contrast, charges the equivalent of AED 575. While the increase does not change visa-free privileges for Indian Golden-Visa holders or affect the cost of UAE residence permits, mobility advisers warn that higher replacement fees may drive better compliance with passport-care guidelines and reduce the volume of last-minute emergency travel documents requested at Dubai International Airport.
Prospective applicants looking for a smoother experience can turn to VisaHQ, whose UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) aggregates the latest government fees, provides step-by-step document checklists and even arranges courier collection, cutting down time spent at outsourced centres for both individuals and HR teams.
The timing coincides with the hand-over of outsourced passport-processing from BLS International and SGIVS Global to Al Hind Tours & Travels, which assumes operations on 1 July after a five-day service freeze. Indian HR managers in UAE-based multinationals should update mobility cost projections and employee-handbook sections on document reimbursement. Companies that bulk-renew passports through corporate counters may also need to adjust cheque limits and purchase orders to reflect the new tariff chart. The missions have clarified that appointments booked before 1 July will be honoured at the old rates even if the physical submission occurs later, provided applicants carry proof of payment. Analysts attribute the move to rising production and security-chip costs as India transitions to biometric “NextGen” booklets with enhanced forgery safeguards. The MEA frames the hike as a one-time adjustment that still leaves Indian passports among the cheapest G-20 documents; the UK, by contrast, charges the equivalent of AED 575. While the increase does not change visa-free privileges for Indian Golden-Visa holders or affect the cost of UAE residence permits, mobility advisers warn that higher replacement fees may drive better compliance with passport-care guidelines and reduce the volume of last-minute emergency travel documents requested at Dubai International Airport.
