Starting July 1, Indian expatriates living in the UAE will encounter increased government fees for various passport services, marking the first such adjustment since 2012. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has updated the pricing structure, which impacts everything from standard renewals and fresh applications to Tatkaal services and the replacement of lost or damaged documents. Notably, replacing a lost 60-page passport sees the steepest rise at Dh415, while standard 36-page passports and Tatkaal services will cost Dh165 and Dh45 more, respectively.

Amidst these changes, the government has introduced a welcome 10 percent discount for children under eight and seniors over 60 applying for fresh passports. This fee revision coincides with the transition to a new service provider, Al Hind Tours and Travels LLC, which is taking over consular and visa processing duties in the region. While these government rates are now active, applicants should remain prepared for further updates regarding final processing costs and Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) charges, which are expected to be disclosed by the new outsourcing partner in the near future.