Indian e-Passport in UAE: No Biometric or Fee Changes, Confirm Mission

Indian expatriates in the UAE received clarity today as the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India, Dubai confirmed that the rollout of the new chip-enabled Indian e-passport will not bring additional biometric enrolment requirements or extra fees for applicants.

According to the diplomatic missions, the upgraded passport service under the Indian government’s GPSP 2.0 platform introduces embedded electronic chips for enhanced security and faster immigration clearance, yet the core application fee structure and existing biometric process remain unchanged for Indian expats in the UAE. The missions emphasised that existing passports issued under the previous format will continue to remain valid until their expiry, providing a transition period for those unfamiliar with the new system.

Applicants are now encouraged to use the new online portal for passport issuance, renewals and related services. The portal allows document uploads, improved photo-submission capabilities, and streamlined correction processes at BLS International centres without extra charges. The missions reiterated that the move is aimed at enhancing service efficiency rather than increasing cost or paperwork burdens.

For Indian residents in the UAE, the message is clear: the new Indian e-passport UAE system offers upgraded features but not upgraded fees or extra biometric steps — making the update largely transparent for most visa-holders.

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