Indian Expats in UAE to Get Only E-Passports from Now On
India's new biometric e-passport system goes live in UAE, offering faster processing and enhanced security for passport applicants.
Indian nationals living in the United Arab Emirates will now receive only electronic passports when applying for new or renewed travel documents. The Consulate General of India in Dubai announced this change on Thursday, following the global rollout of India’s e-passport system on October 28.
What is an E-Passport?
An e-passport combines traditional paper documentation with modern technology. It contains an embedded Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip and antenna that stores the holder’s personal details and biometric information digitally. This added layer of technology makes the passport more secure and harder to counterfeit.
Faster Application Process
Officials at the Indian mission confirmed that some UAE residents have already received the new RFID-enabled passports. Under the updated system, applicants must use the Global Passport Seva Programme 2.0 (GPSP 2.0) portal, which significantly reduces processing time.
“The new system allows applicants to complete their forms in just two minutes,” explained A. Amarnath, Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of India in the UAE. “You simply enter your old passport number, verify your details, and submit. The process is that straightforward.”
Applicants are encouraged to upload all required documents through the GPSP 2.0 platform, which helps minimize waiting periods at BLS Centres across the UAE.
Transition Period for Existing Applicants
People who have already scheduled appointments for passport renewal in the coming days will have a choice, according to Consul General Satish Sivan.
“Those who’ve already submitted applications through our service providers can either continue with their current application or switch to the new online portal,” Sivan stated. “Applicants who stay with their existing forms will receive the old paper passport, while those who reapply online will get the e-passport.”
Enhanced Security Features
The embedded chip adds significant security advantages to the travel document. Amarnath highlighted that the technology makes forgery detection much easier at immigration checkpoints worldwide.
“If someone attempts to forge or fake the passport, it will be immediately detectable during travel because the physical information printed on the passport must match the digital data stored in the chip,” he said.
Photo Requirements and Biometrics
The new passports require an ICAO-compliant biometric photograph. Applications with non-compliant photos cannot proceed, as the system extracts biometric features directly from the submitted image.
However, officials clarified that there are currently no plans to collect fingerprints or conduct physical biometric enrollment at overseas locations for passport applications.
How to Apply
All applicants must use the new online portal to submit their applications: https://mportal.passportindia.gov.in/gpsp/AuthNavigation/Login
Despite the technological upgrade, officials assured that processing times and service fees will remain unchanged.
The e-passport initiative aligns with India’s broader digital transformation efforts and brings the country’s travel documents in line with international security standards adopted by many nations worldwide.
