If you turned up at the Indian Consulate in Dubai this week expecting to join the walk-in queue, you probably met a surprise at the gate. The rules have changed again, and this time the change is big.
Walk-in entry for passport, visa and attestation services has been completely stopped at the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Dubai. Every applicant now needs a confirmed appointment booked through a brand new official portal. Miss that detail and you make a wasted trip in the July heat.
The good news is that the appointment system is free, simple once you know the steps, and actually far more civilised than standing in a token queue with 1,500 other people, which is what the early July walk-in days looked like. This guide walks you through the exact booking process for both the Consulate in Dubai and the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi, including the one timing trick that decides whether you get a slot or not.
We covered the new 2026 passport fees, documents and the Al Hind transition in detail in our earlier guide to Al Hind passport renewal fees in Dubai, so this article focuses on the part everyone is asking about right now: getting the appointment itself.
Quick Background: Why Appointments Are Now Mandatory
A short recap for anyone catching up. The contracts of the old service providers, BLS International and SGIVS, ended in late June 2026. The new provider, Alhind Tours and Travels LLC, was due to launch its Indian Consular Application Centres on July 1, but the rollout has been temporarily deferred due to administrative and legal reasons.
That left the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai processing passport, visa and attestation applications directly from their own premises, something that had not happened in 17 years. The missions started with emergency services, moved to walk-ins from July 2, and when daily crowds approached 1,500 people, they launched an online appointment portal on July 6, with the first slots going live at 8pm that evening.
Days later, the Consulate in Dubai took the final step and ended walk-in access altogether. Only applicants with confirmed online appointments are now allowed in. More than 100 staff members are reportedly working extended hours to clear the summer backlog.
The Official Portal: book.passportindiauae.com
Appointments for both missions are booked through one official website: book.passportindiauae.com.
Please note two safety points before you begin. First, this is the only official booking channel, so avoid look-alike websites and social media agents offering paid slots. The missions have publicly warned against agents cashing in on the confusion, and appointments on the official portal are free. Second, booking the appointment does not replace the passport application itself, which is still completed separately on the government portal. We will cover both below.
Step by Step: How to Book Your Appointment
Step 1: Complete Your Passport Application First
Before booking, fill your passport renewal application online at the official Global Passport Seva portal, mportal.passportindia.gov.in/gpsp. Select UAE as your country, choose Reissue of Passport, and enter your details exactly as they appear in your current passport.
Take special care with the uploads. The missions have specifically advised applicants to ensure passport photographs, signatures and thumb impressions are uploaded correctly with a clear white background, as errors here cause rejections at the counter. Print the completed application to carry with you.
Step 2: Register on the Appointment Portal
Go to book.passportindiauae.com and create an account using your email address. A verification link is sent to that email, and you must click it to activate your account before you can book anything. Do this registration in advance, during the day, so you are not fumbling with verification emails at slot release time.
Step 3: Choose Your Service and Mission
Once logged in, select the service you need: passport, visa or attestation. Then choose your jurisdiction, either the Consulate General of India, Dubai or the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, depending on which emirate your residence visa falls under. Dubai and the northern emirates come under CGI Dubai, while Abu Dhabi and Al Ain come under the Embassy.
Step 4: Book Your Slot at 8pm Sharp
Here is the detail that matters most. Appointment slots for the following day are released at 8pm each evening. Slots are limited at both missions and demand is at a summer peak, so the practical reality is that slots go quickly.
Our advice from experience: be logged into your verified account before 8pm, have your details ready, and book the moment slots appear. Appointment times are scheduled between 9am and 1pm. If you miss out one evening, try again the next, since fresh slots release daily.
Step 5: Save Your Confirmation
Once booked, you receive a confirmation, which includes a QR code to present at the mission. Keep it on your phone and take a printout as backup.
On the Day: What to Bring and Where to Enter
Getting the appointment is half the job. Here is how to make the visit itself smooth:
Arrive 15 minutes early. Applicants with confirmed appointments may enter the premises 15 minutes before their scheduled time, and late arrival risks losing the slot.
Only the applicant enters. The missions allow only the applicant inside, with one exception: for minors, both parents must be present.
Know your gate. At the Consulate in Dubai, enter via Gate No. 2 for passport and visa applications, while attestation services, document delivery and queries about already submitted applications go through Gate No. 1. At the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, enter via the Main Gate on Al Safarat Street, and note that document delivery and general queries are handled at the Consular Wing, Unit No. 101, 1st Floor, Guardian Tower on Al Ishirah Street.
Carry exact cash. Fees are accepted only in cash during this transition period, and the missions have specifically asked applicants to bring exact change. The revised fee structure has applied since July 1, 2026, with a standard adult 36 page renewal at AED 450 and Tatkaal at AED 900. For the complete fee table covering all passport types, see our detailed 2026 passport fees guide.
Documents checklist. Carry your printed application, original passport with copies of the first and last pages, Emirates ID and residence visa copies, proof of UAE address, passport photos with white background, and any case-specific documents such as marriage certificates for spouse name addition or both parents’ documents for minors.
What About Abu Dhabi? Limited Walk-Ins Still Exist
There is one meaningful difference between the two missions. While the Dubai Consulate has ended walk-ins entirely, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi continues to offer limited walk-in services, though the window has been reduced to 9am to 11am on working days, down from the earlier 12:30pm cut-off.
Even in Abu Dhabi, walk-in capacity is limited and priority is clearly defined. Newborn passport applications and Emergency Certificate cases are given priority, and everyone else is strongly encouraged to book through the portal rather than rely on walk-in luck. If your case is routine, treat the appointment portal as your only realistic route in both cities.
Emergency and Urgent Cases
If you have genuinely urgent travel, do not simply join the normal queue and hope. Newborn cases and Emergency Certificates receive priority handling, and the missions maintain helplines for urgent guidance:
- Toll-free: 800 46342 (800 INDIA)
- WhatsApp: +971 54 309 0571
- Email: pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in
Explain your travel dates and circumstances through these channels before visiting, and follow the instructions the mission gives you.
Will This System Change Again?
Almost certainly yes, and that is worth understanding. The appointment portal is described by the missions as a temporary administrative arrangement while the transition to Alhind’s Indian Consular Application Centres remains deferred. When the 16 ICAC centres eventually open across the UAE, appointment booking is expected to shift to the new provider’s system, with promised features like guaranteed slots within five working days.
Until an official announcement comes from the Embassy or Consulate, book.passportindiauae.com is the system that counts. We update our passport guides as each change lands, so bookmark this page and check back before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book an Indian passport renewal appointment in Dubai?
Register with your email at the official portal book.passportindiauae.com, verify your account, select passport services and the Consulate General of India, Dubai, then book a slot. Appointments for the next day are released at 8pm each evening, and entry to the Consulate is by confirmed appointment only.
Can I walk in to the Indian Consulate in Dubai for passport renewal?
No. Walk-in entry has been stopped entirely at the Dubai Consulate. Only applicants with confirmed online appointments are allowed in. Limited walk-ins continue at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi from 9am to 11am, with priority for newborn and Emergency Certificate cases.
What time are appointment slots released on book.passportindiauae.com?
Slots for the following day are released at 8pm. Appointments are scheduled between 9am and 1pm, and slots are limited, so log in ready to book at release time.
Is the appointment on book.passportindiauae.com free?
Yes. Booking is free on the official portal. Be cautious of agents or unofficial websites selling appointments, as the missions have warned against them. You pay only the government passport fee, in cash, at your appointment.
Do I fill the passport application before or after booking the appointment?
Before. Complete your application at mportal.passportindia.gov.in/gpsp, upload your photograph, signature and thumb impression on a clear white background, print it, and then attend your booked appointment with the printout and supporting documents.
Which gate do I use at the Indian Consulate in Dubai?
Gate No. 2 for passport and visa applications, and Gate No. 1 for attestation, document delivery and queries about already submitted applications. Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time.
How much does Indian passport renewal cost in Dubai now?
Under the fee structure effective July 1, 2026, a standard adult 36 page renewal costs AED 450, with Tatkaal at AED 900, payable in cash. Full fee details for all categories are in our complete 2026 passport fees guide.
Final Word
The Indian passport process in the UAE has changed three times in three weeks, from provider handover to walk-in queues to a strict appointment-only system, and it may change again when the new ICAC centres finally open. For now, the winning routine is simple. Fill your application on the government portal, register and verify on book.passportindiauae.com in advance, be online at 8pm to grab a next-day slot, and arrive with exact cash and complete documents.
Follow the official channels, the Consulate website cgidubai.gov.in and the Embassy of India Abu Dhabi announcements, for every update, and be wary of anyone charging money for appointments that are free.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Appointment procedures, timings, fees and entry rules are set by the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India, Dubai, and are changing frequently during the current transition. Details were verified against official mission announcements and reputable UAE media reports as of July 17, 2026. Always confirm the latest requirements through official channels before visiting.