Dubai: Indian expats in the UAE applying for the new ePassport will not be required to provide biometric data at this stage, and passport fees will remain unchanged, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed on Thursday.

The clarification came as both missions launched the ePassport system in the UAE on October 28, addressing key concerns of the Indian community about the new process.

No Change in Fees

At a press conference held at the Indian Consulate in Dubai, A. Amarnath, Chargé d'Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, and Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai, assured that the transition to the new digital system would not increase costs for applicants.

“There will be no additional charges for the applicants,” Amarnath confirmed.

The ePassport is a next-generation travel document combining traditional passport features with advanced technology. It contains an embedded electronic chip that securely stores the holder’s personal information.

No Biometric Collection Yet

Officials explained that while the chip is capable of storing biometric data, applicants will not need to provide separate biometrics for now. Some biometric information will be automatically captured from the ICAO-compliant photograph submitted with the application.

“Some of the biometric information embedded in the chip will be derived from the applicant’s photograph,” Amarnath said.

He added that submitting a photo that meets the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards is mandatory for processing the application.

The missions did not announce a timeline for collecting biometric data at service centres.

“It depends on the Government of India’s decision to implement it in the missions here,” said Consul General Sivan.

Simplified Application Process

The newly introduced Global Passport Seva Portal 2.0 (GPSP 2.0) has made the process faster and easier.

For renewals where no personal details have changed, applicants simply need to enter their old passport number and verify through their registered email — the system will automatically fill in the rest.

“The entire process could take less than two minutes,” Amarnath noted.

Sivan added that most of the application process can now be completed from home, reducing waiting times at BLS centres. For those unfamiliar with digital processes, applications can still be submitted via outsourced centres, typing centres, community groups, or company HR departments.

Minor corrections in applications can now be made without retyping the entire form and without extra fees.

Existing Applications

The diplomats confirmed that Indian expats do not need to apply for an ePassport until their current passport expires or requires updates.

From October 28 onward, all new applications — including those for newborns and renewals — will automatically be processed as ePassports through the new portal.

Applicants who had already completed forms on the old portal and booked appointments before October 28 can still use those forms. These will be processed as regular passports, not ePassports.

“Applicants with forms already filled under the old system can proceed. Centres will accept them, and they will receive normal passports,” Amarnath clarified.

Those who prefer an ePassport can choose to refill their application on the new GPSP 2.0 portal.

UAE: Largest Hub for Indian Passport Holders

The UAE hosts the largest Indian expatriate population in the world, with over 4.36 million Indians living in the country.

Together, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai process around 1,600 passport applications daily.

“We wanted to ensure that the rollout of the ePassport in the UAE happens smoothly and without any inconvenience to the community,” said Sivan.