UAE: In a move aimed at streamlining services for Indian expatriates, the delivery of passport services and document attestation is set to undergo a significant transformation. Presently, these services are bifurcated between the Indian Consulate and the Indian Embassy, each operating independently. However, a recent proposal aims to amalgamate these two entities into a unified agency, promising expeditious and effective service delivery.
Commencing from January 1, 2024, the newly established service centres are anticipated to revolutionise the expatriate service experience. The Indian Embassy has already commenced the process by soliciting applications from potential service providers.
Companies keen on providing services characterised by swiftness and transparency, all while adhering to the stringent directives laid out by the Ministry of External Affairs, are encouraged to apply.
Notably, this innovative facility, set to establish branches throughout the United Arab Emirates, also envisions the convenience of doorstep service delivery for Indian expatriates.
In a significant development aimed at improving services for Indian expatriates, a range of consular, passport, visa, and attestation services will now be consolidated under a single agency, known as the Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC).
Currently, passport and visa-related services on behalf of the Indian Embassy and Consulate are handled by BLS International, while attestation of documents and other services are managed by IVS Global. With the introduction of the ICAC, all these services will be available in one centralised office, ushering in a new era of efficiency and convenience for applicants.
The ICAC has been granted approval to provide consular, passport, and visa services directly to applicants at their doorsteps, eliminating the need for individuals to wait for hours in offices. Instead, service providers will reach out to customers at their places of residence.
The ICAC will be the sole entity responsible for processing all applications related to Indian visas, for both Indian and foreign nationals. Currently, the Indian Embassy and the consulate collectively handle approximately four lakh services annually, with a daily average of around 1600 applications.
To qualify for consideration in establishing a unified centre, institutions must demonstrate the capacity to handle such a substantial volume of applications and establish offices in key locations across the UAE. These offices should also offer ample parking and easy accessibility for the public.
Service centres are set to open in multiple locations across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. Operating six days a week, these centres are committed to processing applications within two days and offering online appointments within four days of application submission.
Applicants can conveniently track their application status through the ICAC website, which will be available in various languages including English, Arabic, Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam. Additionally, applicants can receive responses to their queries via phone, email, or SMS, making the process more user-friendly and accessible.
In cases of service delays, the service provider will incur fines for each day of delay, emphasising the commitment to efficient service delivery.
The Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC) is set to usher in a new era of security and efficiency in visa and passport services. This cutting-edge agency will employ a comprehensive biometric system capable of capturing intricate fingerprint details and utilising advanced face recognition technology for applicant identification.
Moreover, ICAC is entrusted with the crucial task of collecting biometric data from visa applicants and the biometric documents essential for the forthcoming e-passport initiative, featuring embedded chips, as directed by the Ministry of External Affairs.
To secure the contract, the selected agency must possess its proprietary system to collect and safeguard such sensitive data, ensuring the utmost confidentiality and preventing any inadvertent data leaks.
For agencies keen on participating in the tender proceedings, the deadline for submission is August 28, with the contract slated for award on October 18. Subsequently, the successful agency must operationalize the offices within two months, aligning with the goal of commencing ICAC operations on January 1, as previously planned.
In a move aimed at transparency, agencies vying for the ICAC contract must communicate their fee structure for each service to the Embassy in advance. This initial fee structure shall remain consistent throughout the entire three-year contract period. Furthermore, agencies will not have the liberty to impose additional charges for supplementary services.
For door-step services, agencies are allowed to charge a maximum of 380 Dirhams, while the ceiling for Premium Lounge services is set at 300 Dirhams. It’s worth noting that the fee for the Premium Lounge service currently stands at 225 Dirhams, thus ensuring fair and standardised pricing for applicants.
