Indian expats in the UAE just got a major upgrade. Starting October 28, the new e-passport for Indian expats rolled out, bringing chip-enabled technology that changes everything about how travel documents work. The new e-passport for Indian expats represents a genuine leap forward, not just another bureaucratic change.
The Consulate General of India in Dubai confirmed that all Indian nationals applying for passports now receive the new e-passport for Indian expats exclusively, embedded with an RFID chip storing your complete biometric and personal data.
Here’s what expats actually need to know about the new e-passport.
What Makes the New E-Passport for Indian Expats Different?
The new e-passport contains an embedded microchip storing digitized personal and biometric information. This isn’t just about having data on a chip, immigration officers can scan it wirelessly at checkpoints worldwide.
You can identify the new e-passport by a small gold symbol printed on the front cover just below the word “Passport”.
The chip complies with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, meaning your new e-passport for Indian expats works globally with modern e-gate technology at airports.
How the New System Actually Works?
All passport services now go through GPSP 2.0, a completely new online portal: mportal.passportindia.gov.in/gpsp. This is mandatory, there’s no alternative system for the new e-passport for Indian expats process.
Steps to get the new e-passport:
- Register on the GPSP 2.0 portal
- Fill your application taking just two minutes
- Upload ICAO-compliant photo, signature, documents
- Book appointment through BLS International
- Visit center for verification only, not full reprocessing
The embassy estimates the new e-passport process takes just two minutes of online filing, dramatically cutting wait times.
This e-passport for Indian expats uses encrypted RFID chip technology preventing unauthorized data transfer. Your biometric information, fingerprints, facial recognition data, iris scans, stores securely inside the chip.
Tampering becomes immediately detectable with the new e-passport for Indian expats, making forgery essentially impossible compared to traditional passports.
What Expats Must Upload?
ICAO-compliant photography is mandatory for the e-passport for Indian expats. The photo must have natural expression, specific lighting, and professional quality, not selfies.
Documents requiring upload for the new e-passport for Indian expats include identity proof, address proof, old passport, and supporting documents like marriage certificates if applicable.
Here’s important clarification about the new e-passport for Indian expats: your current traditional passport stays valid until expiration. You don’t need rushing to replace it. When you apply for renewal or a new new e-passport for Indian expats, that’s when you receive the chip-enabled version.
Three Passport Designs Currently Exist
Indian expats might hold three different passport designs right now:
- Pre-2021 traditional design (older passports)
- 2021 updated design (more recent traditional)
- RFID-enabled new e-passport for Indian expats (newest)
All remain valid until expiry, the new e-passport for Indian expats represents the future standard.
Cost and Processing Timeline
Officially, the new e-passport for Indian expats costs the same as traditional passports—no premium for the chip technology. Processing through GPSP 2.0 should be faster than previous systems.
Exact timeline varies, but the new e-passport system targets significantly reduced waiting periods compared to earlier processes. All Indian nationals in the UAE applying for passports receive the new e-passport starting October 28. Whether applying for first-time passports, renewals, or amendments, the system issues the new e-passport for Indian expats exclusively.
Booking Appointments Still Required
Even with the new e-passport being online-first, in-person appointments at BLS centers remain necessary. However, appointments become quicker because pre-uploaded documentation eliminates redundant processing.
The new e-passport represents genuine modernization of passport services for the Indian diaspora in the UAE. Faster processing, enhanced security, and seamless immigration clearance make the new e-passport for Indian expats genuinely transformative for frequent travelers.
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