Abu Dhabi: The Indian missions in the UAE are set to introduce a unified Indian Consular Application Centre (ICAC), consolidating all passport, visa, and attestation services under one facility across 14 locations. This move aims to streamline services for over four million Indian expatriates and foreigners seeking Indian visas.
The Indian Embassy has reopened the tender for selecting a service provider to manage ICAC after revoking a previous bid due to technical reasons. The new tender includes enhanced digital features, such as an appointment booking website and real-time application tracking. Strict deadlines will ensure faster processing, with penalties for delays.
Currently, BLS International handles passports and visas, while IVS Global manages document attestation. Under ICAC, all services will be provided at prime locations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain, and Khor Fakkan, among others.
The embassy aims to reduce waiting times and enhance efficiency, ensuring appointments within five working days and processing each application in 30 minutes. This major overhaul is expected to significantly improve consular services once implemented in the second quarter of 2025.
