For years, picking up a passport meant a weekday dilemma: take time off work, or wait for a courier. From Sunday, September 20, Indian expatriates in the UAE have a third option.
ABU DHABI / DUBAI: Indian expatriates in the UAE can now collect their passports on a Sunday. Alhind Global Services has opened a dedicated “Sunday passport collection counter” at all 16 Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the country. The service began on September 20 and runs from 10am to 12pm.
It is aimed at working residents who find weekday visits difficult, and its purpose is narrow. Only passport collection is offered on Sundays. Applications, document submissions and other consular services are not available.
Why it matters
For many of the UAE’s Indian residents, the working week leaves little room for a consular errand. A passport stuck at a centre can hold up short-notice travel, a new visa, or an Emirates ID application. Until now, the options were a weekday visit or waiting for courier delivery, which can slip if a parcel arrives late on a Saturday or Sunday.
The Sunday counter lets applicants pick up their passport on their day off instead of waiting until Monday.
The timing: a cleared backlog
The announcement follows a rocky start for the ICAC network. Indian missions say 100 per cent of the earlier backlogs have been cleared since the 16 centres launched on July 22, and appointment slots are now fully available at all centres, with operations described as “streamlined and timely.”
The scale of demand explains the pressure. Between July 22 and August 22, the ICACs processed more than 53,000 services, including around 44,000 passport-related cases, according to the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Sunday vs weekday at a glance
| Sunday counter | Mon–Sat | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 10am–12pm | 8am–6pm |
| Services | Passport collection only | All regular services |
| Support services (Dh19) | Not available | Available |
| Best for | Working residents collecting a ready passport | Submissions, attestation, visas, support services |
The Sunday counter changes only when you can collect. It does not change how long a passport takes to be processed.
How to book
All Indian consular services, including passports, visas and attestation, must be booked through consularsevainuae.com. Key rules:
- New appointment slots are released daily at 9am and 9pm.
- Applicants are admitted only 15 minutes before their slot, so arriving early won’t help.
- Walk-ins remain available for specific categories: Tatkal passport applicants, newborns, emergency certificate applicants, senior citizens (60+) and people of determination, subject to procedures.
- At the Bur Dubai ICAC (UW Mall, Al Mankhool), up to 150 eligible walk-in applicants are accommodated daily.
What about the Dh19 support services?
To reduce reliance on outside agencies, the ICACs offer form-filling assistance, photographs, photocopying and courier arrangements at a flat Dh19. These run during regular hours only. If you need a photo or a photocopy, sort it before Sunday.
Sunday visit checklist
Before you go
- Confirm your passport shows as ready for collection.
- Check your appointment date, slot and ICAC location.
- Go to the centre where you submitted your application.
Carry
- Your appointment confirmation (print or screenshot).
- The submission receipt or acknowledgement.
- Your Emirates ID or another government photo ID.
- If someone is collecting for you: a signed authorisation letter, plus their original ID.
On the day
- Reach the centre for your slot, and not more than 15 minutes before it.
- Allow extra time for traffic and security checks, especially at busy centres.
- Don’t plan on photos, photocopies or courier bookings. They aren’t offered on Sundays.
Can someone collect it for you?
Representative collection is generally allowed at consular centres, usually with a signed authorisation letter naming the applicant, the representative and their relationship, along with the representative’s original ID. Some missions limit this to close family members. Confirm the Sunday rule with your ICAC before sending someone.
Is there an extra fee?
No separate charge has been announced for Sunday collection. Passport fees are paid at application, and the Dh19 support services are a weekday offering.
Bottom line
If your passport is ready, Sunday now removes one weekday errand. If it isn’t, or you need anything other than collection, the regular Monday–Saturday hours still apply. Check your status on consularsevainuae.com before you set out.
