India hikes passport fees, applicable to expats in Middle East

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

NEW DELHI: India has announced a significant hike in passport fees for its citizens residing abroad, with charges set to increase by up to 75% starting July 1. This adjustment, notified under the Passports (Amendment) Rules, will directly affect millions of Indian expatriates living in the UAE and across the Middle East.

The revised fee structure applies to a wide range of essential services, including fresh applications and renewals for citizens living outside India. Authorities have implemented these changes to better align fees with the administrative costs associated with consular services provided at embassies and consulates globally.

For many expatriates, this represents a substantial financial increase. The hike is the first of its kind in several years, signaling a shift in how the government manages the funding of its external diplomatic and document processing operations for the diaspora.

Indian missions are expected to announce the final local fee schedules shortly. While the move has drawn attention, officials emphasize the necessity of aligning fees with current operational requirements to maintain service efficiency.