The Times of India reported on 12 February that New Delhi’s new RFID-chip e-Passport is now fully available through the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai, with authorities encouraging the UAE’s 3.5 million-strong Indian community to upgrade.
The biometric booklet stores encrypted facial and fingerprint data compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. At UAE airports, holders can use automated SmartGates, cutting immigration wait times from roughly 25 minutes to under five, according to pilot-programme data cited by officials.
Migrants and HR departments that prefer a turnkey solution can streamline the upgrade through VisaHQ; its specialists in the Emirates handle appointment scheduling, form review and courier return of the new booklet—full details are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
![India urges UAE-based expatriates to switch to chip-enabled e-Passports for faster SmartGate clearance]()
For employers, the e-Passport reduces door-to-door travel time for Indian assignees, who account for a large share of regional project talent. The document’s enhanced security also lessens the risk of identity fraud that can derail employment-visa processing.
The rollout falls under India’s Passport Seva Programme 2.0 and dovetails with the UAE’s move toward paperless borders; Dubai plans to phase out physical boarding passes by 2027. Mobility teams should update relocation checklists to include e-Passport application guidance and advise travellers to schedule biometrics appointments early, as demand is rising.
Adoption may also open Fast-Track immigration lanes in other e-Passport-enabled countries, making onward assignments across the GCC, Europe and Asia smoother for Indian professionals based in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
The biometric booklet stores encrypted facial and fingerprint data compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. At UAE airports, holders can use automated SmartGates, cutting immigration wait times from roughly 25 minutes to under five, according to pilot-programme data cited by officials.
Migrants and HR departments that prefer a turnkey solution can streamline the upgrade through VisaHQ; its specialists in the Emirates handle appointment scheduling, form review and courier return of the new booklet—full details are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
For employers, the e-Passport reduces door-to-door travel time for Indian assignees, who account for a large share of regional project talent. The document’s enhanced security also lessens the risk of identity fraud that can derail employment-visa processing.
The rollout falls under India’s Passport Seva Programme 2.0 and dovetails with the UAE’s move toward paperless borders; Dubai plans to phase out physical boarding passes by 2027. Mobility teams should update relocation checklists to include e-Passport application guidance and advise travellers to schedule biometrics appointments early, as demand is rising.
Adoption may also open Fast-Track immigration lanes in other e-Passport-enabled countries, making onward assignments across the GCC, Europe and Asia smoother for Indian professionals based in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
