How to register your newborn and get an Indian passport in the UAE

If a child is born to Indian parents in the UAE, it is necessary to register the birth and apply for a passport within a year.

Parents should fill in the EAP-I form requesting a passport for their child, submit the original and a photocopy of the child's birth certificate with an English translation attested by the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs to the closest BLS Visa and Passport Services centre.

Five recent photographs of the child and original passports of both parents are required. Either parent must bring the child to the centre.

If one of the parents is not an Indian national, they need a no objection certificate from the embassy or consulate of the parent to indicate the child has not been issued a passport by that country.

Residents should apply soon to avoid fines and prevent delays.

"The registration of newborn children, if not done within one year of their birth at an embassy or consulate, may result in delay in issuance of Indian passports due to involvement of additional necessary formalities and avoidable financial penalties imposed by the local UAE authorities," said Indian ambassador, MK Lokesh.

Passports are usually issued within five days by the missions. Indian missions in the Emirates recorded more than 11,000 births last year.

PKannan@thenational.ae

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