Indian expats in the UAE who have been off late hiding their marital status while applying for passport renewal because they lacked documentary proof need no more worry.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE on Tuesday clarified there is no change in rules in updating marital status in Indian passports, reported Gulf Today.
The clarification comes following recent media reports that Indian missions in the Emirates were issuing short-validity passports to applicants who could not provide documentary proof of their marital status when they applied for renewal. Thus, some expats stated they were single to ensure the normal 10-year validity on re-issued passports.
“In view of recent press reports and subsequent queries from the local Indian community, the embassy of India wants to clarify that there has been no change in rules regarding the process of updating marital status in Indian passports,” stated a press note issued by the embassy.
The embassy clarified that applicants can update change in personal information, including marital status after marriage or divorce, if any, in their passports by applying for inclusion or deletion of Spouse Name Service along with duly attested copies of Marriage Certificate or Divorce
Decree issued by the concerned Indian authorities while submitting the applications at centres of BLS International, outsourcing service providers of the Indian embassy and the consulate, reported the local English daily.
As for applicants who choose to renew passports after expiry of its validity, they can submit duly attested documentary proof issued by the relevant Indian authorities along with their applications.
In cases where no required proof in enclosed, the re-issued passports will continue to reflect marital status as per entries in the previous passports, notwithstanding change in status of the applicants, explained the embassy.
“However, the above will not have any effect on the validity of the re-issued passports which is normally 10 years subject to fulfilment of other conditions,” the embassy added.
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