BLS Issues Alert for Indian Passport Applicants in UAE: ICAO-Compliant Photos Now Mandatory

Dubai:  BLS International, the outsourced agency responsible for handling Indian passport and visa applications in the UAE, has issued a fresh advisory to Indian expatriates regarding new passport photo requirements. The alert comes in light of updated guidelines based on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, which officially came into effect on September 1, 2025.

According to BLS, all passport applicants must now ensure that their photographs meet the ICAO-compliant criteria, which are mandatory for biometric passports. These include specifications such as a plain white or light-colored background, a neutral facial expression with the mouth closed and eyes open, no head coverings unless for religious reasons, and avoiding uniforms or patterned clothing. The photograph must also be recent (taken within the last six months) and of high resolution.

The Indian Consulate in Dubai has confirmed that only photographs adhering to these ICAO standards will be accepted for passport processing. Applicants who fail to comply may face rejections or delays in their applications.

Interestingly, this advisory has been issued even as BLS International remains debarred by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) from participating in new tenders for the next two years. Despite the debarment, operations continue uninterrupted at approximately 15 BLS centers across the UAE, where passport and visa services are still being processed as usual.

Indian nationals residing in the UAE are urged to double-check the updated photograph requirements on the official BLS UAE website before submitting their passport applications to ensure a smooth and timely process.

For full guidelines and sample compliant photographs, applicants can visit: https://www.blsindiavisa-uae.com