Coronavirus: Applications backlog delays passport renewal for UAE residents

Some residents in the UAE who want to renew their passport overseas have been warned of wait times of up to six weeks due to the global health pandemic. Normal service has been impacted by Covid-19 at several passport offices around the world, leaving a backlog of delays in applications. Reduced staff to allow social distancing has resulted in forms taking longer than normal to process. British nationals living in the Emirates reported waiting weeks to receive their new travel document after applying for renewal. The current turnaround time to replace or renew a UK passport online is six weeks – more than double the usual processing time. First time applications may take longer. “It is taking longer than usual to process applications because of coronavirus (Covid-19),” an advisory on the passport office website said. “In line with public health guidance, we are working with fewer staff. “Please consider coming back at a later date to apply, this will help us support those with urgent applications, who need our help the most.” It is advised that people apply only if they have upcoming travel plans, including those travelling on compassionate grounds. The passport office will also look at expediting an application if it has been submitted with them for more than four weeks and the individual needs to travel within the next two weeks. As per its Twitter post, people are advised to alert the passport office by phone so it can prioritise an application. Demand for services increased in early July after travel restrictions were eased in the country. Amanda Meakins, a British resident in Dubai, sent her passport back to the UK in early August after filling out a renewal form online. “[My passport] got there within 24 hours, according to DHL tracking,” she said. “The agent on the phone help desk said they have such a backlog they aren’t opening envelopes for international renewals for approximately three weeks. “I’m expecting a long wait.” Another British resident, who asked not to be named, said she waited seven weeks from the start of the application to receive her new passport. Fortunately, her travel plans were not disrupted during the wait period, she said. The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate General in Dubai are processing the same number of passport renewal applications per week that they were before the Covid-19 outbreak. A spokesman for the embassy said passports were available within two weeks, the same turnaround time pre-Covid-19. However, both services are operating on limited hours. "There is a wait time to get an appointment, but if someone has an emergency they can email the embassy at AbuDhabiACS@state.gov and the consulate at DubaiACS@state.gov and both can generally accommodate applicants sooner," he said. “US citizens can fly directly back to the United States on an expired passport, if they cannot wait for an appointment. “The embassy and consulate also have emergency passports available for immediate travel, ready within a day or two, though not all countries accept them.” A mail-in passport option for adult passport renewals was recently introduced too. If the applicant’s UAE residency visa expires while the passport is overseas and it exceeds the usual 30-day grace period, people will have to contact Amer to report the issue. Each matter will be dealt with on a case-to-case basis and fines, or leniency of fines, will be at the discretion of the immigration department. The Australian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Consulate-General in Dubai are open as usual and continue to offer passport services. “New passports are generally available within three weeks from the date of application,” a spokesman for the embassy said. “This is the usual time-frame and has not been affected by Covid-19. “If an Australian requires a passport more urgently, they may apply for an emergency passport which is usually issued within 48 hours.” Residents can book an appointment at www.uae.embassy.gov.au .