ABU DHABI: Indians In UAE Can Renew International Driving Permit Issued In India: Report

ABU DHABI: Indian expats in the UAE can
locally renew their International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in India starting
Tuesday.

According
to a report in Gulf News, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi on Monday announced
that it would facilitate the re-issuance of IDP to Indian nationals, which were
originally issued by the relevant authorities in India with effect from
February 15.

The move
is part of the Indian government’s decision to allow Indian Embassies abroad to
provide the service in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Highways
(MoRTH).

In an
advisory related to the launch of the service posted on social media, the
Embassy — as quoted by Gulf News — said: “Those who intend to avail of
this consular service may please visit the Embassy during working hours
(between 08:30 am to 12:30 pm on all working days from Sunday to Thursday) with
their valid passport and expired IDP/ IDP number as well as their Indian
driving license.”

After
physical verification of the documents, it said, the applicants will be asked
to submit duly filled-in Miscellaneous Consular Service Form (EAP-II), the
report said.

On
whether the same would be applicable for Indians living in Dubai and Northern
Emirates or not, the Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed to Gulf News that the
same service can be done through an outsourced agency providing attestation
services for Indians in Dubai and the northern emirates.

A
consulate spokesperson said the process, documentation and fees will remain the
same for Indians living in Dubai and the Northern Emirates as well.

“However,
instead of visiting the consulate, they need to visit the IVS office for
document submission,” he said.

On the
subject of the cost applicable, the mission said that they also have to provide
Dh40 as consular service fee and Dh8 as Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)
charge.

The
applicant would need to upload all the relevant documents along with the
receipt issued by the mission in the Parivahan portal of the ministry and pay
the requisite IDP fees online on the same portal.

The
mission explained that on receipt of the application through the portal, the
licensing authority (MoRTH), upon verification of the document shall courier
the IDP, directly to the residential address of the applicant.

“It
may be noted that the role of the embassy in this consular service is limited
to the extent of facilitating submission of IDP renewal application form only.
Any further correspondence pertaining to the subject, including status of the
application would need to be verified directly from the authority concerned
(MoRTH) in India,” it added.

The
government of India last year announced the plan to facilitate the renewal of
IDP for citizens whose permit expired while abroad through Indian missions as
there was no such mechanism earlier.

The
Ministry of External Affairs on Friday announced that a new consular service
has been launched by Indian Missions/Posts abroad, in cooperation with the Ministry
of Transport and Highways (MoRTH) for the facilitation of the issuance of
International Driving Permit (IDP) to Indian nationals.

 According to a statement issued
by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Consular Service will be provided by Missions/Posts
abroad in countries, which are signatory of the Geneva Convention on Road
Traffic, 1949.