What is an ‘NRI Certificate’ in the UAE and How to Apply

Dubai: You might need to apply for an NRI Certificate if you are a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) living in the United Arab Emirates and intend to pursue your further education in India.

If you are applying under the “NRI quota,” you must have the certificate, which is given to Indian passport holders for educational purposes, in order to be admitted to an Indian college.

This is all the information you require.

What is an NRI certificate?

In order to satisfy one of the conditions of the NRI quota at some colleges and higher education institutions in the nation, you must present your NRI certificate for admission to Indian universities.

The official outsourced service provider for the Consulate General of India (CGI), BLS International Services UAE, claims that NRIs are only eligible for the NRI certificate if they have not:

– obtained the citizenship of any other nation and

– spent more than six months of the year outside the United Arab Emirates.

In the UAE, how do I apply for an NRI certificate?

First Step: Ask for the EAP II form when you visit a BLS centre.
You must go to one of the BLS service centers—the addresses are shown below—to apply for the certificate. Request the EAP II form (Application Form For Miscellaneous Services On Indian Passport), which is available for free, when you arrive at the centre.

Step 2: Present the necessary paperwork

Next, submit the form and the necessary documents:

• Two recent white-background passport-sized photographs.
• The original passport, which has a minimum six-month validity period.
• Copies of the parents’ passports for youngsters (those under the age of 18).
• Any document proving your residency in the United Arab Emirates, such as a valid Emirates ID or a UAE driver’s license.
• A declaration attesting to the applicant’s absence of more than 182 days from April 1 to March 31, 2023, the previous fiscal year.

You must be present at the centre when you apply since the applicant must be there to prove their physical identity.

The applicant’s resident visa must be valid for a period longer than two years, which is crucial to remember.

You must also apply for a sworn affidavit provided by IVS Global, which offers consular and attestation services in the United Arab Emirates for the Indian Embassy, if you live in Abu Dhabi. The applicant must sign the affidavit in front of a consular officer. Your sponsor, who is your parent, will apply for the affidavit attesting to your sponsorship as a resident of Abu Dhabi.

Step 3: Make the payment

• The service charge is Dh95.
• Dh9: The BLS service charge

Courier fee (not required)

• If you used the premium BLS lounges, it would cost Dh490.
• If you applied through a regular BLS centre, it would cost Dh250.

Processing time

The certificate will be issued within five working days, according to BLS. It is crucial to remember that the Consulate of India (CGI) in Dubai has the final say over processing times. When the procedure is finished, you will receive an SMS notification.

The facility will keep your passport during this period. When the NRI certificate is issued, your passport will be given back to you. The certificate and your passport are available for pickup at the BLS centre, or you may have them sent to your house for an additional fee.