Indian nationals living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been cautioned against fraudulent visa and migration agencies that allegedly collect money for overseas jobs and residency permits but fail to deliver the promised services or refund the fees.

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai and the Northern Emirates issued the advisory following complaints about agencies promoting third-country employment and residency visa services on social media.

The missions warned Indians against relying on online advertisements without verifying their authenticity, particularly when dealing with private agencies operating outside India. Some of these agencies allegedly take money from applicants without providing the services they promise.

Verify visa information through official channels

The missions advised Indians seeking jobs or residency in other countries to check the credentials of visa agencies before making any payments.

Applicants should confirm visa requirements, application procedures and authorised processing channels directly with the embassy or consulate of the destination country in their country of residence. They should also consult official government websites for reliable and up-to-date information.

The advisory made it clear that private agencies cannot guarantee visa approval, as the final decision rests with the government of the destination country.

The missions cautioned applicants against paying money based on assurances that a visa would be approved and urged them not to trust private intermediaries without proper verification.

Earlier warning over personal data misuse

The latest advisory follows an August 24 warning from the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi about unauthorised individuals claiming to assist with visa regularisation, emergency certificates, exit permits, Emirates IDs and employment-related procedures.

The earlier warning highlighted the risks of sharing personal documents and biometric information with unauthorised persons. Such information could allegedly be misused to open bank accounts or obtain loans and credit cards without the individuals’ knowledge.

Indian nationals were advised not to disclose passport details, Emirates ID information or biometric data to unauthorised individuals. Any biometric information required for official procedures should be submitted only at authorised UAE government facilities.

The embassy also directed Indians seeking assistance to the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra.

The missions have urged Indian nationals in the UAE to verify immigration-related information through official sources, exercise caution before paying visa agents and protect their personal and biometric information from potential misuse.