“The Government of India has issued instructions that all Indian passports with serial numbers Z-000001 to Z-045925 are to be recalled and new passports issued in their place,” the Indian consulate in Dubai said in a statement on Saturday.

The consulate said it had also issued certain passports under the Z series between February and September 2007.

Inadvertent ‘repeat’

In November 2007, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed had told the Lok Sabha that the Indian Security Press had in 2006 inadvertently issued a “repeat” of an earlier series printed in 1995.
The “repeat” Jumbo passport booklets numbers were from Z-000001 to Z-056000.

Due to this duplication, holders of passports with those numbers were facing a lot of problems at immigration counters.

The Indian government had then decided to recall all these booklets and give new passports to their holders without any charge.

Fresh photos

According to the consulate statement, fresh applications from the holders of such passports were being invited along with fresh photographs.

The consulate has opened a counter to deal with cases involving Z series passports, which are being withdrawn. The counter will be open from 8 to 11 am on working days.

Applicants can also access online services at the consulate website, www.cgidubai.com, or visit the consulate with a specific appointment, it said.