India restarts visa, passport services in Australia after 23-day halt

India has resumed passport, visa and other consular services across Australia through VFS Global, ending a 23-day suspension caused by a legal dispute

By Swati Pandey

 

India restarted passport, visa and other consular services across Australia on Thursday via outsourcing giant VFS Global, ending a 23-day freeze triggered by a legal dispute. 

The High Commission of India in Canberra said in a statement that VFS would begin offering services through a new network of upgraded centers operating across six Australian cities from July 23. It would feature increased staffing, more service counters, longer hours for collecting applications and expanded appointment availability.

 

The decision ends weeks of disruption for Indian citizens seeking passport renewals and other consular services, as well as Australians and other foreigners applying for visas to India. The High Commission said the new centers are intended to provide more “accessible, efficient and customer-friendly” consular services for the Indian diaspora and other applicants.

   

VFS Global had suspended new passport and visa applications in Australia from July 1, citing instructions from the High Commission of India. Two rival outsourcing firms, E Trav Tech Ltd. and Verasys Ltd., had challenged their bids’ disqualification, arguing that the Indian government’s tender process for such services was unfair in four countries, including Australia and Singapore.

 

Last week, the High Court of Delhi scrapped the tender and directed the government to invite fresh bids. India’s Supreme Court upheld that ruling on Monday.