October 17, 2025
Parteek Singh Mahal
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India has barred BLS International Services Ltd. from bidding on any future tenders from Indian Missions abroad for two years, following a deluge of complaints and legal action from applicants.
The move, which restricts the company from future government engagements until 2027, comes after the private authority—which acts as an intermediary for passport and visa applications—faced mounting criticism over service quality, understaffing, and alleged profiteering.
Nitin Chadda, an expert following the issue, during an interview with RED FM pointed to the systemic operational problems that plagued the services.
“BLS International was authorized by the Government of India as the private third-person mediator for all passport applications that needed to contact our embassy,” Chadda stated. “Applications would go to them, and then the embassy would process them and return them to the people.”
According to Chadda, the issues were pervasive across major centers, including Brampton. “The problem was that the office was small and there were always long lines… It was unmanageable. There was a shortage of staff,” he explained.
More seriously, Chadda echoed widespread public outrage over alleged misconduct. “People were complaining that BLS was allegedly looting them and harassing them,” he said. He specifically highlighted a shift toward monetization of basic comfort, saying employees had “set their own rules” and created a “two-tier system” where applicants were told to “Pay $100 for sofa service, and you can sit on the sofa.”
The surge in applications and the volume of complaints eventually compelled action. “People lodged many complaints. People had to approach the embassy, and they even went to court,” Chadda confirmed. The result is the two-year debarment to allow for a transition, with the hope that a new service provider will “solve the existing problems.”
In a regulatory filing, BLS International confirmed it received the debarment order, dated October 9 and received on October 10. The company disclosed the order was issued on account of “allegations including court cases and complaints of applicants.”
The restriction applies only to future tenders floated by the MEA or India’s overseas missions. Crucially, the company clarified that the order does not impact existing contracts, which will continue under their current terms.
BLS International, a key player in the visa outsourcing space, noted that the MEA segment is a limited part of its overall business, accounting for approximately 12% of its consolidated revenue and 8% of its EBITDA in Q1 FY26.
The company stated it is “reviewing the said order and will take appropriate action in due course as per the law.”
The debarment signifies a major shift in the outsourced consular services model, with applicants now looking forward to the onboarding of a new service provider to resolve the long-standing issues of poor service quality and alleged exploitation.
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