October 16,2025
RED FM News Desk
The Ministry of External Affairs of India (MEA) has barred BLS International Services Ltd from participating in any future tenders issued by Indian missions and posts abroad for the next two years. The order, announced on Friday October 10, prevents BLS from bidding on new projects with Indian embassies, consulates, and diplomatic offices worldwide. The company said the restriction stems from certain court cases and complaints from applicants, but did not provide further details.
Following the announcement, BLS International shares fell sharply on Monday. The decline reflects investor concerns over the potential impact of the government’s decision on the company’s future business prospects.
BLS clarified that its ongoing contracts with Indian missions will continue as usual, ensuring that visa, passport, and biometric services for Indians abroad are not disrupted. The company emphasized that the MEA order applies only to future tenders and does not affect existing agreements.
Indian missions contributed roughly 12% of BLS International’s consolidated revenue in Q1 of FY26. The company said it is reviewing the MEA directive and may pursue legal action if necessary. It described the decision as “a procedural development within the visa outsourcing industry” and expressed confidence in achieving “a constructive resolution in due course.”
Recently, BLS secured a ₹2,055 crore contract from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to establish and operate Aadhaar Seva Kendras, strengthening its domestic portfolio and providing long-term revenue visibility.
Overseas operations form a significant portion of BLS International’s business. The company provides visa processing, passport facilitation, and biometric data collection in over 60 countries, supporting Indian embassies, consulates, and other government missions.
Impact on NRIs and Service Users
BLS has confirmed that services for Indians living abroad will continue without interruption. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) can still apply for passport renewals, visa processing, and document attestation at existing BLS centres.
Embassies and consulates currently partnered with BLS will not experience any service disruption. However, any new tenders issued during the debarment period are expected to be awarded to other vendors.
BLS has offices in Canada located in Vancouver, Surrey, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Winnipeg, Brampton, Ottawa, and Montreal.
Beyond Canada, the company also provides similar services in other countries. BLS works with the Indian government as well as with several countries including Spain, Hungary, Portugal, and Poland.
Complaints against BLS International have been on the rise
People have reported that the company often charges incorrect fees, taking advantage of the public’s needs and vulnerabilities.
CBC spoke with several individuals who said they were pressured by BLS to pay extra fees. They were warned that if they did not comply, their documents could be rejected or their applications held up.
Some former employees also revealed that staff were under internal pressure to find minor errors in applicants’ files so that additional services could be sold.
In a special interview with CBC News, three former employees who worked at the Brampton location over the past five years said they were on short-term contracts and faced pressure to identify errors in applications or add extra charges.
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