Indian passport, visa and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) services have officially resumed across Australia, bringing welcome relief to thousands of applicants following weeks of uncertainty surrounding consular service arrangements. VFS Global has recommenced operations from 23 July 2026 at its upgraded centres nationwide.
The resumption of services follows recent legal proceedings in India relating to the Ministry of External Affairs’ tender process for outsourcing Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) services at selected Indian diplomatic missions abroad. Temporary arrangements have now been put in place to ensure uninterrupted access to essential consular services.
Indian nationals and members of the Indian diaspora in Australia can once again submit applications for a wide range of services, including passport renewals, visa applications, OCI cards, police clearance certificates, document attestations and other consular requirements through VFS Global’s Australian centres.
The reopening is particularly significant for Australia’s rapidly growing Indian community, many of whom had been unable to lodge new applications since services were suspended earlier this month. The restoration of operations is expected to ease backlogs and assist individuals with urgent travel and documentation requirements.
Effective 23 July 2026, Indian Consular, Passport and Visa services in Australia are being provided by VFS Global through upgraded Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across six major Australian cities.
The new ICAC locations are:
- Adelaide – Suite 8.01, Level 8, 111 Gawler Place
- Brisbane – Suite 0201, Level 2, 127 Creek Street
- Canberra – Level 6, 40 Marcus Clarke Street
- Melbourne – Ground Floor, 324 St Kilda Road
- Perth – Ground Floor, 23 Barrack Street
- Sydney – Level 9, 22–24 Market Street
These upgraded centres will provide Indian consular, passport, visa, OCI and related services. The centres will operate from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays and holidays declared by the relevant Indian Mission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to book appointments online before visiting and confirm their respective centre’s operating hours.
VFS Global has confirmed that its centres across Australia have resumed accepting applications from 23 July. Applicants are encouraged to check appointment availability and service requirements before visiting their nearest application centre.
The upgraded centres are expected to provide an improved customer experience, offering enhanced facilities and streamlined processes designed to accommodate increasing demand for Indian consular services across Australia.
The resumption comes shortly after the Supreme Court of India directed the Ministry of External Affairs and Engineers India Limited to make temporary arrangements to ensure passport, visa and consular services continue without disruption while a fresh tender process is completed. The Court indicated that the new tender process should be finalised as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three months.
For Indian Australians, access to consular services remains essential for international travel, family matters, employment documentation and immigration-related requirements. Passport renewals, OCI applications and visa services are among the most frequently accessed services at Indian diplomatic missions in Australia.
The High Commission of India in Canberra and Indian Consulates across Australia continue to work with authorised service providers to maintain uninterrupted services during the transition period. Further operational updates are expected to be communicated through official channels as required.
The reopening of VFS Global centres marks an important milestone for the Indian community in Australia, restoring access to critical consular services while providing certainty for thousands of applicants. With services now operational nationwide, Indian Australians can once again proceed with their passport, visa and OCI applications with greater confidence.
