New Delhi: In a major regulatory move impacting India’s visa and consular outsourcing sector, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has barred BLS International Services Ltd. from bidding for any new government contracts for a period of two years, citing multiple complaints and ongoing legal disputes regarding service deficiencies.
According to the MEA’s order, which came into effect on October 9, the debarment applies exclusively to future tenders and contracts — both within India and overseas — for all consular and visa-related services. However, the ministry clarified that existing operations and ongoing agreements remain unaffected, allowing the company to continue servicing Indian missions where contracts are already in place.
In an official filing with the stock exchanges, BLS International acknowledged the decision and emphasized that the restriction “does not impact the company’s current financials or operations.” The firm added that it is engaging with the MEA to resolve the issue and termed the development a “procedural matter within the visa outsourcing ecosystem.”
“The company’s ongoing contracts remain valid and operational. Nearly 90% of our long-term agreements have already been renewed — some extending up to 10 years — ensuring stability in revenues during the debarment period,” the company stated.
Joint Managing Director Shikhar Aggarwal reiterated BLS’s commitment to maintaining growth targets, saying the company remains confident of achieving its projected 20–25% business growth over the next five years, supported by rising demand for outsourced government and visa facilitation services globally.
Despite the company’s reassurances, industry experts note that the ban marks a significant setback for BLS’s expansion and tender-based business strategy, given its heavy reliance on government outsourcing contracts. The MEA’s action could prompt the company to pivot toward private-sector and international opportunities to sustain its growth momentum.
The decision also arrives amid a period of heightened scrutiny of outsourcing firms handling sensitive government functions. BLS International has faced reputational turbulence in recent months, including compliance concerns and the termination of its e-residency contract by Estonia’s Ministry of the Interior earlier this year over procedural irregularities.
Meanwhile, the MEA is simultaneously engaged in a legal dispute with another service provider, Alankit Ltd., over alleged lapses in attestation and apostille services — further intensifying the spotlight on accountability within India’s consular outsourcing ecosystem.
On the markets, BLS International’s stock closed marginally lower at ₹337.15 on the NSE on Friday — down 0.04%, even as the Nifty 50 benchmark rose 0.41%. Analysts interpret the muted market reaction as a wait-and-watch approach, noting that the long-term impact of the MEA order may take time to unfold.
As of publication, the company had not announced whether it plans to challenge or appeal the MEA’s decision.
