Indian missions in Australia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) continue to provide limited consular services, despite reports of a complete suspension, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified on Friday. The operations of outsourcing agencies supporting these services have been put on hold due to ongoing legal proceedings.
MEA Spokesperson Clarifies Service Status
Addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "Our missions in the concerned countries - Australia, Kuwait, and the UAE- continue to offer limited consular services." He explained that the disruption is linked to administrative transition and legal challenges regarding outsourcing contracts. "The operations of the outsourcing agency in these countries supporting consular services rendered by our missions have been kept on hold as the matter is presently subjudice," Jaiswal added. The Ministry is awaiting further legal clarity, with Jaiswal noting, "We await directions from the honourable high court."
Legal Dispute Affects Outsourcing Partners
The suspension of routine services through private outsourcing partners like VFS Global and BLS International has led Indian missions to handle emergency and essential cases directly. In the UAE, a planned transition to a new service provider, Alhind Tours and Travels LLC, scheduled for July 1, is caught in a legal dispute in an Indian court. Similar contractual uncertainties have impacted visa, passport, and attestation service processing in Australia and Kuwait. Indian nationals in these countries have been advised to contact the respective missions directly for emergency consular assistance.
New Consular Service Rules in UAE
The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi announced on Wednesday new consular service rules for Indian expats in the UAE. Due to administrative reasons, both the Embassy and the Indian Consulate in Dubai will provide consular services—including passport, visa, attestation, and miscellaneous services—in a limited manner from their own premises starting July 2. On June 19, the Embassy had announced a change in the outsourced service provider handling Indian passport, visa, and consular services across the UAE. According to an official statement, BLS International Services Limited and SGIVS Global will continue accepting and processing applications until June 30, 2026. Following a tendering and selection process, Al Hind Tours and Travels LLC was appointed as the new outsourced service provider, with the transition effective from July 1, 2026. From that date, all applications will be accepted through designated centres operated by Al Hind Tours and Travels.
Legal Challenge in Delhi High Court
In November 2025, Alhind Tours & Travels won the new contract after a competitive bidding process. However, two unsuccessful bidders have challenged the Indian government's decision to award consular service contracts for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Australia to Alhind Tours & Travels. The case is currently being heard in the Delhi High Court.
