| BLS International Limited | |
| Logo Alt: | BLS International Logo |
| Type: | Public |
| Industry: | Services |
| Hq Location: | New Delhi, India |
| Area Served: | Worldwide |
| Key People: |
|
| Services: | Visa and passport outsourcing, biometric enrolment, e-governance, consular services, travel insurance, mobile biometrics. |
| Revenue: | (2024)[1] |
| Equity: | (2024)[2] |
| Num Employees: | 60,000 (2024)[3] |
BLS International is an Indian online visa application centre headquartered in New Delhi. The company was founded in 2005 and operates in over 65 countries across five continents.
The company was established in 2005 in New Delhi, India, and began its operations by securing a contract with the Portuguese Embassy in Delhi to handle visa processing.[4] Over the subsequent years, from 2006 to 2010, the company expanded its services to include visa processing for European embassies, such as those of Austria, Belgium, Greece, and Tunisia. By 2008, BLS International had extended its operations internationally, providing services for the Indian Embassy in countries including Spain, Kuwait, Sudan, and Russia.[5] [6]
In 2011, BLS International opened Visa Application Centers (VACs) for the Indian Embassy in the UAE and other Indian missions in Southeast Asia.[7] The company continued to expand in 2012 by initiating visa processing services for Indian embassies in Saudi Arabia and Singapore.[8] Between 2014 and 2015, BLS International extended its services to seven additional Indian missions abroad, including in the United States and Canada.
In 2016, BLS International was awarded a contract by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC) for global visa outsourcing, valued at €175 million.[9] Additionally, the company was contracted by the Punjab State Government in India to manage 2,147 Seva Kendras as part of an e-governance project.[10]
In 2017, BLS International broadened its service offerings by providing consular services to Afghan nationals in several Gulf countries, marking an expansion beyond its traditional focus on visa processing for Indian nationals.[11] [12] [13] [14]
Starting in 2018, BLS International introduced additional services, such as travel insurance, mobile biometrics, and courier services. In 2019, the company expanded its operations into the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, China, and Japan.[15] By 2021, BLS International had integrated advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to enhance biometric enrollment and document verification processes.[16] The company also expanded its e-governance solutions to support digital transformation initiatives. From 2022 to 2024, BLS International further extended its operations into Africa and Latin America.[17]
The company's equity shares are listed on the National Stock Exchange of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange and Metropolitan Stock Exchange.[18]
In August 2018, BLS International acquired Starfin India Pvt. Ltd., a company offering financial inclusion services with undisclosed acquisition terms.[19] In June 2022, BLS International acquired Zero Mass Private Ltd., a provider of microfinance and savings support services, for $15.4 million.[20]
In June 2024, BLS International acquired Aadifidelis Solution Pvt. Ltd., a company that provides financial and banking services in rural and semi-urban areas, for $22.69 million.[21] Also in June 2024, BLS International acquired iDATA, a provider of official visa application services, for $54.8 million.
BLS International was recognized as 'India’s Most Trusted Visa Outsourcing Services Company' at the India’s Most Trusted Companies Award 2019. This recognition was based on research conducted by the International Brand Consulting Corporation, USA.[22]
In 2019, the company received the award for “Best Operational Process in Visa Outsourcing” at the World Quality Congress & Awards, held in Mumbai on July 4, 2019.
In 2018, BLS International was awarded the ‘Best Visa Facilitation Centres Award’ at the Middle East Travel and Tourism Leadership Awards in Dubai. The same year, the company received the “Excellence in the Travel Sector” award at CMO Asia’s Best Practices Awards in Singapore.[23]
In 2017, BLS International was recognized as "India's Best Visa Outsourcing Services Company" at the India's Best Company of the Year Awards, presented in Mumbai in March 2018.[24]