India resumes visa services in Australia after 23-day pause with six new VFS centres

India has resumed visa processing and other consular services in Australia after a 23-day disruption, with VFS Global launching six new Indian Consular Application Centres (ICACs) across the country from July 23. The new centres replace the previous network and are expected to improve appointment availability, reduce waiting times and enhance customer services.

The centres offer more service counters, higher staffing capacity and extended hours for application submission and collection. Applicants can also access optional services such as document return, SMS updates, photocopying, photograph services and assistance with form filling, where applicable.

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Appointment booking mandatory

VFS Global said all applicants must book appointments online in advance through its official website before visiting any of the new centres.

Customer support has also been expanded through a toll-free multilingual contact centre, along with 24x7 Interactive Voice Response (IVR) services and AI-enabled digital support channels.

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Applicants advised to check updated procedures

With the transition to the new centres and systems, VFS Global has asked applicants to review the updated website for revised application procedures before submitting their requests.

The updated information includes new application checklists, designated GPO Box addresses for postal applications, accepted payment methods and revised service fees. The company said applications will only be accepted if they contain complete and accurate information and are sent to the designated address.

VFS Global also confirmed that its previous Indian consular centres across Australia ceased public operations on June 30, 2026, following the transition to the new facilities.