Indian Consular, Passport and Visa services in Australia have been temporarily unavailable since 1 July 2026 and will remain suspended until further notice.

The service disruption may affect people in Australia who need to renew an Indian passport, obtain an Indian consular document or complete another application through the relevant service network.

While this is not a suspension of Australian visa processing, it may indirectly affect some Australian visa applicants who are unable to obtain required identity or travel documents.

What Services Are Affected?

The temporary suspension applies to routine Consular, Passport and Visa services in Australia.

Depending on the service required, this may include:

• Indian passport applications and renewals
• Police Clearance Certificates
• Overseas Citizen of India applications
• Indian visa applications lodged in Australia
• Other routine consular and identity document services

The notice relates specifically to services provided in Australia. It should not be interpreted as a worldwide suspension of all Indian consular services.

At the time of publication, no confirmed date has been announced for services to resume.

Who May Be Affected?

The disruption may affect:

• Indian citizens in Australia whose passports are expiring
• Australian visa applicants who need to provide an updated Indian passport
• Applicants who have been asked to provide an Indian Police Clearance Certificate or another consular document
• People planning international travel who require a valid Indian passport
• Bridging visa holders intending to leave and return to Australia
• People in Australia applying for an Indian visa or OCI-related service

The effect will depend on the person’s location, the document required and the relevant application deadline.

Could This Delay an Australian Visa Application?

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has not announced a general pause for visa applications affected by this service disruption.

However, an applicant may experience practical delays if they cannot provide a requested passport, identity document or police clearance within the required timeframe.

An expired passport may also affect:

• Identity verification
• Updates to passport details
• Visa finalisation
• International travel
• Airline check-in or transit arrangements

Applicants should not assume that Home Affairs will automatically extend a document deadline.

Where a required document cannot be obtained, the applicant should contact the Department before the deadline, explain the circumstances and provide evidence of the service disruption.

Important Considerations for Bridging Visa Holders

Bridging visa holders should obtain individual advice before travelling outside Australia.

A Bridging Visa A generally does not allow a person to leave Australia and return on that visa. A person who needs to travel may need to obtain a Bridging Visa B before departure.

A Bridging Visa B only permits travel during its approved travel period. The holder must also have a valid passport and meet all airline, transit and Australian entry requirements.

Before travelling, check:

• The expiry date of your passport
• Whether your bridging visa allows travel
• The approved travel period on your Bridging Visa B
• Whether your passport will remain valid for the entire trip
• Any passport or transit requirements imposed by airlines and other countries

If your passport is close to expiry or cannot currently be renewed, international travel may involve a significant risk of delay or difficulty returning to Australia.

What Should Affected Applicants Do?

1. Check your passport

Review its expiry date and consider whether it will remain valid throughout any upcoming visa application, travel or planned return to Australia.

2. Review outstanding visa requirements

Check ImmiAccount and any correspondence from Home Affairs for document requests and response deadlines.

3. Contact Home Affairs before the deadline

If the suspension prevents you from obtaining a required document, provide an explanation and request further time where appropriate. An extension is not guaranteed.

4. Keep evidence

Retain copies of:

• The official service suspension notice
• Passport or consular application receipts
• Appointment confirmations or cancellations
• Emails exchanged with VFS Global or an Indian mission
• Attempts to obtain the required document
• Correspondence sent to Home Affairs

An industry notice may also be retained as supplementary information, but applicants should prioritise official notices and records directly connected to their application.

5. Avoid making uncertain travel arrangements

Do not rely solely on holding a Bridging Visa B. Confirm that both your travel facility and passport will remain valid for your intended departure and return dates.

Key Takeaways

Indian Consular, Passport and Visa services in Australia have been temporarily unavailable since 1 July 2026.

The suspension may affect people in Australia who need an Indian passport, Police Clearance Certificate, OCI service, Indian visa or another routine consular document.

Australian visa processing has not been generally suspended because of this disruption. Applicants must continue monitoring their application deadlines and should communicate with Home Affairs as early as possible if a required document cannot be obtained.

Bridging visa holders should carefully review both their visa travel rights and passport validity before leaving Australia.

As each case is different, applicants facing an urgent passport, visa or travel issue should seek advice based on their individual circumstances.

Information current as at 20 July 2026. The official service notice states that Consular, Passport and Visa services in Australia have been temporarily unavailable since 1 July 2026 until further notice.

The content of this article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is complex and subject to change. The information provided may not reflect the most current legal developments. For advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a registered Australian migration lawyer. For full terms governing use of this website and its content, please refer to our Website Terms and Conditions.

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