The embassy of India in Spain and VFS Global have signed a four-year contract to manage Indian visa processing services in three cities in Spain: Madrid, Barcelona and Las Palmas.

The new centres in these cities are expected to launch in April 2017, and will make the visa application process considerably more convenient and accessible for travellers from Spain to India.

VFS Global won the contract in July 2016 on the strength of its domain expertise and expansive network for 50 client governments.

However, the launches were delayed due to a petition filed by BLS International against the government of India in an Indian High Court, disputing its disqualification from the bid process for failing to meet the minimum technical criteria required.

Last month, however, the Delhi High Court dismissed BLS’s petition, ruling in favour of the Indian government’s decision to award the contract to VFS Global, a Kuoni Group company headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

The Indian diaspora in Spain is expected to significantly benefit from the new centres, which will also offer a wide range of consular services as well, such as registration of births, passport renewal services, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), Surrender of Indian passport services, etc.

Earlier, applicants were required to travel to Madrid and apply at the Indian Embassy for these services.