Indian Passport Renewal in Australia During the VFS Disruption: What to Do in 2026?

Indian citizens across Australia may presently be experiencing difficulty renewing their passports, obtaining Indian Police Clearance Certificates or accessing other consular services following the temporary disruption to VFS Global’s Indian consular operations.

The disruption is particularly concerning for people who:

• have an Indian passport that has expired or is close to expiry;
• need to provide a renewed passport for an Australian visa application;
• have received a request for information from the Department of Home Affairs;
• have been asked to provide an Indian Police Clearance Certificate;
• need to update their passport details in ImmiAccount; or
• have urgent international travel plans.

Although the interruption to VFS services does not automatically affect a person’s Australian visa status, it can create serious complications when an Australian visa application depends on a renewed Indian passport or police clearance certificate.

This guide explains what Indian passport holders in Australia can do during the VFS disruption, including how to respond to a section 56 request when the required passport or police certificate cannot be obtained before the Department’s deadline.

Important update: This is a developing situation. Applicants should verify the current availability of services directly with VFS Global, the High Commission of India and the relevant Indian Consulate before taking action.

Why Are Indian Passport Services Disrupted in Australia?

VFS Global has temporarily suspended Indian Consular, Passport and Visa services in Australia. The interruption commenced on 1 July 2026, and no confirmed general resumption date had been announced as at mid-July 2026.

The disruption has reportedly affected services ordinarily handled through Indian consular application centres across Australia, including:

• Indian passport applications and renewals;
• Police Clearance Certificate applications;
• Overseas Citizen of India applications;
• certain Indian visa services;
• document lodgement; and
• the processing of some applications already submitted.

Australian visa applications are not themselves processed by VFS Global. They continue to be lodged and managed through the Department of Home Affairs and ImmiAccount. However, the disruption can indirectly affect a visa application where the Department requires an Indian passport or Indian police certificate before making a decision.

Can You Renew an Indian Passport in Australia During the VFS Disruption?

Routine Indian passport renewal applications cannot generally proceed through the ordinary VFS lodgement process while the relevant services remain suspended.

Applicants may still be able to complete the online component of their application through the Government of India’s Passport Seva system. However, completing an online form is not the same as successfully lodging the passport renewal application.

During the disruption, Indian passport holders should consider completing as much preparatory work as possible, including:

1. Completing or updating the Passport Seva application.
2. Checking which Indian mission has jurisdiction over their Australian residential address.
3. Gathering identity, address and Australian immigration status documents.
4. Obtaining passport photographs that comply with Indian passport requirements.
5. Retaining copies of their current or expired passport.
6. Monitoring official announcements from VFS Global and the relevant Indian mission.
7. Preserving evidence of every attempt made to renew the passport.

The High Commission of India and Indian consulates in Australia continue to publish consular information and contact details. Applicants should confirm the correct mission for their location before sending enquiries or attending in person.

What Documents Should You Prepare for an Indian Passport Renewal?

Exact requirements depend on the applicant’s circumstances, including whether the passport is expiring, expired, lost, damaged or requires a change of personal details.

Documents commonly required may include:

• the existing Indian passport;
• copies of the passport’s biographical and observation pages;
• evidence of the applicant’s Australian address;
• evidence of Australian immigration status;
• a current VEVO record or visa grant notice;
• compliant passport photographs;
• evidence supporting any change of name, address or personal particulars;
• the completed Passport Seva application; and
• any declarations or supplementary forms required for the particular application.

Applicants should check the current official checklist before lodging because consular documentation, fees and procedures can change.

What If Your Passport Is Already With VFS Global?

Applicants who submitted their passport before the suspension should not assume that they must leave it with VFS indefinitely.

Published guidance indicates that documents processed before the disruption may remain available for collection and that applicants may request the return of a passport currently held by VFS. Applicants should contact VFS before travelling to a service centre and keep written evidence of the request.

When requesting the passport’s return, retain:

• the VFS receipt;
• the application reference number;
• copies of email correspondence;
• records of telephone calls;
• proof of any scheduled travel; and
• confirmation that the passport was requested or collected.

These records may later help establish why a renewed passport or police certificate could not be provided to the Department of Home Affairs within the requested period.

Does an Expired Indian Passport Cancel an Australian Visa?

An Indian passport expiring does not ordinarily mean that an Australian visa is automatically cancelled.

Australian visas are generally held electronically. A person’s visa status can be checked through Visa Entitlement Verification Online, commonly known as VEVO.

However, an expired passport can still cause practical and legal complications. For example, it may affect:

• international travel;
• airline check-in;
• identity verification;
• the processing of a pending visa application;
• the issue of a visa associated with current passport details;
• an application for an Indian Police Clearance Certificate; or
• the ability to satisfy a Department of Home Affairs document request.

A person with a pending visa application should not simply wait for VFS services to resume. The Department should be informed promptly if the passport disruption prevents compliance with a request or affects information previously provided in the application.

What Is a Section 56 Request?

A section 56 request is a formal request issued under section 56 of the Migration Act 1958. It allows the Department of Home Affairs to request additional information or documents before deciding a visa application.

Depending on the case, the request may ask for:

• a valid passport;
• updated identity documents;
• an Indian Police Clearance Certificate;
• an Australian Federal Police check;
• health examinations;
• relationship evidence;
• employment evidence;
• financial documents; or
• an explanation addressing a particular concern.

A section 56 request normally specifies a deadline. That deadline should be treated seriously.

Applicants should not ignore the request merely because VFS services are disrupted. The safer approach is to respond within the deadline with all available documents, evidence of the disruption and a properly supported request for additional time.

What Should You Do If a Section 56 Request Requires a Renewed Passport?

Where the Department has asked for a renewed Indian passport that cannot be obtained because of the VFS disruption, the applicant should respond before the deadline.

The response should generally include:

1. A written explanation

Explain:

• when the passport expired or will expire;
• when renewal efforts commenced;
• why the application cannot presently be lodged or completed;
• how the VFS disruption affects the applicant;
• what steps have already been taken; and
• what the applicant intends to do when services resume.

The explanation should be factual, concise and supported by evidence.

2. Evidence of attempts to renew the passport

Relevant evidence may include:

• a completed Passport Seva application;
• an application reference number;
• screenshots of the VFS service notice;
• cancelled appointment details;
• emails sent to VFS or the Indian mission;
• responses received from VFS or the mission;
• call records or enquiry reference numbers;
• evidence that no appointments are available;
• proof that the passport is held by VFS; and
• evidence of any emergency consular enquiry.

3. A copy of the current or expired passport

Upload clear colour copies of the available passport pages, even if the passport has expired.

This helps demonstrate identity and shows that the applicant is not withholding the document.

4. Other identity evidence

Depending on the circumstances, additional documents might include:

• Aadhaar card;
• PAN card;
• Indian voter identification;
• Indian birth certificate;
• Australian driver licence;
• Australian photo identification;
• current VEVO record;
• previous visa grant notices; or
• other documents confirming the applicant’s identity and nationality.

Alternative identity documents do not necessarily replace a valid passport, but they may help the Department assess the explanation while the renewal remains unavailable.

5. A request for additional time

Ask the Department to allow further time to provide the renewed passport.

The request should propose a reasonable review period and explain that the document will be provided promptly once Indian passport services resume.

An extension is not automatic. The Department retains discretion about how to manage the request and whether further time will be allowed. This is why the response should be submitted before the deadline and supported by objective evidence.

What If the Section 56 Request Requires an Indian Police Clearance Certificate?

The Department of Home Affairs may require police certificates as part of the character assessment for an Australian visa.

Home Affairs states that applicants may be required to obtain police certificates from relevant overseas jurisdictions and provides country-specific instructions about how to obtain them.

For many Indian citizens living in Australia, an Indian Police Clearance Certificate is obtained through the Indian passport and consular service system. The VFS disruption may therefore prevent or delay a PCC application.

Where an Indian PCC cannot be obtained before a section 56 deadline, the applicant should not upload a blank response or allow the deadline to pass.

The applicant should provide:

• a written explanation of the VFS disruption;
• evidence that PCC services are unavailable or interrupted;
• proof of previous or attempted enquiries;
• a copy of any completed online application;
• any PCC application reference or payment receipt;
• a copy of a previous Indian PCC, if one exists;
• evidence of the applicant’s travel and residential history;
• police certificates from other relevant countries that are already available; and
• a request for further time to provide the Indian PCC.

A previous police certificate may no longer satisfy the Department, particularly if the applicant has returned to or resided in the relevant country since the certificate was issued. Home Affairs may ask for a new police certificate in those circumstances.

Applicants should therefore avoid representing an old PCC as current. It can be supplied as part of the background material, but the accompanying submission should clearly state its date and limitations.

Should You Submit the Visa Application Without a Renewed Passport or PCC?

The answer depends on the visa subclass, the validity requirements and the applicant’s circumstances.

In some cases, it may be possible to lodge an Australian visa application with the available passport and provide a police certificate or replacement passport later. In other cases, passport validity or identity documentation may affect whether the application can be validly made or properly assessed.

Before lodging, applicants should carefully review:

• the requirements of the particular visa subclass;
• whether a valid passport is required at lodgement;
• whether identity documents can be supplied later;
• whether the application form permits the available passport details;
• any statutory time limit affecting the application;
• the expiry of the applicant’s current visa; and
• the consequences of delaying lodgement.

A person facing a visa expiry date, section 48 bar, Schedule 3 issue, bridging visa complication or other statutory deadline should obtain advice before postponing an application solely because of the VFS disruption.

How Do You Upload an Explanation to ImmiAccount?

Documents responding to a Department request should generally be uploaded through ImmiAccount under the relevant application and document category.

Home Affairs advises applicants to attach supporting documents through ImmiAccount and to keep their own copies after uploading. It also provides an additional document form for circumstances where an applicant has reached the ImmiAccount document limit or is otherwise prevented from attaching documents.

A practical response package may be organised as follows:

Document 1: Submission regarding unavailable Indian passport or PCC

Include the written explanation, relevant dates, steps taken and request for further time.

Document 2: Evidence of the VFS disruption

Include the official notice, screenshots and any published service updates.

Document 3: Evidence of attempts to comply

Include application forms, reference numbers, emails, receipts, cancelled appointments and contact records.

Document 4: Existing identity or character documents

Include the current or expired passport, previous PCC and any additional identity evidence.

Use clear file names such as:

• Section-56-Response-Indian-Passport-Delay.pdf
• Evidence-of-VFS-Service-Disruption.pdf
• Passport-Renewal-Attempts-and-Correspondence.pdf
• Expired-Indian-Passport-and-Identity-Documents.pdf

Do not rely only on an email to a generic Department address unless the request expressly directs the applicant to respond that way.

Can the Department Refuse a Visa Before VFS Services Resume?

Potentially, yes.

The existence of a service disruption does not automatically prevent the Department from deciding an application. The Department may make a decision based on the information available, particularly where an applicant:

• does not respond to a section 56 request;
• misses the deadline without explanation;
• provides no evidence of attempts to obtain the document;
• submits an unsupported claim that the document is unavailable; or
• fails to address character or identity concerns.

A well-documented response does not guarantee an extension or a positive visa outcome. However, it places the Department on notice that the delay is caused by circumstances outside the applicant’s control and shows that the applicant has taken reasonable steps to comply.

What If You Need to Travel Urgently?

Indian citizens facing a genuine emergency should contact the High Commission of India or the Indian consulate with jurisdiction over their location.

Emergency circumstances may include:

• serious illness;
• death or bereavement;
• urgent family circumstances;
• unavoidable legal or employment travel; or
• another exceptional and time-critical event.

Applicants should provide documentary proof of the emergency and should not attend a consulate without first checking current instructions.

An Emergency Certificate may be available in limited circumstances to facilitate one-way travel to India. It is not a routine replacement for an ordinary passport and may not permit return travel to Australia. Anyone considering this option should check the consequences for their Australian visa, return travel and immigration status before departing.

Can You Leave Australia With an Expired Indian Passport?

International airlines ordinarily require a valid travel document before allowing a passenger to board.

An expired passport will usually create substantial travel difficulties. An Emergency Certificate, where issued, is generally intended to facilitate travel to India rather than ordinary return travel between India and Australia.

Before leaving Australia, a traveller should confirm:

• whether the travel document is accepted by the airline;
• whether it permits entry into India;
• whether a new passport can be obtained in India;
• whether the Australian visa remains valid;
• whether the new passport details must be notified to Home Affairs;
• whether a Bridging Visa B is required; and
• whether the person will be able to return to Australia.

A bridging visa holder should obtain immigration advice before travelling. Most bridging visas do not permit a person to depart and return to Australia unless an appropriate Bridging Visa B has been granted.

What Should Indian Passport Holders Do Now?

Indian passport holders affected by the disruption should take the following steps:

1. Check the expiry date of the current passport.
2. Check the validity and conditions of the Australian visa through VEVO.
3. Complete the Passport Seva application where possible.
4. Gather the passport renewal or PCC documents.
5. Monitor official VFS and Indian mission announcements.
6. Keep evidence of all renewal and PCC attempts.
7. Review any pending Department of Home Affairs deadline.
8. Respond to section 56 requests before the due date.
9. Request additional time where the required document cannot be obtained.
10. Obtain legal advice if a visa expiry, refusal risk or statutory deadline is involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Indian passport renewals suspended in Australia?

Routine Indian passport and related consular services processed through VFS Global have been temporarily disrupted in Australia. Applicants should verify whether services have resumed before attending a VFS centre.

Can I apply for an Indian Police Clearance Certificate during the VFS disruption?

The disruption may prevent or delay ordinary Indian PCC applications submitted through the VFS consular service network. Prepare the application and supporting documents, monitor official updates and retain evidence of your attempts to apply.

What should I do if Home Affairs gives me 28 days to provide a PCC?

Respond within the 28-day period. Provide all available documents, evidence of the disruption, proof of attempts to obtain the PCC and a written request for additional time. Do not simply wait for VFS services to resume.

Will Home Affairs automatically extend my section 56 deadline?

No. Additional time is not automatic. A request should be made promptly and supported by evidence explaining why the document cannot currently be obtained.

Can I provide an old Indian police certificate?

An old PCC may be uploaded as background evidence, but it may not satisfy the current request. The Department can require a new certificate, particularly where the person has returned to or lived in India since the earlier certificate was issued.

Can my Australian visa be granted if my Indian passport has expired?

This depends on the visa subclass, the application stage and whether the Department is satisfied about the applicant’s identity. An expired passport does not necessarily cancel an existing Australian visa, but it can delay or complicate a pending application.

How do I notify Home Affairs after receiving a new passport?

Once the new passport is issued, update the passport information through the available ImmiAccount process and upload a clear copy of the new biographical page. Check that the new passport is correctly linked to the relevant visa before travelling.

Should I withdraw my Australian visa application because I cannot obtain a PCC?

Not merely because of the VFS disruption. Withdrawal can have serious consequences, including loss of application charges, bridging visa consequences and the need to make a new application. Obtain advice before withdrawing.

How Emigrate Lawyers Can Assist?

A VFS service disruption may be outside your control, but how you respond to the Department of Home Affairs remains important.

Emigrate Lawyers can assist with:

• responding to section 56 requests;
• requesting additional time from the Department;
• preparing submissions about an unavailable passport or police certificate;
• assessing whether a visa application can be lodged with an expiring passport;
• advising on passport and identity complications;
• updating passport information in a pending visa matter;
• advising bridging visa holders who need to travel; and
• addressing character-document delays in partner, skilled, employer-sponsored, student and other visa applications.

Where a Department deadline is approaching, applicants should act before the deadline rather than waiting for VFS services to resume.

About the Author 

Madhab Kharel
Principal Lawyer | Hindi-Speaking Immigration Lawyer
Emigrate Lawyers

Madhab Kharel is the Principal Lawyer at Emigrate Lawyers. He assists individuals, families and businesses with Australian immigration matters, including visa applications, section 56 requests, passport-related complications, police clearance delays, character requirements and complex Department of Home Affairs correspondence.

As a Hindi-speaking lawyer, Madhab regularly assists members of the Indian and South Asian communities across Australia with clear, practical and culturally informed immigration advice.

Legal Disclaimer

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Passport, consular and immigration procedures may change without notice. The appropriate response will depend on the visa subclass, the terms of any Department request and the applicant’s individual circumstances. Applicants should verify current information with VFS Global, the relevant Indian mission and the Australian Department of Home Affairs.