Amid strong global economic momentum, international mobility is emerging as one of the strongest indicators of prosperity, aspiration, and connectivity. Global real GDP is projected to expand at around 3.1% CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) between 2024 and 2028, and the global travel and tourism industry is set to touch CA$4.68 trillion by 2029. International airline passengers are expected to rise from 4.8 billion in 2024 to 5.6 billion by 2029. For fast-growing economies, this surge reflects higher disposable incomes, lifestyle shifts, and a strong appetite for cultural discovery, wellness, and exploration.
Technology is powering this transformation. AI-driven personalization, biometric verification, and digital-first service models are reshaping how people interact with governments, airlines, and visa centers. From instant language translation to predictive data insights, the journey is becoming more seamless, secure, and citizen-centric. Alongside shifts like eco-tourism, wellness travel, and workcations, one critical enabler stands out: simplified visa and consular services.
The global visa outsourcing market is expected to nearly double from CA$2.34 billion in 2024 to CA$4.4 billion by 2029, reflecting the growing need for efficiency, transparency, and trust in citizen services. Against this backdrop, GovTech companies like BLS International are emerging as strategic partners, bridging government systems with citizen expectations through cutting-edge, secure, and compliant technology solutions.
Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director
A Journey of Two Decades
Founded in 2005, BLS International has grown into a trusted partner for governments and citizens worldwide. The company has processed more than 360 million applications to date and works with over 46 client governments. Its unique positioning as the only publicly listed company in the sector—traded on BSE, NSE, and MSE—reflects its leadership and accountability in a domain where trust is paramount.
From a modest beginning, it has become India’s leading multinational in government-to-citizen services. In Canada, operations began around 11 years ago, and the company has 12 centres across the country, including Brampton, Mississauga, Vancouver, Regina, and Toronto, among others.
Over the past five years, the organization’s revenue multiplied 4.6 times, operating profit surged more than fifteen-fold, and margins improved significantly—an outcome of disciplined strategy, operational excellence, and technology-driven innovation.
A Global Footprint of Scale and Trust
Today, BLS International operates in more than 70 countries with a network of over 50,000 centers and a workforce of 60,000 employees and associates. This presence ensures accessibility across continents, from major economies in Europe and North America to emerging destinations in Africa and Asia.
The company’s ability to process millions of sensitive applications with precision and care has positioned it as one of the most dependable players in the sector. Its scale reflects not just operational strength but also the confidence that governments and travellers place in its ability to deliver secure, efficient, and citizen-friendly services.
Leading with Technology and Innovation
Global mobility is no longer just about moving people; it is about creating secure, scalable, and seamless digital ecosystems that protect data, reduce fraud, and improve citizen convenience. Here, technology is the differentiator.
BLS International has anchored its innovation strategy around the 3Ts—Technology, Trust, and Transparency—and the 4Ss—Speed, Scale, Security, and Sustainability. Its digital-first architecture integrates AI-driven process automation, cloud-native micro services, biometric identity verification, and real-time analytics, enabling governments to deliver citizen services with speed and accountability.
Key innovations include:
- Facial Biometrics & Liveliness Detection – ensuring authenticity of applicants during appointment booking.
- Automated Document Checks & OCR – eliminating fraudulent applications and reducing error rates.
- AI-Powered Client Excellence Solutions – providing instant, accurate information and seamless escalation to human agents.
- Multilingual AI Chatbots & Virtual Assistants – facilitating real-time query resolution and inclusive access.
- Predictive Dashboards & Smart Analytics – giving governments live visibility on service delivery performance and KPIs.
A landmark example of this tech-first approach came in Canada, where BLS International became the first company in the visa processing and consular services industry to introduce this new AI-powered customer excellence solution in Canada, demonstrating BLS International’s investment and commitment to the Canadian market. Designed to provide immediate, accurate, and human-like responses, this innovation saves time, eliminates queues, and offers 24/7 support, especially valuable in urgent travel situations. Canada’s adoption is the first step in a multi-phase rollout that will soon expand to multiple countries, languages, and service formats, including AI-driven email and chat responses, as well as advanced quality management for client interactions.
With the Canadian Government focused on supporting AI champions and scaling adoption across sectors, this innovation is perfectly timed to shape the country’s economic AI story.
Trusted Partner for Governments
The company’s strongest differentiator lies in its long-term B2G partnerships. It has consistently won high-profile contracts that underscore its reliability and global stature. Recent milestones include renewed and exclusive agreements with Spain and Slovakia in the Schengen region; contracts with Germany, Italy, Portugal, the Czech Republic, and Hungary; and expanded attestation services for Qatar across multiple African nations. It also re-secured its mandate with the High Commission of India in Canada, reinforcing its reputation for service excellence in critical markets.
Back home, BLS International recently secured a significant contract with UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India), which manages the country’s foundational digital identity framework—an endorsement of its compliance and governance capabilities. Collectively, such contract wins stand as a testament to the deep trust governments place in BLS International and the credibility it has built through innovation, technology, and service excellence.
Recognized Excellence, Certified Trust
BLS International’s performance and credibility have earned it recognition across global platforms. It has been named one of “India’s Most Valuable Companies” by Business Today, ranked in Fortune India’s Next 500, and, in 2025, featured among Forbes Asia’s 200 “Best Under a Billion”.
It also stands apart as the only publicly listed company in its sector, with shares traded on BSE (540073), NSE (BLS), and MSE (BLS)—a reflection of transparency and resilience in a domain where accountability is critical.
Commitment to international standards further strengthens its reputation. The company holds globally recognized certifications, including:
- CMMI DEV ML5 V2.0 & SVC ML5 V2.0 for process maturity and service excellence
- ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems
- ISO 27001:2013 for Information Security Management
- ISO 14001:2015 for Environmental Management Systems
These certifications, combined with a strong ethos of passion, customer focus, and integrity, underscore BLS International’s ability to scale securely and sustainably.
Strong Financial Performance
Fiscal Year 2025 was the company’s strongest ever, with revenues touching CA$356.84 million and operating profit growing 15 times compared to FY21. The momentum has continued into FY26. In Q1FY26, revenue rose 44% year-on-year to CA$115.69 million, EBITDA surged 53% to CA$33.17 million, and net profit grew 50% to CA$29.45 million. With a net cash balance of CA$183.16 million as of June 2025, the company enters its third decade on a strong financial footing.
The Visa & Consular business remains its largest segment, contributing significantly to growth through a shift from partner-run to self-managed centers and the acquisition and consolidation of iDATA. Meanwhile, the Digital Business has emerged as a new growth engine, with revenue from this segment growing over 200% in Q1FY26. Acquisitions such as Aadifidelis Solutions and initiatives like land record digitization, Aadhaar enrollment services, and nationwide courier tie-ups with Delhivery are driving this momentum.
Shaping the Future of Global Mobility
Looking ahead, global mobility will be shaped by AI-first service delivery, integrated digital identities, and zero-trust security ecosystems. BLS International is investing heavily in this vision—pioneering unified digital identity platforms that integrate biometrics, MRZ passports, ePassports, eVisas, and national ID databases. These innovations will allow governments to not only streamline service delivery but also make policy decisions backed by predictive analytics and fraud-proof processes.
As Joint Managing Director Shikhar Aggarwal observed, “Our vision for the next five years is to build on our legacy of impact by deepening our role in global mobility and citizen services. The aspiration is clear: to become the first Indian-origin company to lead this sector at scale, setting new benchmarks in trust, innovation, and service delivery.”
