In  addition,  the  Centres  would  accept fees in cash, drafts/  money  orders,  and  starting from May, through credit card/ debit card.   They  would  also be open without break for longer consular hours – from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, on all working days.

M/s  VFS  will set up Visa & Passport Services Centres (V&PSC) in the following cities:

      Centre                                                 Date    of  Opening

      Canberra                                               30 January 2008

      Sydney                                                  21 February 2008

      Melbourne                                             04 March 2008

      Brisbane                                                14 March 2008

      Perth                                                     28 March 2008

      Adelaide                                                18 April 2008

[Note:  Passport and OCI applications in respect of the areas covered by  Consulate  General  of  India  in  Melbourne,  i.e., Victoria and Tasmania,  will  continue  to  be  received by the High Commission of India, Canberra till the opening of V&PSC in Melbourne].

The V&PSCs would accept applications for the following services:

            1.     Issue of visa for travel to India (except for Diplomatic and Official passports;
            2.    Issue of passports; 
            3.    Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Cards.

Application  forms  can  be collected from the V&PSCs and also downloaded  from  the  High  Commission and Consulates General websites.  A service charge of A$ 16.36 plus GST per applicant will apply in addition to regular  fees.   Details  of  fees  for various services can be seen on the websites of VFS and the High Commission/ Consulates General.

In case the applicant  wishes  the Passport to be sent through courier/express  post  etc., separate postal charges will be required to be paid.

Once  the V&PSCs are operational, the High Commission of India in Canberra,  Consulates  General  of India in Sydney & Melbourne and Honorary Consulates of India in Perth and Brisbane, will not accept applications for issue  of visas (except for diplomatic & official passports), passports and OCI  Cards.   Applications  received  after  opening  of  V&PSCs   will  be processed subject to additional service charge being paid by the applicant.

The  High  Commission  and  the  Consulates  General  in Sydney & Melbourne  will,  however,  continue  to  receive  applications  for  other Consular Services as follows:

         ·         Consular Attestations

         ·          Miscellaneous  Consular  Services like Police Clearance Certificate, Birth Certificates, Life Certificates etc.

In  case  of  requirement  of  urgent  travel to India on extreme compassionate  grounds  (death  in  the family), the High Commission or the Consulates  General  may  be  approached  directly.  Additional charges are applicable for processing such applications outside office hours.

The  Honorary  Consulates  in Perth and Brisbane would continue to accept applications for attestation of documents and Life Certificate.

Details regarding locations and telephone number of the V&PSCs will be intimated shortly.

For  further  details,  please  visit  the  website  of  the  High Commission   of   India,  Canberra  (http://www.hcindia-au.org),  Consulate General   of   India,  Sydney  (http://www.indianconsulatesydney.org),  and Consulate General of India, Melbourne (http://www.cgindiamel-au.org).

Canberra
1 January, 2008