Privacy Policy

Last updated 2317rdth March, 2026

This Privacy Notice for BLS ("we," "us," or "our"), describes how and why we might collect, store, use, and/or share ("process") your personal information when you (user, data subject, data principal, applicant, individual) use our services ("Services"), such as when you visit our website, or use our mobile application that links to this Privacy Notice.

Questions or concerns?

Reading this Privacy Notice will help you understand your privacy rights, choices and how we handle your personal information. If you still have any questions related to this Privacy Notice or data protection concerns, please contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO) available at dpo@blsinternational.com.

For questions related to your visa application/status related matters, or our additional services, please reach out to us at:

1. WHO ARE WE?

BLS is a trusted partner of the Embassy of Cyprus in Brazil and in our capacity as an outsourced service provider, we assist the Embassy of Cyprus in Brazil to manage administrative tasks related to the processing of visa applications.

• Embassy of Cyprus in Brazil is the Data Controller for the processing of personal data you provide for your visa applications. To know more about how they process your personal data, please refer to the below links:
  https://www.gov.cy/mfa-embassybrasilia/en/consular-services/visa-information/
• BLS acts as a Data Processor while providing visa outsourcing services on behalf of the Embassy of Cyprus in Brazil. Decisions regarding granting or rejecting visa applications solely rest with the Embassy of Cyprus in Brazil.
• In addition to offering above-mentioned services, BLS International provides a range of supplementary services known as Value Added Services (VAS)/additional services at the applicant’s request, such as courier delivery of documents, SMS etc.,
• Where we offer Additional Services, we processes the personal data provided for the purpose of delivering these services under a direct contract between customer (you) and BLS. Accordingly, BLS International acts as the Data Controller in relation to such Value Added Services

2. SCOPE

This Privacy Notice applies to all personal information that we collect from you, whether online or offline.

3. PURPOSE

We may collect your personal information for the following purposes:

• To process your visa applications
• To provide Additional Services
• To provide customer support or responding to your queries
• To comply with applicable laws and regulations

4. WHAT INFORMATION WE COLLECT?

When providing visa services on behalf of Embassies/Diplomatic Missions:

Depending on the country for which you want to apply for a visa, personal data required from you may vary. This is determined by the diplomatic missions for which you are submitting your visa application.

The specific personal data and documentation required from applicants varies depending on the visa being applied for. Full details for each visa type are available on BLS International’s website under the “Visa Types” section where you can select your type of visa and then review the requirements for your chosen visa type.

While providing visa outsourcing services on behalf of Embassy of Cyprus in Republic of Brazil, we may collect your personal data including your biometric data, if required and mandated by the diplomatic mission in order to process your visa application.

When providing Value Added Services (VAS)

When you avail any of our value added services, such as courier services, SMS etc. BLS International acts as a controller and may collect personal data to provide you with the chosen services. Such personal data may include the following:

• Name
• Date of Birth
• E mail Address
• Applicant address details
• Telephone Number/Mobile Number
• Application reference number

5. HOW DO WE COLLECT YOUR INFORMATION?

We may collect your personal information when you interact with us in the following ways:

• Website/Appointments: Name, email, mobile number, passport number
• Call centers: Name, contact, passport info
• Visa Application Centres: Physical documents as required
• Additional Services: Service-specific personal information, such as for courier.
• Social Media Queries: Passport/reference information
• Appointment cancellation or feedback: Personal information including application references
• Automatic collection: IP address for security and fraud prevention.

6. WHAT LEGAL BASES DO WE RELY ON TO PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?

We may rely on any of the following legal bases to process your personal data, as provided by data protection laws in your jurisdiction:

1. Consent: We may process your personal information if you have given us permission (i.e., consent) to use your personal information for a specific purpose. You can withdraw your consent at any time by sending a mail at dpo@blsinternational.com.
   In case there is a change in our purpose or means of processing or in the category of personal information, we shall obtain a new consent.
   When you choose to opt for Additional Services, we process your personal data based on your explicit consent or as necessary to perform the specific service requested.
2. Contractual Obligations: We may process your information where we believe it is necessary for the performance of a contract in which you are a party.
3. Legal Obligations: We may process your personal information where we believe it is necessary for compliance with our statutory duties and obligations, such as to cooperate with a law enforcement body or regulatory agency, exercise or defend our legal rights, or disclose your information as evidence in litigation in which we are involved.
4. Vital Interest: We may process your personal information if necessary for protection of the life or the physical integrity of the data subject or of a third party , or for protection of health exclusively, in procedures carried out by health professionals, health services or sanitary authorities
5. Legitimate Interest: We may process your personal data if it is in our legitimate business interest and does not override your rights and freedoms.

7. WHEN AND WITH WHOM DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

We may share or disclose your personal information with:

1. Embassy of Cyprus in Brazil when you submit your visa application.
2. Those service providers that enable us to provide the services such as courier, text messages etc.
3. When required by law or government authority such as, requests from government agencies, including law enforcement and other public authorities, which may include such authorities outside your country of residence.

We only share or disclose your personal information with these entities if it is necessary to provide the services you have requested or to comply with a legal obligation. We take all reasonable steps to ensure that your personal data is protected when it is shared or disclosed.

8. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION?

We keep your personal information only for as long as it is necessary to fulfil the processing purposes set out in this Privacy Notice, for e.g., no longer than Five (5) days after the passport is returned unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as tax, accounting, or other legal requirements).

9. HOW DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SAFE?

We implement appropriate and reasonable technical, organizational and physical security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process. It includes, but not limited to, the use of encryption, access controls, network security, and CCTV surveillance etc.

10. DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MINORS?

We do not knowingly solicit data from, or market to minors. By using our services, you represent and warrant that you are not a minor and you are not below the age of majority in your jurisdiction, and you are capable of providing valid consent.

When we process the personal data of individuals below the age of majority, we obtain parental consent or consent of a lawful guardian in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

11. IS YOUR INFORMATION TRANSFERRED INTERNATIONALLY?

As part of the services offered to you through this website or mobile application, or in a Visa Application Centre, the information which you provide to us may be transferred to international jurisdictions, i.e. outside your country of residence including the country of foreign diplomatic mission for which you have applied for Visa, internally within BLS and to one of our data centers.

Whenever we transfer your personal data internationally, we will ensure adequate protection of your personal data as required by applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.

12. THIRD PARTY SITES/ LINKED SITES

The Website may contain links to other websites or resources over which BLS does not have any control. Such links do not constitute an endorsement by BLS of those external websites. You acknowledge that BLS is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and further agree that BLS is not responsible for the content of such external websites. We are not responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide while visiting such external websites and such sites are not governed by BLS Policy. Your use of any external website is subject to the terms of use and Privacy Notice located on those external websites.

13. DO WE USE COOKIES?

Our website may use different types of cookies to enhance your experience. Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit. For more information on our use of cookies, please refer our Cookie Policy.

14. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?

Depending on data protection laws in your jurisdiction, you have rights in relation to processing of your personal information in case you avail additional services offered by BLS. These rights may include but not limited to the following:

1. Right to Confirmation of Processing and Access – Individuals have the right to confirmation of the existence of processing and receive the details regarding processing of their personal data. You can request us to receive information including types of your personal data being processed, purpose of processing, categories of recipients with whom your data is shared etc.
2. Right to Rectification: You have the right to request the correction of your inaccurate personal data or completion of incomplete data.
3. Right to Erasure: You have the right to request the erasure of your personal data.
4. Right to Data Portability: You have the right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and have the right to transmit those data to another controller where technically feasible.
   Right to Object: You have the right to object to processing of your personal data.

15. HOW TO EXERCISE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?

If you wish to make a request to exercise your privacy rights with BLS in respect to the additional services provided to you, please email us at dpo@blsinternational.com.

If you make a request, we will respond in a timely manner. If your request is rejected, we will provide you with reasons for such rejection.

To exercise your Data Subject Rights related to processing of your visa application, you must contact the Responsible Party at the diplomatic mission of the country you applied to. Their contact details are provided in the Privacy Notice on the website of the Controller.

16. CHANGES TO THE NOTICE

Our Privacy Notice may be updated from time to time to reflect any regulatory amendments or changes in our services and operations. You may also check latest amendments by visiting our website. The date of the most recent revisions will appear on the top of the page.