Last updated January 8th, 2025

This privacy notice for BLS International ("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 any website of ours 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 us at dpo@blsinternational.com

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

Email address	info.senegal@blshelpline.com
Telephone Number	+221 33 920 15 30
Address	133, Avenue Lamine Gueye, Jules Ferry, Immeuble Alyama, 4th floor, Dakar, Senegal.

WHO ARE WE?

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

• Embassy of Italy in Senegal is the Data Controller for the processing of personal data you provide for your visa applications and other consular services. To know more about how they process your personal data, please refer to the below links:
  http://www.ambdakar.esteri.it/ambasciata_dakar/it/
• BLS acts as a Data Processor while providing visa and other consular services on behalf of the Embassy of Italy in Senegal. Decisions regarding granting or rejecting visa applications solely rest with the Embassy of Italy in Senegal.
• 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.

SCOPE

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

PURPOSE

We may collect your personal information for the following purposes:

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

WHAT INFORMATION WE COLLECT?

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

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

The specific personal data and documentation required from applicants varies depending on the type of visa being applied for or the type of consular services you choose. Full details for each visa type and each consular services are available on BLS International’s official website where you can review the requirements for your chosen application route.

While providing services on behalf of Embassy of Italy in Senegal, we may collect your personal data including your biometric data, if required and mandated by the diplomatic mission in order to process your 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

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
• Social Media Queries: Passport/reference information
• Appointment cancellation or feedback: Personal information including application references
• Automatic collection: IP address for security and fraud prevention.

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

We may rely on the following legal bases to process your personal information:

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.
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 or in order to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract.
3. Legal Obligations: We may process your 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 where it is necessary to protect your life and health or that of another individual in an emergency.

WHEN AND WITH WHOM DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

We may share or disclose your personal information with:

1. Relevant consulates/diplomatic missions when we receive or process your visa applications.
2. Those service providers who enable us to provide the services such as (courier, text messages etc.).
3. When required by law or government authority: (if required) such as, requests from government agencies, including law enforcement and other public authorities, which may include such authorities outside your country of residence.

Wherever required by the applicable laws, we will obtain your separate consent in case we disclose your data.

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, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as tax, accounting, or other legal requirements).

HOW DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SAFE?

We implement appropriate and reasonable technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process. It includes the use of encryption, passwords, and physical security measures.

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.

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 and internally within BLS to our data centers.

In case of international data transfers, we ensure appropriate transfer mechanism is adhered to, as provided in the applicable data protection laws and ensure that your personal data stays secure at all times.

SITES/ LINKED SITES

The Website may contain links to other websites or resources over which BLS International does not have any control. Such links do not constitute an endorsement by BLS International of those external websites. You acknowledge that BLS International is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and further agree that BLS International 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.

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.

WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?

You have following privacy rights in relation to your personal information processed by BLS International:

1. Right of Access – Individuals have the right to 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 where required by the GDPR.
4. Right to Object: You have the right to object to processing of your personal data under specific circumstances given under the GDPR.
5. Right to Processing and Automated Processing: You have the right to object to any decisions resulting from automated processing, including profiling, particularly those decisions which have legal impact on or adversely affect you.

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 or related to other consular services, 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.

CHANGES TO THE POLICY

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 top of the page.