Outbound travel from India remained strong with visa application volumes in India increasing by 11% year-on-year in 2024, exceeding pre-pandemic levels (2019) by 4%. This increase indicates a recovery and a rise in the number of Indian travelers visiting international destinations. Popular destinations for Indian travellers in 2024 included the Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherland, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, United States, and United Kingdom. (in alphabetical order).
“India continues to show a strong demand for international travel, and it’s clear that this robust momentum will persist in 2025. We encourage applicants to apply for their visas well in advance to avoid the last-minute rush and ensure a smooth travel experience,” said Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, VFS Global.
Talwar stressed that applicants should avoid counterfeit websites and fake social media pages claiming to be VFS Global. “Appointments are free and available only through www.vfsglobal.com on a first-come, first-served basis. We continue to raise awareness about this issue and urge applicants to plan their travel early.”
The trend for tailored visa services remains strong, with VFS Global noting a significant rise in demand for its Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) service. This premium service allows applicants to complete their visa process, including biometric enrolment, from their preferred location. In 2024, VAYD bookings in India saw more than six-fold increase compared to 2019 and a 21% growth over 2023. VFS Global offers VAYD services for 16 countries within India.
VFS Global is the trusted partner to 52 sovereign governments in India and provides visa services on their behalf through a network of over 560 visa application centres spread across 19 cities. VFS Global’s role in the visa application process is limited to front-end administrative tasks only, which include collecting visa application forms, required documentation as per the checklist, and enrol biometrics, if applicable. VFS Global has no role in the decision-making process of granting or refusing a visa.
Outbound Travel Guide
#ApplyinAdvance
It is recommended to apply for visas as early as booking flights and stay. Most countries accept visa applications up to 90 days (3 months) before your date of travel. According to the revised Schengen Visa Code, effective 09th February 2020, you can apply for a Schengen visa up to 6 months before your date of travel. Particularly this year with higher demand and limited appointment slots available, we urge applicants to apply for their visa as early as possible.
#DoNotFallForFraud
Visa applicants are advised to beware of fraudulent entities who charge fees from customers for scheduling appointments or providing any other services using VFS Global’s name or independently. VFS Global does not charge any fee for booking appointments on www.vfsglobal.com which is the official website catering to visa applications. However, some governments require pre-payment of the service fee at the time of booking the appointment. This payment will be reimbursed or deducted during the application process. This step is only to ensure genuine travellers use appointment booking and the system is kept safe from misuse by fraudulent entities. For any assistance, feel free to reach out to one of our staff and to report any instances of fraud, visit https://secure.ethicspoint.eu/domain/media/en/gui/108559/index.html.
Enjoy our optional value-added services for a seamless visa experience such as:
· Visa At Your Doorstep: Apply for your visa and enrol biometrics from the location of your choice.
· Premium Lounge: Get an end-to-end personalised visa submission experience from the comfort of a lounge.
· Prime Time: Apply for your visa beyond normal working hours or even on weekends.
· Form-filling assistance: Allow our expert staff to assist you in completing your visa application on phone or at a visa application centre
· Courier Service: We deliver your passport and documents. It’s quick, safe, and convenient.
· Travel Medical Insurance: Get your mandatory Travel Medical Insurance including Covid-19 coverage from global insurers.
· SMS Alerts: Stay updated on the progress of your visa application.
