• Visa applications in India in H1 2024 (January to June 2024) exceeded the H1 2019 volumes by 2%.
• The YoY increase during the same period was 11%.
• Acceptance of personalised services such as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) recorded four-fold rise against 2019; YoY increase of 16%.
Robust pent-up demand for outbound travel from India for the first time went past the pre-pandemic levels in H1 2024 (January to June 2024). According to VFS Global that manages visa applications for 52 countries from India, the volumes recorded in H1 2024, surpassed the same period in 2019 by 2%. It also witnessed a steady 11% YoY growth in application counts over H1 2023.
“Outbound travel demand from India has remained robust and it was a matter of time that pre-pandemic levels were restored. India has been witnessing an extended travel season over the past two years and we are confident the momentum would last till the year-end. We remain committed to providing exceptional customer service through technology-led, seamless, highly secure and reliable solutions,” said Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer – (South Asia), VFS Global.
Talwar emphasised the importance of applicants being cautious of counterfeit websites and fraudulent social media pages that pose as VFS Global and offer appointments in exchange of money. “Appointments are free and are exclusively available through www.vfsglobal.com on a first-come, firstserved basis. As a responsible service provider, we persist in raising awareness about this concern and encourage applicants to arrange their travel plans well in advance.”
Some of the popular destinations comprise Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, USA and UK. (in alphabetical order).
The preference for tailored services persisted as a predominant trend in visa application behaviours. VFS Global noted a significant increase in the demand for personalised services such as Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD). This premium optional service allows applicants to manage the full visa application submission from their homes or any preferred location, including biometric enrolment. VAYD bookings in H1 2024 in India registered around five-fold increase when compared to 2019 as a well YoY increase of 16% over H1 2023. VFS Global provides its VAYD services for 16 nations within India, including Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the UK.
“The preference for personalized services like VAYD has increased among travelers post-pandemic due to health reasons. These offerings improve the visa application process by providing additional comfort and convenience. We anticipate a growing demand for these premium services that emphasize secure Page 2/3 travel within this year as well,” added Talwar
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.
For more information, please visit www.vfsglobal.com.
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.
