Visa applications in India have surpassed pre-pandemic volumes in the first half of the year as robust pent-up demand  drives outbound travel from India, says visa services firm VFS Global.

In a press statement, VFS Global, which manages visa applications for 52 countries in India, says the volumes recorded in January to June 2024 surpassed the same period in 2019 by 2 pc. 

The company says it has witnessed a steady 11 pc year-on-year growth in application counts over H1 2023. Some of the popular destinations comprise Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom. 

Yummi Talwar

“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,” says Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer South Asia, VFS Global.

“We remain committed to providing exceptional customer service through technology-led, seamless, highly secure and reliable solutions,” she adds.

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 website on a first-come, first-served 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,” she adds.

The statement adds that the preference for tailored services persisted as a predominant trend in visa application behaviours. 

VFS Global says it has seen 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 expansion when compared to 2019 as a well YoY increase of 16 pc 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 personalised services like VAYD has increased among travellers 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 emphasise secure travel within this year as well,” adds Talwar.

VFS Global says it has over 560 visa application centres spread across 19 cities.