VFS Global Services, a Dubai-based firm specialised in outsourcing and technology services for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, processed 5.28 million visa applications in India during 2018. This represents an increase of 13% over 2017.
“Over the last two years, there has been a 22% increase in visa applications in India. Tier-II cities have contributed significantly to the growth in outbound travel,” said a company release.
“People have started exploring newer destinations such as Japan, Turkey, Czech Republic and Estonia. The launch of visa at door-step services has also came to their aid,” it said.
Currently, VFS Global serves 48 countries through visa application centres in 17 cities across India.
There has been a rise in visa application from Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. Growth is also being seen in other cities and tier-II centres such as Ahmedabad 32%, Pune 20%, Jalandhar 66%, Chandigarh 54%, Puducherry 43% and Goa 45%. “With the year-on-year increase in visa applications from India, it is evident that foreign travel is no longer the domain of a privileged few,” said Vinay Malhotra, regional group COO, Middle East, South Asia and China, VFS Global.
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