Category Archives: Visa

Russia is set to offer e-visa facility to all regions of the Russian Federation by 2021, after offering free e-visa to Indians tourists travelling to four regions of the Russian Federation including St. Petersberg, Leningrad, Kaliningrad and Far East region. The Federal Agency for Tourism expects that introducing electronic visas for Indian citizens is an effective way to provide an increase in the flow of both group and individual tourists form the country by more than 20 per cent. The topic of e-visa and the mechanism for obtaining them was the key aspects in the framework of the presentation event, ‘Russia 2020, EURO as a gift’, organised in Delhi by the Federal Agency to present the main tourist products of Russia in the Indian market. India is placed third in terms of growth in tourist flow from the Asian region with 47.8 per cent growth.

Indian residents can now apply for a Polish visa through VFS Global with the inauguration of Visa Application Centres in New Delhi and Mumbai. VFS Global will soon offer Polish visa services in 8 other cities such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Kolkata. The centre in New Delhi was officially inaugurated by H.E. Adam Burakowski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Afghanistan.

Residents of Mumbai and New Delhi travelling to Bulgaria can now apply for their visas through VFS Global at the new Bulgaria Visa Application Centres launched in the cities. In the coming months, VFS Global will commence Bulgaria visa services in 14 additional cities across India, namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Goa, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kochi, Kolkata, Puducherry, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram. The wide network of operations will also be leveraged to promote Bulgaria as an ideal destination for Indian travellers. Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO, Middle East, South Asia and China, VFS Global said, “VFS Global has been working closely with Bulgaria, offering visa services in other regions, and is honoured have this trust reinforced through this extension of services to India. Bulgaria has been rapidly climbing every Indian traveller’s wish list, and we look forward to providing our best-in-class visa services to them.”

During the month of October, 2019 total of 2,77,062 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 2,22,134 during the month of October, 2018 registering a growth of 24.7%, reveals Ministry of Tourism. During January- October 2019, a total of 21,75,727 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 17,99,552 during January- October 2018, registering a growth of 20.9 per cent.

The city of Hyderabad has got its first Visa Application Centre for the Netherlands. Anneke Adema, Deputy Head of Mission, the Netherlands Embassy in India, officially inaugurated the centre. VFS Global has been offering visa services for the Netherlands in India since 2008 through a network of seven centres – New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Jalandhar. The addition of the centre in Hyderabad brings the visa services closer to home for customers in the State of Andhra Pradesh, and will help the organisation better cater to the growing demand for travel to the destination from India. Anneke Adema, Deputy Head of Mission, the Netherlands Embassy in India mentioned the ever increasing number of Indians welcomed to the Netherlands. She stressed her determination to handle the visa procedures as efficiently and customer friendly as possible, to which end she was looking forward to the extended cooperation between the Netherlands embassy and VFS Global in Hyderabad. Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO – Middle East, South Asia and China, VFS Global said, “Our association with the Netherlands Embassy in India has been long standing and strong, and the expansion of our network of centres on their behalf is testament to their faith in our services and abilities. We look forward to serving the residents of Andhra Pradesh through our new centre in Hyderabad.” Customers can also avail a range of optional services for a smooth and seamless visa application process, including the Premium Lounge, which offers end-to-end personalised assistance, in a plush ambience. Worldwide, VFS Global serves the Netherlands in 38 countries through 84 Visa Application Centres.  Optional services available at the centre: Premium Lounge for end to end personalised …

In a bid to strengthen India’s relationships with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Indian Government has decided to offer visa-on-arrival facility for UAE nationals travelling to India. The facility will be available to UAE nationals for a period of up to 60 days with double entry for business, tourism, conference and medical purposes. This facility will be available at six international airports: Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. The facility will be available to only those UAE nationals who have earlier obtained and e-visa or a normal paper visa for India, irrespective of whether the person actually visited India or not. Those UAE nationals going to India for the first time may be advised to apply for e-Visa or a normal paper Visa. Pakistan-origin UAE nationals will not be eligible for Visa-on-Arrival Scheme. Nationals of Japan, South Korea are also eligible for the facility.

VFS Global has been named an official ticket re-seller for Expo 2020 Dubai, the World’s Greatest Show, to be held in the UAE between 20 October 2020 and 10 April 2021. Customers travelling to the UAE during Expo 2020 can visit their nearest VFS Global Visa Application Centre in the GCC, India, China, Russia, UK and Germany to plan their trip, leverage VFS Global’s services and reserve their Expo 2020 tickets. Business travellers can start booking their tickets from today, from destination management companies, travel agents and educational institutions, while leisure travellers will be able to do so early next year on vfsglobal.com. VFS Global will be offering a range of packages with suggested itineraries that include single- and three-day passes to visit Expo 2020 Dubai. Customers who opt to submit their visa application through the Premium Lounge, or hold a VFS Global Privilege Program membership, can also enjoy discounts on the packages they purchase.

The percentage shares of top 15 source countries availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during September, 2019 were highest from China (11.87%), followed by USA (9.91%), UK (8.84%), Malaysia (6.09%), Australia (4.72%), Germany (3.95%), France (3.75), Israel (3.26%), Canada (2.68%), Singapore (2.67%), Spain (2.59%), Japan (2.52%), Oman (2.31%), Italy (2.12%) and Indonesia (2.07%), according to statistics revealed by Ministry of Tourism.

H.E. Ivan Lančarič, Ambassador of Slovakia to India, officially inaugurated VFS Global’s Slovakia Visa Application Centre in Mumbai’s BKC area. The centre is one of three that opened in India in the last quarter of 2018, to cater to the growing demand for Slovakia as a travel destination. The Ambassador revealed that in 2018, there were around 12,000 Indians that travelled to Slovakia. He added, “I would like to announce here in Mumbai, heart of the film industry in India that Slovakia offers a 20 per cent cash rebate of certified private expenses spent for film or TV production in the Slovak Republic, and starting from January 1, 2020, this cash rebate will increase to 33 per cent. Slovakia offers culturally rich and diverse locations, historical and modern as well and has a rich filmmaking tradition. I would like to encourage filmmakers from Mumbai to consider filming in Slovakia as we have a lot of to offer to them professionally, and VFS Global in Mumbai can easily process the necessary visa applications.” Vinay Malhotra, Regional Chief Operating Officer – South Asia, Middle East and China, VFS Global said, “Slovakia’s reputation as an aspirational destination is growing, and we are pleased to pro-vide travellers our best in class visa services, to make the first step in their journeys as comfortable and relaxed as their visit to Slovakia. We are honoured to have the Ambassador to formally inaugurate our centre here in Mumbai, and hope for a long and fruitful association with the Embassy.”

During the month of September, 2019, a total of 1,97,948 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 1,58,884 during the month of September, 2018 registering a growth of 24.6%, according to Ministry of Tourism statistics. During January- September 2019, a total of 18,98,665 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 15,77,418 during January- September 2018, registering a growth of 20.4%. The percentage shares of top 15 source countries availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during September, 2019 were highest from China (11.87%), followed by USA (9.91%), UK (8.84%), Malaysia (6.09%), Australia (4.72%), Germany (3.95%), France (3.75), Israel (3.26%), Canada (2.68%), Singapore (2.67%), Spain (2.59%), Japan (2.52%), Oman (2.31%), Italy (2.12%) and Indonesia (2.07%).