Category Archives: Visa

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%).

During the month of August 2019, a total of 1,66,424 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa, as compared to 1,50,457 during the month of August, 2018, registering a growth of 10.6%, according to statistics released by Ministry of Tourism (MOT). During January- August 2019, a total of 17,00,717 tourist arrived on e-Tourist Visa as compared to 14,18,534 during January-August 2018, registering a growth of 19.9%.

VFS Global has commenced Belarus visa services for the residents of India through centres in five cities – Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. This is the first time the Belarus Ministry of Foreign Affairs has outsourced their visa services. The centres accept applications for tourist, business, and private visit visas across all these locations. Prior to this, customers in India had to visit the the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in New Delhi to apply for their Belarus visas. Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO – South Asia, Middle East and China, VFS Global said, “It is always exciting to commence our visa services for a new country and bring our travellers the best application experience we can offer. Footfall to Belarus has been growing in recent years, and we are looking forward to serving customers for Belarus in India.” Belarus has recorded a steady increase in the number of Indians travelling to the destination in recent years, with an average of 1,200 applications being submitted annually. H.E. Andrei Rzheussky, Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to India said, “Starting cooperation with VFS Global on visa issues in India is an important step of Belarus in tourism development strategy in South Asia region. New approach of Belarus in this cooperation is reflecting the gradual tendency of  travels facilitation between India and Belarus which is crucial for developing fruitful bilateral relations between our friendly countries.”

The Embassy of Iceland, New Delhi has appointed VFS Global to process Iceland visa applications for Indian travellers. H.E. Gudmundur Arni Stefansson, Ambassador, Embassy of Iceland and Alok Singhal, Regional Head – North & East India, VFS Global signed the contract recently for this. Iceland has been gaining popularity among Indian travellers, with a growth of over 30 per cent recorded in 2017. To ensure greater access to the Iceland visa process for travellers across India, VFS Global now offers Iceland visa services at three locations in India – Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru. Prior to this, customers had to submit their applications through the Embassy of Denmark in New Delhi. VFS Global also offers its optional Premium Lounge to Iceland visa applicants, providing end-to-end personalised service throughout the visa application process. The Premium Lounge is just one of several optional services applicants can avail, including Prime Time for application submission and passport collection on weekends, and pick-up services within each city, among others. H.E. Guðmundur Árni Stefansson, Ambassador of Iceland said, “The Icelandic Embassy is looking forward to take over the visa processing services in cooperation with VFS Global and other relevant parties. The Consular section of the Embassy, under the lead of   Kristin Eva Sigurdardottir the Deputy Head of the Embassy, will do its utmost to provide the best service possible in accordance with rules and regulations.“ Vinay Malhotra, Regional Group COO – South Asia, Middle East and China, VFS Global said, “We are truly honoured by the Embassy of Iceland’s faith in our services, and excited to bring the visa service closer to home for residents in India. Iceland has long been gaining momentum as a destination …