UK Visa: VFS Global to Open New Application Centers in Indian Cities

VFS Global, a leading visa application outsourcing and technology services firm, has announced plans to open temporary visa processing centres in smaller Indian cities such as Allahabad, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Dehradun, and Indore.

This move comes as the demand for UK visas continues to surge, with Indian nationals accounting for the highest share (30%) of visitor visas granted by the UK in the year ending June 2023.

Increased Convenience for Travellers

“UK-bound travellers from Tier 2 Indian cities will now have the option to apply for visas without having to travel to the metros,” said Prabuddha Sen, Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, VFS Global.

“This will bring enormous convenience in the travel experience for tourists, students, and business travellers alike.”

Global Contract and Expanding Network

The opening of new centres forms part of the new global contract for overseas UK visa and citizenship services awarded to VFS Global. As part of this contract, VFS Global will deploy 240 Visa and Citizenship Application Service (VCAS) centres for the UK in 142 countries across five regions in 2024.

Additionally, VFS Global will expand its network of paid application centres through partnerships with popular hotels and resorts, offering enhanced convenience for customers.

Strong Demand for UK Travel

The UK government statistics show a 96% rise in visitor visas granted in the year ending June 2023, with Indian nationals receiving the highest number of visas (536,983).

This positive trend has been reflected in the early booking data of travel companies, with Thomas Cook India reporting a 15% uptick in forward bookings and SOTC Travel Ltd seeing a 20% increase in demand for leisure travel to the UK.

Positive Industry Outlook and Future Trends

Rajeev Kale notes a 15% uptick in forward bookings, particularly for cruises and premium travel. Daniel D’Souza highlights strong consumer interest in leisure travel to the UK, with a 20% increase in the demand pipeline for upcoming seasons.

As VFS Global expands its footprint in smaller Indian cities, the move is set to make the UK visa application process more accessible, efficient, and convenient for a growing number of travellers.