Kolkata continued to have a high volume of visa applications in 2023, which closed in on pre-pandemic levels as tourists’ trust to visit foreign places recovered. As per VFS Global, there was a 2% annual increase in the volume of visa applications submitted from Kolkata in 2023. The number of visa applications from Kolkata reached 91% of the levels in 2019 compared to the pre-pandemic figures.

The demand trend in Kolkata was consistent with the general growth trend observed in India, where visa applications increased by 16% annually in 2023. India’s visa application volume surpassed 93% of 2019 levels compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Vishal Jairath, Head – South Asia, VFS Global graced the press conference to speak about the volume of Visa applications.

Jairath continued by warning candidates to be cautious of phony websites or social media pages that pose as VFS Global and offer appointments in return for cash.

India’s top travel destinations in 2023 included the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, China, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia.

A strong desire for individualized services remained a defining characteristic of the patterns of visa applications in 2023. Customized services like Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD), which enables applicants to finish the visa application submission process from the comfort of their homes or any other location of their choice, have seen a significant increase, according to VFS Global. Customers can apply, enroll in biometrics, and have their passports couriered back to their preferred location using this premium service. When compared to 2019, VAYD reservations in India increased by about five times in 2023. For nations like Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the UK, VFS Global provides VAYD services.

In a similar vein, as application numbers climb, so does the demand for Premium Lounge, an extra service that offers comprehensive, individualized help with visa application submission from the luxury of a lounge. Since the epidemic, there has been a healthy uptake of Prime Time, a different service that permits the filing of visa applications on the weekends and outside of regular business hours.

For more information, please visit www.vfsglobal.com.

Priyanka Dutta