India’s outbound travel demand has surged to unprecedented levels in the first half of 2024, with visa applications surpassing pre-pandemic volumes. According to data from VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, visa applications from India in the first half of 2024 (January to June) exceeded the same period in 2019 by 2 per cent, highlighting a strong recovery. Year-on-year (YoY), there was an 11 per cent increase in visa application volumes compared to the first half of 2023.Yummi Talwar, Chief Operating Officer for South Asia at VFS Global, commented on this significant growth, stating, “Outbound travel demand from India has remained robust, and it was only a matter of time before pre-pandemic levels were restored. India has been witnessing an extended travel season over the past two years, and we are confident that this momentum will continue throughout the year.”
The preference for personalised services like Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) has also seen a dramatic rise. VAYD bookings in the first half of 2024 in India have increased nearly five-fold compared to 2019, with a 16 per cent YoY increase over 2023. This premium service, which allows applicants to complete the entire visa application process from the comfort of their homes or any preferred location, including biometric enrollment, has become increasingly popular post-pandemic due to health and convenience concerns.
Post-summer, Indian travelers saw a substantial increase in European visa applications, resulting in extended wait times. High interest in viewing the Northern Lights further fueled this trend. Thomas Cook and Air India expanded services, introducing special tours and increasing flight frequencies to cater to rising travel demands from India to Europe.
Talwar further emphasised the importance of vigilance against counterfeit websites and fraudulent social media pages that mimic VFS Global, offering appointments in exchange for money. “Appointments are free and exclusively available through www.vfsglobal.com on a first-come, first-served basis. As a responsible service provider, we are committed to raising awareness about this concern and encourage applicants to arrange their travel plans well in advance,” she advised.The top destinations for Indian travellers continue to include Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, the USA, and the UK. The increasing preference for tailored services reflects a shift in traveler behavior towards greater comfort and security in the visa application process.
VFS Global, partner to 52 sovereign governments, operates over 560 visa application centers across 19 cities in India. The company’s role is limited to front-end administrative tasks such as collecting visa applications, required documentation, and enrolling biometrics, if applicable. VFS Global does not influence the decision-making process regarding the approval or rejection of visas.
