In the initial six months of 2024, visa applications from India swelled by 2% when compared to the corresponding period in 2019. This uptick exceeded levels before the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling a strong revival in the desire for foreign travel. Visa applications rose by 11% annually when measured against the first half of 2023.
Visa Applications from India Hit New High in 2024: 10 Key Points To Know
- Visa Surge: In the first half of 2024, visa applications from India increased by 2% compared to the same period in 2019, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
- Annual Growth: Visa applications grew by 11% year-on-year (YoY) when compared to the first half of 2023, indicating strong demand for international travel.
- Travel Recovery: A top executive from a leading visa-handling firm noted that India’s outbound travel demand has returned to pre-COVID levels and is expected to remain strong throughout 2024.
- Extended Travel Season: India has experienced an extended travel season over the past two years, contributing to the rise in visa applications.
- Tailored Services Demand: The demand for personalized visa services, such as doorstep visa processing, has significantly increased, with bookings nearly five times higher than in 2019.
- Post-Pandemic Preferences: The rise in tailored visa services is attributed to post-pandemic concerns about health and convenience, leading more travelers to opt for these premium options.
- Fraud Warning: There are warnings against fraudulent social media pages and fake websites that pose as legitimate visa service providers and charge for appointments.
- Official Channels: Travelers are advised to use official channels for visa appointments, which are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Top Destinations: The most popular travel destinations for Indian tourists include the USA, UK, Saudi Arabia, China, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
- Visa Processing Centers: The visa processing firm operates over 560 visa application centers in 19 Indian cities and handles administrative tasks related to visa applications.
A top executive at a leading visa handling firm highlighted the solid interest of India’s outgoing tourists and hinted at a revival to the pre-COVID times. In the past two years, India witnessed an extended travel period and this positive pattern is likely to carry on all year round.
The call for tailored visa services, like doorstep visa processing, has soared. This top-notch service, allows applicants to complete the entire visa process, even biometrics, from home or elsewhere. Its bookings have risen 16% yearly since 2023 and are nearly five times that of 2019. The spike is due to health and convenience worries post-outbreak, making this offering increasingly favored.
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The administration also issued a warning against phony social media pages and counterfeit websites that pose as legitimate visa service providers and charge for appointments. It was urged to applicants to make travel arrangements well in advance and to schedule appointments only via official channels, which provide free slots based on first-come, first-served availability.
Travelers from India most often visit the USA, UK, Saudi Arabia, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. Travelers’ preferences are moving toward more individualized visa services, which suggests that they want more security and comfort throughout the application procedure.
The visa processing firm has more than 560 visa application facilities in 19 Indian cities and has partnerships with several sovereign countries. They cannot influence whether a visa is approved or denied; instead, their involvement is restricted to administrative duties including collecting visa applications, necessary paperwork, and biometric enrollment.
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