Record High in Visa Applications

Visa applications from India have finally surpassed the pre-Covid 2019 levels last year by 4%, VFS Global said Monday. Industry sources say about 65 lakh visa application were filed in India in 2019 and since then the number was yet to touch that mark. But in 2024, the same touched about 67.6 lakh.

Travel Trends: Outbound vs. Inbound

While the number of Indians travelling abroad is now much higher than 2019 levels, foreigners coming to India (inbound) is yet to recover. According to Union tourism ministry data, CY 2024 saw almost 96.6 lakh foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) — a mute 1.4% higher than 2023’s 95.2 lakh but still 11.6% lower than 2019’s 1.1 crore.

Popular Destinations for Indian Travellers

Meanwhile, VFS said the popular destinations for Indian travellers last calendar year included Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherland, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, US and UK.

Planning Ahead for Smooth Travel

“India continues to show a strong demand for international travel, and it’s clear that this robust momentum will persist in 2025. We encourage applicants to apply for their visas well in advance to avoid the last-minute rush and ensure a smooth travel experience,” said Yummi Talwar, VFS Global COO (South Asia).

Talwar stressed that applicants should avoid counterfeit websites and fake social media pages claiming to be VFS Global. “Appointments are free and available only through www.vfsglobal.com on a first-come, first-served basis. We continue to raise awareness about this issue and urge applicants to plan their travel early.”