According to new figures, foreign tourist arrivals to India increased by 64% last year compared to 2022, and business and independent travel have spiked.  The UK is the third largest source of tourists to India – with over 617,77 tourists visiting India in 2022. This has also witnessed an uptake in new services, making getting visas for group and business travel more accessible.

When South Shore Productions, a UK-based television production company, had to visit India to produce their documentary on cricket legend Freddie Flintoff, they opted for the Visa at Your Doorstep (VAYD) service. This convenient option allowed them to complete their visa application process without the need to visit a VFS Global visa centre. This time-saving solution was a relief for the company, as they had to apply for visas for several staff members simultaneously.

A company spokesperson said: “Visa At Your Doorstep services were used for 14 of our staff before a trip to India. VFS Global staff came to our office to process these rather than our team having to go to the visa office in person, which was helpful. The passports were returned with the visas in good time.”

Anirudh Singh (Pictured above), COO of Europe and CIS region at VFS Global, confirmed the growing popularity of the Visa at Your Doorstep (VAYD) service. He stated: “We have recently seen a significant surge in demand for our VAYD service. This is a clear indication that the need for convenient and personalised services is on the rise, and our VAYD service is perfectly positioned to meet this growing demand.

“Equipped with mobile kits for biometric capture, our staff visit the preferred location of applicants, whether at their workplace, hotel or home. This seamless and convenient approach significantly enhances the travel experience, allowing travellers to focus on their plans rather than administrative paperwork. This ensures a stress-free and smooth visa application process.”

 Form-filling is another optional service ensuring that forms are not rejected because crucial details have been missed.

In the UK, VFS Global also provides its VAYD services to countries including Italy, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Malta, Croatia, Ireland, Cyprus, and South Africa.