Dubai-based visa outsourcing giant VFS Global announced it will deliver UK visa and passport services worldwide, taking over operations from existing providers in 142 countries starting 2024.
Under the new contract, VFS Global will open 240 Visa and Citizenship Application Service centres across 142 countries during 2024. This means the UK visa application process will become more accessible globally, with new centres planned in 84 nations.
VFS Global is estimated to manage around 3.8 million UK visa and passport applications annually under the new contract.
“We are delighted to win this contract and expand our partnership with the Home Office to become their service provider for all UK visa customers overseas. We are excited to begin operations in new locations, and to take the next step towards providing customers with a seamless, simple and secure visa and passport application experience,” said Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO, VFS Global.
Advanced technology will be deployed to ensure robust identity verification and maintain the integrity of the visa process. The UK Government expects these measures to deliver cost savings.
Under the new contract VFS Global will provide UK visa services in the following countries:
- Middle East and Africa: Algeria, Angola, Bahrain, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
- Americas, Australaisa and Europe: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Venezuela.
- Asia and Asia Pacific: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
India, China, Nigeria and Turkey are currently the top locations for UK visa applications. VFS Global aims to bring the service even closer to applicants by expanding its network of partner centres located in popular hotels and resorts.
The new UK contract is VFS Global’s sixth major government outsourcing win this year. It comes soon after the visa outsourcing giant was awarded the global biometric collection service mandate with Australia and renewal of the global visa service contract with Sweden.
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