Indians Receive One-Third of All UK Visas, China Follows at 13%

New Delhi: In the year ending June 2023, the UK granted over 1.8 million visitor visas, marking a substantial increase of 96% compared to the preceding year. According to UK government data, Indian nationals accounted for 30% of the visitor visas granted during this period, with Chinese nationals coming in second at 13%. Other significant contributors included Nigerian nationals (6%) and Turkish nationals (6%).

Acknowledging the surge in demand and aiming to enhance visa accessibility, VFS Global plans to establish temporary centres in smaller Indian cities, providing more convenience to applicants. Prabuddha Sen, COO (South Asia) of VFS Global, stated that this initiative aligns with their vision to cater to the rising demand for UK visas.

The move is part of the new global contract for overseas UK visa and citizenship services recently awarded to VFS Global. As part of this contract, 240 Visa and Citizenship Application Service (VCAS) Centres for the UK will be deployed in 142 countries across various regions, including Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, Australasia, Europe, China, Taiwan, Asia, and the Asia Pacific in 2024. This effort aims to streamline visa processes and make them more accessible to a wider audience.

With Indians being the largest group of visitors to the UK, these measures aim to provide applicants with easier access to visa services without having to travel to major metropolitan areas. VFS Global’s expansion into tier-II cities reflects a response to the growing demand for UK visas from diverse locations in India.

Despite the relatively higher application fees for UK visas, the outreach to tier-II cities ensures that individuals across the country have access to these services. Notably, the standard visitor visa costs vary depending on the validity period, ranging from Rs 12,615 for a six-month visa to Rs 1,05,639 for a 10-year visa.

The UK, along with Canada, has been one of the preferred destinations for Indian travelers, particularly after these countries expedited visa processing times in the post-COVID-19 era. The UK’s commitment to maintaining processing times and the significant demand from Indian nationals underscore the importance of initiatives like opening visa centres in tier-II cities to facilitate smoother travel procedures.

Indians have secured nearly one-third of all visas issued by the United Kingdom, surpassing other nationalities. The demand for travel to the UK has led VFS Global to announce the opening of temporary visa centres in various tier-II Indian cities, including Prayagraj, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Dehradun, Indore, and Thane.

In the year ending June 2023, the UK granted over 1.8 million visitor visas, marking a substantial increase of 96% compared to the preceding year. According to UK government data, Indian nationals accounted for 30% of the visitor visas granted during this period, with Chinese nationals coming in second at 13%. Other significant contributors included Nigerian nationals (6%) and Turkish nationals (6%).