VFS Global has been awarded the contracts to provide Italy visa services in nine countries worldwide – Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
Under these new contracts, VFS Global will continue to operate the Italy Visa Application Centres in India, Ivory Coast, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, and also roll out new centres in Baghdad and Basra, Iraq; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria, Bloemfontein and Polokwane, South Africa; and Gaborone, Botswana.
Under the mandate of the Italian Embassy in New Delhi, VFS Global will continue providing Italy visa services across India and Nepal. VFS Global operates 14 Italy Visa Application Centres across 13 Indian cities, as well as one centre in Nepal in the city of Kathmandu. Additionally, VFS Global provides a drop-box facility in 28 locations across India, allowing Italy visa applicants, exempt from submission of biometrics, to submit their application without the need for an appointment at the centre.
Chris Dix, Head – Business Development, VFS Global said, “VFS Global commenced its Italy visa services 15 years ago with operations in India. It has been a long and successful relationship, and we look forward to continue our services in the market. With the introduction of our drop-box facilities for repeat travellers, we aim to make the Italy visa process as comfortable and convenient for our applicants.”
VFS Global won its first contract to provide Italy visa services in India in 2004, and commenced operations on behalf of the Italian Embassy in New Delhi with six Italy Visa Application Centres. In 2018, VFS Global processed 121,509 Italy visa applications from India.