In today’s fast-paced world, securing a visa for travel can often be a complex and time-consuming process. Visa2Fly, founded in 2021 and started operation in April 2022, aims to revolutionize visa processing through its digital-first approach. By leveraging technology, the company has made visa applications hassle-free for both individual travelers and corporate clients. With strategic partnerships and a customer-centric approach, Visa2Fly is steadily changing how people travel internationally. TTI spoke to Vijayendra Bawa, Co-founder & CEO of Visa2Fly, to understand the company’s journey, innovations, and vision for the future.
Q: Can you tell us about Visa2Fly and when it was started?
A: Visa2Fly was founded in December 2021 with a simple yet powerful vision: to make the visa application process seamless and efficient for travelers and businesses. The traditional visa process was filled with challenges—complex documentation, in-person visits, and long wait times. We wanted to change that by making visa applications digital and accessible from anywhere. Today, we power visa processing for major airlines and travel companies, and our platform provides an end-to-end solution for travelers to complete their visa applications online with minimal effort.
Q: What makes Visa2Fly different from other visa service providers?
A: Our biggest differentiator is our technology-driven approach. Everything is online—users can upload their documents, and our OCR technology automatically fetches passport details. The entire process is streamlined with minimal manual intervention. We have also introduced AI-driven personalization to make the experience more intuitive. Unlike many traditional visa services, Visa2Fly offers a 100% online experience while ensuring high success rates through proper document verification and customer guidance.
Q: What are the major markets for Visa2Fly, and which countries see the highest visa applications?
A: The majority of outbound visa applications from India are for GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries and Southeast Asia (SEA). These two regions account for about 70% of our applications. However, we also process visas for Western countries, including the US, UK, and Schengen areas. Our expansion efforts focus on strengthening our presence in these markets, especially through strategic partnerships.
Q: You recently launched a chatbot feature. How does it help users?
A: Yes, we introduced an AI-powered chatbot named MAV to assist travelers with their visa-related queries. This chatbot serves as a virtual assistant, guiding users through the application process, document requirements, and visa interview preparations. It’s particularly useful for travel agents, as they can get real-time assistance, reducing the dependency on human agents and improving efficiency.
Q: What challenges do travelers face in visa processing, and how does Visa2Fly address them?
A: One of the biggest challenges travelers face is the lack of knowledge about visa requirements. Many applications get rejected due to missing or incorrect documents. Schengen visas, for example, have high rejection rates due to improper documentation. At Visa2Fly, we provide an online checklist and a guided process that helps applicants prepare accurate documentation, significantly increasing their chances of approval. Additionally, we offer doorstep biometrics for certain countries, eliminating the need for applicants to visit visa centers.
Q: How many visa applications does Visa2Fly process per month?
A: Currently, we process over 15,000 visa applications per month, and this number is growing rapidly. With increased participation in travel exhibitions and collaborations with airlines, we expect to see a significant rise in applications over the next six months.
Q: Can you tell us about some of the major brands you work with?
A: We have partnered with major brands like Ixigo, Niyo global, Spicejet, Acko and other OTAs to integrate our visa services seamlessly into their platforms. This allows travelers to book flights and apply for visas in a single, streamlined process. Our API integration solutions help these companies offer visa services under their own branding while being powered by Visa2Fly.
Q: Has Visa2Fly received any funding or investment recently?
A: Yes, we recently raised $2 million in funding from led by M Venture Partners from Singapore. This funding will help us enhance our consumer and enterprise technology, improve cybersecurity measures, and expand into new geographies.
Q: What are your plans for global expansion?
A: While India remains our primary focus, visa processing challenges exist worldwide. We aim to build a global architecture that caters to travelers in different markets. Over the next six months, we will expand our reach beyond India, targeting key international markets where digital visa services are in demand.
Q: Security is a major concern when dealing with sensitive personal data. How does Visa2Fly ensure data protection?
A: Data security is a top priority for us. We are fully compliant with international security standards and certifications such as SOC 2. Our systems are designed to prevent data breaches, and we continuously upgrade our cybersecurity infrastructure to stay ahead of threats. With stringent security measures in place, we ensure that our users’ personal information is safeguarded at all times.
Q: What role does customer education play in Visa2Fly’s services?
A: Educating customers is a critical aspect of our service. Many travelers are unfamiliar with visa application processes, which leads to errors and rejections. To address this, we have built a repository of visa-related information, including checklists and guidelines tailored for different countries. This empowers travelers with the knowledge they need before starting their application, ensuring a smoother experience.
Q: What’s next for Visa2Fly?
A: Our immediate focus is to strengthen our B2B and B2B2C distribution network. We see immense potential in collaborating with airlines, OTAs, and travel aggregators to make visa services more accessible. While our core approach remains digital-first, we will continue refining our AI-driven solutions and expanding our footprint in international markets. The ultimate goal is to make Visa2Fly an indispensable part of every traveler’s journey.