VFS Global, which processes visas for major European countries and North America, said applications have doubled in the first three months of 2022 compared to the same period of 2021 even as the volume is nowhere close to the pre-pandemic level.

Applications from Calcutta, however, bucks the national trend where applications have gone up 50 per cent .

Opening of international borders, relaxation of travel restrictions, resumption of international flights and widespread vaccination to are the major contributors to the increase in outbound traffic.

Overseas universities have started allowing students on campus. However, the percentage jump looks rosier due to base effect .

“We can say that the general trend is positive. There is an upswing as countries are opening up their borders and allowing visitors. We are looking forward to a good year,” Subhashish Ganguly, senior general manager (operations), VFS Global, said.

VFS processes visa applications for 50 countries in India, including UK, Canada, and Schengen countries among others, from 17 cities. In Calcutta, it processes visa for 40 countries.

The company, however, declined to share details of the countries where Indians are most applying visas for, citing client confidentiality clauses.

“We can say that the general trend is positive. There is an upswing as countries are opening up their borders and allowing visitors. We are looking forward to a good year,” Subhashish Ganguly, senior general manager (operations), VFS Global, said.

However, he pointed out that the volume of applications is still not close to what it had witnessed in 2019.

The company is offering value added services, which come at a premium, whereby the applicants need not visit the visa application centres. It is also offering online guidance to applicants to fill up the visa forms.