Visa Applications From India Exceed Pre-Covid Levels

Visa applications from India rose by 4% in 2024, surpassing pre-Covid 2019 levels, according to VFS Global. In 2019, Indians filed 65 lakh visa applications, while in 2024, the number increased to 67.6 lakh, as per industry sources.

Government data shows that over 3 crore Indians traveled abroad in 2024, marking an 8.4% increase from 2023’s 2.8 crore and a 12.3% rise from 2019’s 2.7 crore.

Despite strong outbound travel, foreign tourist arrivals in India remain below pre-pandemic levels. In 2024, 96.6 lakh foreign tourists visited India, up 1.4% from 2023’s 95.2 lakh, but 11.6% lower than 2019’s 1.1 crore.

The Indian travel industry is still waiting for a full inbound tourism recovery. Bangladesh, India’s largest source of foreign tourists, saw economic and political issues that slowed inbound growth. Industry experts believe that foreign tourist arrival (FTA) estimates need revision as they also count Indian diaspora visits and expats working in India.

Strong Demand For International Travel

VFS Global highlighted that the top destinations for Indian travelers in 2024 included Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, the US, and the UK.

“India continues to show a strong demand for international travel, and this momentum will persist in 2025,” said Yummi Talwar, VFS Global COO (South Asia).

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