Bangalore:
VFS Global, a global outsourcing and technology services specialist, on Wednesday opened its new Schengen Visa Application Centre in Bangalore, which would process visa applications for 16 European countries under Schengen Region.
The Schengen area comprises of 25 European countries including Austria, Belgium, Italy, Malta, Netherlands and Portugal.
The city-based French visa office has processed 15,000 visas since February last, France Consul General (Bangalore) Dominique Causse told reporters. The opening of the centre here would not require visa aspirants to France to visit Mumbai, he said.
"This centre will cater to visa requirements of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka residents," he said, adding, applications are in 70:30 ratio from the two states.
Businessmen constituted as top visa seekers and IT professionals came next. However, the French Consulate is keen on attracting students desirous of studying in their country, Causse said.
Switzerland Consul General (Bangalore) Rolf Frei said the consulate would facilitate visa processes in South India through Schengen Visa Application Centre. "The tie-up with VFS Global will speed up visa application process, but final processing will be done in Mumbai," he said.
Frie said the number of visa seekers was growing at a compound annual growth rate of 25 per cent in the wake of bilateral relations between Switzerland and India looking up.
"Last year, 75,000 applications were processed from India. While most of the visits were by business people, Bollywood units visiting Switzerland for film shoots was on the rise. Five per cent of visitors are IT professionals."
VFS Global Regional Head (South Asia) Vishal Jairath said the centre would process visa applications to countries like Austria, Belgium, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden apart from France and Switzerland.
"Ever since we opened the centre five years ago we witnessed 8 to 9 per cent increase in volume (of visa applications)," he said.