Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:08pm on 28 May 2026,Thursday India Global
An investigation has raised concerns over the functioning of VFS Global visa centres as record numbers of Indians apply for Schengen visas to Europe. More than a million Indians seek Schengen visas annually, with applications more than doubling since the pandemic due to rising incomes and increased international travel. At the centre of the process is VFS Global, the Zurich-and-Dubai-headquartered visa outsourcing giant handling applications for most European countries. The concerns emerged after 150 inspection reports by European authorities, covering VFS Global centres across 20 EU member states between 2020 and 2025, reportedly flagged operational lapses. The findings have triggered scrutiny over issues including handling of personal data, transparency in service charges, and broader operational standards at visa processing centres. (PC: X)
