Definition
A private company that runs visa application centres for many embassies in India. It accepts documents, takes biometrics and returns passports, but has no say in whether your visa is approved. That decision stays with the embassy or consulate.
What VFS Global does, and doesn't
VFS runs centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kochi, Chandigarh, Jaipur and other cities for countries including many Schengen states, the UK and Canada. Some countries use other contractors; Spain, for example, works with BLS International in India.
VFS handles:
- appointment booking
- document intake and completeness checks
- biometrics
- returning passports by courier or for collection
It does not assess your application, cannot speed up a decision and cannot tell you why a visa was refused.
Fees: mandatory and optional
Every application carries a service fee on top of the visa fee, roughly ₹2,000–4,000 for Schengen countries at the time of review. Then come the add-ons: SMS updates, courier, form-filling help, photocopying, premium lounges and prime-time slots. These are optional, and a family of four can add several thousand rupees without meaning to.
Example
A Kolkata couple applying for France pays the visa and service fees online. At the centre they are offered a premium lounge, SMS alerts and courier return. They take only the courier, which costs a few hundred rupees, because they live 40 minutes away and would rather not make a second trip.
Practical advice
- Book appointments only on the official VFS site for that country, and ignore anyone selling confirmed slots.
- Carry a printed checklist, with originals and photocopies in the order listed. Missing paperwork means a second visit.
- Photocopy at home; centre rates are steep.
Our visa assistance team can prepare and check the file before your VFS appointment.