Category Archives: Visa

After its successful attempt at integrating the Visa Checkout facility with its tajawal.ae domain in January 2017, the Dubai-based travel-booking website has further collaborated with Visa to provide Visa Checkout to its customers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. tajawal is now rolling out the service across multiple markets to provide its users in the region with the most convenient booking process possible. Visa Checkout offers cardholders a simple and secure digital payment method that allows for registered users to complete their purchase at the click of a button. By logging into their Visa Checkout account, payment and billing information are automatically populated, eliminating the step to manually enter the information with every purchase. Ahmed Gaber, Visa’s General Manager for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, said, “Innovations like Visa Checkout help to remove friction from the e-commerce payment process, bringing significant benefits to both the customer and the merchant. With Visa Checkout integrated into its systems, tajawal can now offer its customers an online payment experience that is as easy, convenient, and seamless as swiping a Visa card in a traditional retail setting.” To promote Visa Checkout as a payment option on tajawal.sa, a special offer has been introduced on all flight and hotel bookings that can be availed by registered users who choose to pay with Visa Checkout on tajawal.sa until August 18, 2017.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Abu Dhabi launched a new Visa Application Centre in Abu Dhabi enhance accessibility and greater convenience to residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who plan to travel to The Netherlands. Applicants can visit the centre in Abu Dhabi, managed by VFS Global, to submit visa applications and enroll for biometrics in a comfortable and efficient environment. The new center, formally inaugurated by H.E. Frank J. M. Mollen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of The Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates, offers applicants streamlined and quicker visa application services managed by the center’s well-trained and specialised staff. Abu Dhabi is the second city in the UAE, after Dubai, from where applicants can apply for a visa to The Netherlands. The center is centrally located at Level 25, Shining Tower, Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, Adjacent to Khalidiyah Mall, Abu Dhabi. VFS Global serves a total of 22 client governments in Abu Dhabi, and has operated visa processing services in the city since 2004.

Gulf Air, the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national carrier, partnered with VFS Global, the largest visa service provider in the world, to facilitate visa issuance for passengers flying to the Kingdom of Bahrain. The online visa facility will launch this summer on gulfair.com. Signing the agreement with VFS Global, Gulf Air Chief Commercial Officer, Ahmed Janahi, said: “We are partnering with VFS Global to provide a much needed service to Gulf Air passengers that will support our national carrier’s longstanding efforts to promote the Kingdom as a destination to a broad spectrum of travellers while making the process of obtaining a visa to Bahrain easier and more convenient. Soon, Gulf Air passengers will be able to easily obtain short term visit visas to Bahrain via our website gulfair.com – allowing them to come to Bahrain and experience all that our Kingdom has to offer in terms of tourism, business opportunities and more.” Said Zubin Karkaria, Chief Executive Officer, VFS Global Group, “Integrating next-generation convenience into the traditional visa process lies at the heart of our services. We are pleased to synergise our efforts with Gulf Air and the Government of Bahrain to ensure greater flexibility and digital-friendly services for visitors to Bahrain, while maintaining the security requirements of the visa process. We believe the online e-visa platform will make visa application much more convenient for Gulf Air customers, providing them with greater speed and transparency in the process, thereby enhancing their overall experience.” Added Vinay Malhotra, Chief Operating Officer – Middle East & South Asia, VFS Global, “Applying for an eVisa through our dedicated online platform, designed exclusively for Gulf Air passengers, will transform the visa application experience for passengers, offering …

The Embassy of South Africa launched a South Africa Visa Application Centre in Dubai. Services at the centre commenced on February 1, 2017, but the centre was officially inaugurated by H.E. MK Lekgoro, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the United Arab Emirates, at a ceremony held on February 28, 2017. The centre is situated at WAFI Mall, Level 2, Falcon Phase 2, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai. With South Africa being a popular travel destination for business and leisure travellers the world over, the streamlined and professional services offered at new centre aims at providing residents of the UAE elevated levels of customer service when applying for their visas. Well-trained staff with local language capabilities deliver personalised attention to applicants for a smoother and more convenient application experience. Speaking at the inauguration, H.E. MK Lekgoro, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the United Arab Emirates, said, “It is with great pleasure that I formally inaugurate the South African Visa Application Centre in Dubai, which finally formalises our long standing relationship. This will add to the streamlining of much valued services to the public who we are sure will receive the best services in a professional manner.” Vinay Malhotra, COO – Middle East & South Asia, VFS Global, added, “We at VFS Global are committed to providing world-class visa application services on behalf of our esteemed client government, the Government of South Africa, to the residents of the UAE. We are confident that the newly launched centre in Dubai will add to the overall experience of travelling to the vibrant country of South Africa and are privileged to be a part of this new initiative.”

Residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can now enroll for biometrics and submit their applications for visas to Denmark at the visa application centres, managed by VFS Global, launched by the Royal Danish Consulate General in Dubai and the Royal Danish Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The centre in Dubai was inaugurated by H.E. Mrs. Merete Juhl, Ambassador of Denmark to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar at a ceremony held on February 15, 2017. The centre is located at WAFI Mall, Level 2, Falcon Phase 2, Umm Hurrair 2, Dubai. The centre in Abu Dhabi is located at Level 25, Shining Tower, Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, adjacent to Khalidiyah Mall, Abu Dhabi. Services in both cities commenced on 15 January 2017. Speaking at the inauguration, Her Excellency Merete Juhl Ambassador of Denmark to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, said, “It is my great pleasure to inaugurate the new Visa Application Centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. VFS Global has been carefully chosen to manage the Denmark Visa Application Centres based on their recognised efficiency and professional approach. It is of utmost importance to Denmark that visa processing is handled in a top professional manner.” Vinay Malhotra, COO – Middle East & South Asia, VFS Global, said, “In our continued commitment to expanding our extensive global network of Denmark Visa Application Centres, we are privileged to bring streamlined and proficient visa application services to residents of the UAE travelling to Denmark. We are confident that the newly launched centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai will deliver world-class services for an enhanced visa application experience to our applicants. We are honoured to be a part of the advancement of travel, …

Bahrain is the latest country to be added to Belarus’ list of countries exempted from visa requirements to enter its territories. On January 9, the President of Belarus signed a Decree “On establishing a visa-free order of entrance and departure of foreign citizens”. Under the decree, Bahraini nationals, and nationals from the list of exempted countries, can enter the country for a period of five days and via the international Minsk airport. Visitors to Belarus should also carry documents such as valid passports or any other acceptable travel documents, a minimum sum of money equal to €25($26.6) per day (€125/$133.4 for five days), and at least €10,000 ($10,675.6) health insurance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Also excluded from the advantages of visa exemption are travelers on official business and travelers with diplomatic or special passports or its equivalent. The visa exemption procedures do not apply to flights departing or coming from Russia through the international Minsk airport. Considered domestic flights by the Government of Belarus, these trips are not subject to audit procedures across the Belarusian border, the Ministry added.

In a move to enhance visa application services to travellers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Russia, VFS Global, in partnership with the Consulate General of the Russian Federation, launched the first Russia Visa Application Centre in the Middle East region, in Dubai. Services at this centre commenced from January 22, 2017. Residents of the UAE can visit the new VFS Global centre to submit their visa applications to Russia in a comfortable and professionally managed environment. The centre is centrally located at WAFI Mall, Level 2, Falcon Phase 2, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai. VFS Global has partnered with the Government of the Russian Federation since 2009, and serves them in 15 countries from 34 visa application centres globally. Over the last one year alone, the company has rolled out Visa Application Centres in 10 other countries for this client government. In Dubai, VFS Global serves a total of 23 client governments, having been present in the country since 2004. Speaking at the launch, Gocha Buachidze, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Dubai and Northern Emirates, said, “As the number of visa applications to Russia from residents of the UAE continue to grow year-on-year, the Government of the Russian Federation aims to provide quicker and more convenient services to travellers to Russia. We are confident that VFS Global and its professional staff will do everything to expedite and secure swift application procedures and extend world-class services to our visa applicants from Dubai. We look forward to the continual advancement of travel and business to our country and we are confident that this new centre will effectively meet the growing visa demand from applicants.” Added, Mr Vinay Malhotra, COO …

Residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can now apply for visas to Belgium at a new visa application centre launched at the VFS visa center in Abu Dhabi. The centre was inaugurated by H.E. Dominique Mineur, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the United Arab Emirates. VFS Global currently serves the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium in 10 countries from 45 visa application centres, globally. The new centre in Abu Dhabi is located at the Joint Visa Application Centre, Level 25, Shining Tower, Mubarak Bin Mohammed Street, Adjacent to Khalidiyah Mall, Abu Dhabi. H.E. Mineur said, “The launch of the new Visa Application Centre is a step forward in Belgium’s goal to serve our clients in a better and quicker way. Abu Dhabi is the first step and Dubai will follow. Our collaboration with VFS Global is also part of a more global plan to promote Belgium as an interesting country for tourism and business. Our collaboration with VFS Global is a long lasting and based worldwide, and I am convinced that together we can achieve these goals.” Vinay Malhotra, COO – Middle East & South Asia, VFS Global, “We are honoured to partner with the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium and further extend visa services in Abu Dhabi. It is also a great privilege to be a part of the journey towards advancement of travel between the beautiful country of Belgium and the UAE. We are confident the centre will help us achieve our common goal of providing added convenience and accessibility to UAE residents applying for a visa to Belgium.”

Residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can now apply for visas to Belgium and Luxembourg at a Visa Application Centre launched for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium for the first-time in the Middle East. Services at the centre commenced on December 12, 2016. Visa applicants can visit the centrally located VFS Global centre located on the First Floor at Dove Plaza, Umm Al Hamam Street, Umm Al Hamam, Riyadh, to submit their visa applications and enrol for biometrics. The well-appointed centre caters to the growing needs of outbound travellers from the country. With Belgium and Luxembourg emerging as popular travel destinations, the new centre will offer applicants greater convenience and enhanced quality of services when applying for their visas. Since commencing visa processing operations for the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium in 2006, VFS Global serves the client government in 10 countries from 51 visa application centres across the globe. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the company currently serves 21 client governments, from 67 visa application centres located across the country. Some of the key features of the centre include convenient and centrally-accessed location, professional staff with local language capability to handle queries and applications, well-appointed centre for enhanced comfort of applicants, automated queue governance for smooth flow of applicants, dedicated website for easy access to information including visa categories, requirements, check-list and applicable fees, 100 per cent secure handling of passports, documents and personal information, door-step delivery of passports and Premium Lounge for personalised and comfortable service.

Musafir.com has launched the online visa application service. Tourist visas to the UAE and 14 other destinations can now be directly applied on musafir.com and have their travel documentation processed and completed with no hassle. They are the first travel provider in the GCC region to introduce this service online. Under the simplified procedure, applicants submit their application documentation and payment directly on to the website post which the visa will be processed and emailed back to the customer, ready to be shown at the immigration section of the airport. This new product is expected to increase in inbound as well as outbound travel. This new product launch aligns with the UAE’s ambitious Vision 2021 that encompasses all elements that lay the foundation of a smart city, inclusive of the smarter travel industry. With the recent change in the UAE visa norms for GCC expats, travellers into the UAE from the GCC countries will now have to apply for their visa prior to their travel. With this product flexibility, there will be a noticeable shift of visa applications online.