The number of visa applications by Bangladeshi nationals has nearly reached pre-pandemic level this year with a majority of countries already lifting travel restrictions.
However, visa processing time for some countries, especially the UK and Schengen region, is still higher than usual, according to VFS Global, a visa application processing firm.
At a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday, VFS revealed that the number of visa applications increased by almost 160 per cent in first nine months of this year than the same period of 2021.
VFS Global COO (South Asia) Prabuddha Sen, general manager (corporate communications) Soubhik Mitra and country director Ambrina Bashar were present at the event.
Mr Sen said the opening of international borders, ease of travel restrictions, opening of universities and disposable income of those who stayed indoors during Covid-19, are key reasons for increased applications.
Visa aspirants in Bangladesh are mainly applying for Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. An increasing trend in visa applications for Italy has been observed.
Although restrictions are still in force in some European Union countries, said the VFS COO, travel trends in South and South-East Asia become normal.
He also cited international events like the Expo Dubai 2020 and the FIFA World Cup 2022 as reasons, among others, for increased applications.
Mr Sen said VFS Global is now operating in three cities in Bangladesh including Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet having 22 visa processing centres representing 14 diplomatic missions.
Applicants can avail services provided by VFS in Bangladesh to avoid the hassle of going to New Delhi to apply for visa for some specific countries, he added.
VFS, headquartered in Zurich, represents 66 client governments globally operating in 144 countries with around 3,300 application centres.
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