VFS Global to process visas to Slovakia from India and 82 other countries

VFS Global has been awarded a five-year global contract to manage visa applications for Slovakia, as the Central European nation sees sustained growth in international visitor numbers. The agreement, issued by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, covers both short-stay (C) visas—valid for trips of up to 90 days within Slovakia or the wider Schengen area—and long-stay (D) visas for stays exceeding 90 days, typically for work or study.

Under the new contract, VFS Global will operate visa services in 83 countries, including India, through 159 visa application centres. To support the rising demand for travel to Slovakia, 87 new centres across 41 countries are scheduled to open in January 2026, with a further 72 centres in 42 countries to be launched later in the contract period.

The expanded network comes amid steady growth in inbound tourism. Slovakia welcomed more than 2.16 million international visitors in the year to December 2024—a 3.9% increase on the previous year. The highest volume of visa applications over the next five years is expected from India, Turkey, Uzbekistan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates, markets which together are projected to account for roughly 70% of total applications. Slovakia’s appeal continues to be driven by its cultural heritage, mountain and spa tourism, and opportunities for extended stays related to work and education.

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Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Business Development at VFS Global, said, “We are delighted to resume our partnership with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. With growing international travel to Slovakia, our expanded network of centres will make the application process more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly.”

Applicants will also be able to access a suite of optional premium services at all centres. These include “document authenticity verification to confirm the genuineness of supporting documents, higher authentication of foreign public documents, translation services, courier return services, and other additional services such as Premium Lounges.” The company emphasised that opting for these services “will not affect the decision-making process or timeline of visa applications.”

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VFS Global’s role remains limited strictly to front-end administrative functions, including collecting applications, supporting documents, and biometric enrolment. All visa decisions will continue to be made exclusively by the Embassy of the Slovak Republic or other authorised Schengen bodies.