Indonesia has chosen VFS Global, the biggest company that provides outsourcing and technology services for governments, to handle its Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) system. This partnership aims to simplify the visa process, boost tourism, attract investments, and improve the overall experience for travellers.
Indonesia’s visa on arrival
The new e-VoA platform will start in December 2024 and will be available to residents of the UAE and KSA from 97 countries that qualify for the e-VoA.
Travellers will soon be able to apply for their visas online before their trip. They can get a pre-approved e-VoA by visiting the VFS Global website, submitting the necessary documents, and paying fees online. After applying, they will receive their visas via email, making entry smoother at E-gates or immigration counters.
Mr. Silmy Karim, Director General of Immigration of Indonesia, stated, “The Directorate General of Immigration offers the latest digital solutions that enhance the experience for foreign nationals who wish to visit Indonesia. In our collaboration with VFS Global, we aim to effectively contribute to increasing the arrival of foreigners, taking into account the network and digital platform owned by our partners.”
e-VoA through VFS Global
Those applying for the e-VoA through VFS Global will receive dedicated email support and assistance in seven languages: English, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, German, and French. More languages will be added later to support key markets.
Mr. Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO of VFS Global, said, “Indonesia is a very popular destination for travellers across the globe, and we are excited to unveil a service that will make their visa application process quicker, simpler and much more convenient. This user-friendly and highly secure digital e-Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) service will considerably enhance the visa application experience, thereby facilitating an increase in tourism to the country. We are honoured to partner with the Directorate General of Immigration under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia for this service.”
The e-VoA platform will ensure that all submitted documents are complete and accurate. It will also use technology to automatically fill in applicant details, saving time. Additionally, a group booking option will be available for travel agencies and conventions.
Indonesia aims to welcome 14 million visitors in 2024, having already received 9.92 million travelers from January to August 2024. The new e-VoA service supports Indonesia’s goal to improve its tourism infrastructure and services.
To further enhance this initiative, VFS Global is partnering with Emirates Airlines to streamline the e-VoA application for their passengers.
VFS Global has also set up dedicated counters for Indonesia at its offices in Dubai, Mumbai, and Shanghai, with plans to open another in Australia soon. Through its wide network, VFS Global aims to promote Indonesia in key markets like India, China, Australia, Korea, Japan, and the Middle East.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
