Tag Archives: VoA

Taiwan considers visa-on-arrival for Indians

Taiwan is considering implementing a visa-on-arrival (VoA) policy for Indian citizens, a move aimed at facilitating tourism and business travel from India.

Taiwan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Tien Chung-kwang, announced the potential policy during an interview in Taipei. He acknowledged India’s significant outbound travel and the benefits of simplifying the visa application process.

Tien Chung-kwang emphasised the necessity of internal discussions with Taiwan’s Immigration Department before any official decisions can be made. He stressed that such policy changes require collaboration and cannot be executed unilaterally by the government.
“Indian citizens travel a lot…We are considering this (visa-on-arrival). We are going to talk with the Immigration Department.

The Government can’t single-handedly (do it), we have to discuss internally,” he said. He reiterated the seriousness with which Taiwan is considering the proposal, highlighting the proactive stance on enhancing tourism and business ties with India.

The initiative aligns with the ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, which began with India’s “Look East Policy” in the early 1990s. Relaxing visa requirements has been a part of the mutual approach to foster closer connections between Taiwan and India.

FS GLOBAL- TRAVELBIZ Monitor

VFS Global rolls out pre-departure VoA for 75 nations, including India

Travellers to Indonesia eligible for Visa on Arrival (VoA) can now enjoy a quicker, smoother visa application journey by completing the process online, pre-departure, through VFS Global. VFS Global has entered into an exclusive agreement with TLP, the Immigration Department for Republic of Indonesia and Bank Mandiri, to provide online pre-payment of fees, fast-track access and concierge services to international passengers upon arrival in Jakarta.

Nationals of the 75 eligible countries can apply for their Indonesia Visa on Arrival through VFS Global by submitting their documents and paying the fees online at www.indonesiavoa.vfsevisa.id prior to their travel. A confirmation will be sent to their registered email ID and the visa processed in advance to be stamped upon arrival. With the payment having been made online, the on-arrival process reduces to just the stamping of the visa, which can be done at the designated fast-track Visa on Arrival immigration lanes.

Jiten Vyas, Chief Commercial Officer, VFS Global, said, “Indonesia is a popular destination for travellers across the globe, and we are excited to unveil a service that will make their visa application journey quicker and simpler. With tech-led Do It Yourself solutions becoming increasingly popular, this first-ever fast-track Visa on Arrival service is sure to offer applicants a more relaxed on-arrival experience.”

Indonesia received over 15 million foreign tourists in 2019 before the pandemic. Between January and July 2022, the destination has welcomed around 1 million international travellers. From India alone, over 657,000 tourists arrived in Indonesia in 2019, before the pandemic.

How to use the fast-track VOA service

STEP 1: Visit www.indonesiavoa.vfsevisa.id
STEP 2: Submit the required documents and pay the VOA fee online
STEP 3: Await the confirmation email that will be sent to the registered email ID
STEP 4: Upon landing in Jakarta, head to the dedicated fast-track lane with the confirmation email to get the visa stamped

VFS Global will offer Standard and Express service options. Applicants opting for the Standard service will be able to submit their applications no less than 72 hours prior to the date of departure, and benefit from the fast-track immigration process. Those opting for the Express service will be able to submit their applications no less than 24 hours prior to the date of departure. The Express service additionally provides end-to-end personalised assistance and guidance, right from the arrival gate through immigration, baggage claim, and customs.