Immigration advisers Five Star International confirmed on 21 September that the long-planned handover of UK Visa Application Centres (VACs) from TLScontact to rival outsourcing giant VFS Global is entering its final phase. The programme, which began in 2024, covers more than 140 centres worldwide and is now expected to complete by January 2027. Today’s update is the first to provide a consolidated timetable of switch-over dates by country. UK Visas & Immigration says the new contract will shorten appointment times and cut average passport-collection waits to 20 minutes thanks to upgraded biometrics equipment and expanded premium lounges. For applicants, the most visible change will be emails arriving from a @vfsglobal.com address; the Home Office is urging travellers to check junk folders and mark the new domain as safe to avoid missing decision notices. Practically, some applicants may start their case with TLScontact and finish with VFS Global during the transition. Immigration lawyers advise keeping copies of all correspondence and downloading supporting documents before portals close. Where appointments need to be rescheduled across providers, travellers may have to pay the user-pay fee twice and request a refund from TLScontact. For employers moving staff to the UK, the change means familiarising HR teams with VFS Global’s online booking interface and new optional services such as doorstep biometric enrolment in selected markets. The switch also aligns the UK with other ‘Five Eyes’ countries that already use VFS Global, potentially enabling future co-location of application centres and joint security vetting. While the Home Office insists application rules, fees and processing times are unaffected, global mobility managers should update internal guidance and vendor contact lists immediately. The transition is also a timely reminder to brief relocating staff about the UK’s move to digital e-Visas, which will eventually phase out passport stickers altogether.
Source: Five Star International
