Student visa applications from Malaysia rebounded to pre-pandemic levels

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Student visa applications from Malaysia in 2022 have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, reiterating the early recovery in international travel.

According to VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, student visa applications in 2022 were 4 per cent higher than the volumes in 2019.

Applications were 38 per cent higher in comparison to 2021 as many international borders were closed with pandemic-induced travel restrictions and international university campuses operated hybrid schedules.

Kaushik Ghosh, Head – Australasia, VFS Global.

“Students applicants have always been the predominant category for VFS Global in Malaysia, and a surge in applications signals pre-pandemic normalcy and momentum in outbound student movement.

Given that more than 75 per cent of student visa applications are for the United Kingdom, we continue to work closely with the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to ensure a seamless experience during the upcoming peak season. Considering the strong pent-up demand, we urge students to apply for their visa as early as possible to avoid the last-minute rush,” said Kaushik Ghosh, head–Australasia, VFS Global.

More than 7,220 Malaysian nationals were issued student visas to study in the UK in 2022, just shy of pre-pandemic numbers in 2019. Given the travel restrictions in 2020 and 2021, the number of visas issued in this category in 2022 rose by 3,000 and 500, respectively.

Charlotte Day, head of the UKVI International Network, said, “We are excited to see so many Malaysian students continuing to choose the UK as their study destination of choice. Despite the challenges of the last few years, demand has remained high, and together with VFS and our FCDO partners, we are proud to have been able to facilitate so many visa applications from this important market — almost returning to pre-pandemic levels.

For those looking to travel this summer, our message is clear: apply for your visa as soon as you can. Anyone applying for a student visa can apply six months before the start of their course, so as soon as you have all your supporting documents ready, make sure to submit your application!”

VFS Global and UKVI have also rolled out some dedicated measures to ease the student travel season.

Ahead of the peak season, VFS Global has opened Premium Application Centres around university campuses and Temporary Enrolment Locations in East Malaysia to make its services more accessible to students. Visa application centres will also operate additional hours to accept applications and passports collection.

DoNotFallForFraud

Visa applicants are advised to beware of fraudulent entities that charge fees from customers for scheduling appointments or providing any other services using VFS Global’s name or independently. VFS does not charge any payment for scheduling appointments. For any assistance, feel free to reach out to VFS Global’s staff members or send an email to customercare@vfsglobal.com.

Enjoy VFS Global’s optional value-added services for a seamless visa experience, such as:

Premium Lounges: Quick, safe, comfortable — get a personalised visa submission experience.
Form-filling assistance: Allow the expert staff to assist you in completing your visa application on the phone or at a visa application centre.
Courier Return Service: Delivery of passports and documents. It is quick, safe, and convenient.
SMS Alerts: Stay updated on the progress of your visa application.
ODMV (On Demand Mobile Visa)
Prime Time: Visit the visa application centre outside regular opening hours, which is ideal for working professionals given the benefits of avoiding peak hours and flexible application submission.
Digital Application Submission: Through DAS, customers can submit their applications with our assistance via video chat. Customers upload their documents for pre-submission review by professionally trained employees.
Keep My Passport: Retain your passport while your UK visa application is being initially assessed with VFS Global’s Keep My Passport While Applying service.