UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) has confirmed that the global hand-over of overseas Visa Application Centres (VACs) from TLScontact to VFS Global is now in its final six-week sprint. A briefing note published by immigration advisers Five Star International on 9 November sets out key dates and practical tips for applicants.
The transition, which began in September 2024, covers more than 140 countries and is scheduled to complete by January 2025. UKVI says the change will cut average passport-collection times to 20 minutes and reduce biometric appointment backlogs thanks to new digital-upload kiosks and extended “prime-time” opening hours. Crucially, applicants should watch for emails from @vfsglobal.com rather than @tlscontact.com; spam filters have already delayed hundreds of document-submission requests.
![UK Visa Application Centres switch to VFS Global enters final phase]()
For mobility teams the main operational risk is overlap. Staff who booked TLScontact appointments before a country’s switchover date may still attend those appointments, but any re-scheduling could trigger a second Mandatory User Pay fee. UKVI advises employers to budget an extra £75–£300 per case for assisted scanning and courier return services until the changeover stabilises.
VFS Global is also rolling out an on-demand mobile-visa service in Cameroon, Tanzania and Uganda and premium lounges in 11 African markets. These optional services mirror the UK’s ‘super-priority’ model and are likely to be extended to Gulf locations ahead of the ETA expansion to EU nationals in April 2025.
Overall, the consolidation should simplify the supplier landscape—but during November and December HR teams will need to double-check appointment systems, email domains and document-upload portals to avoid missed deadlines.
The transition, which began in September 2024, covers more than 140 countries and is scheduled to complete by January 2025. UKVI says the change will cut average passport-collection times to 20 minutes and reduce biometric appointment backlogs thanks to new digital-upload kiosks and extended “prime-time” opening hours. Crucially, applicants should watch for emails from @vfsglobal.com rather than @tlscontact.com; spam filters have already delayed hundreds of document-submission requests.
For mobility teams the main operational risk is overlap. Staff who booked TLScontact appointments before a country’s switchover date may still attend those appointments, but any re-scheduling could trigger a second Mandatory User Pay fee. UKVI advises employers to budget an extra £75–£300 per case for assisted scanning and courier return services until the changeover stabilises.
VFS Global is also rolling out an on-demand mobile-visa service in Cameroon, Tanzania and Uganda and premium lounges in 11 African markets. These optional services mirror the UK’s ‘super-priority’ model and are likely to be extended to Gulf locations ahead of the ETA expansion to EU nationals in April 2025.
Overall, the consolidation should simplify the supplier landscape—but during November and December HR teams will need to double-check appointment systems, email domains and document-upload portals to avoid missed deadlines.
