In a move set to streamline the visa application process for Filipinos wishing to visit Poland, BLS International has secured a new contract to handle both Schengen and national visa applications. The visa processing and consular services provider announced this development, highlighting its potential to improve the efficiency of the visa process for Filipino travelers, according to a report by Schengen.News.
Filipinos can now submit their Polish visa applications at two newly established visa centers located in Cebu and Manila. These centers will manage applications for both Schengen and national visas, aiming to facilitate smoother travel arrangements to Poland.
“This contract enables us to deliver our advanced visa services in the Philippines, reinforcing our dedication to simplifying international travel,” stated Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director of BLS International.
The initiative comes as the number of Filipinos working in Poland continues to rise. A recent report from Notes From Poland highlighted a six percent increase in the number of international workers registered with Poland’s social insurance system (ZUS) in 2023, reaching a total of 1.13 million. Among these, Filipinos accounted for a significant portion, with 2,870 individuals registered, making them the sixth largest national group in terms of new ZUS registrations last year.
The growing interest among Filipinos in working in Poland is evident from the issuance of work visas. Data from the Polish Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, as reported by Al Jazeera, showed that Poland issued 22,557 work visas to Filipinos in 2022, a substantial increase from just 2,057 visas in 2018. From 2015 to 2022, Filipinos were among the fastest-growing groups enrolling in Poland’s social insurance scheme.
The partnership with Poland is part of BLS International’s broader expansion of its visa services. Last month, the company opened a new visa application center in Mumbai, located at Nariman Point, to meet the rising demand for Spanish Schengen visas.
In addition to this, BLS International signed a contract with the Embassy of Portugal in Morocco in May to provide visa services in Rabat and Casablanca. “This ground-breaking collaboration with the Embassy of Portugal heralds a new era for visa services in Morocco. With state-of-the-art technology at our core and an unwavering pursuit of excellence, we are not merely improving the visa application process—we are transforming it,” remarked Shikhar Aggarwal.
Earlier in April, the Embassy of Hungary in Muscat, Oman, transferred the reception of visa requests to BLS International’s center in Muscat. The embassy emphasized that visa appointments can now be scheduled through the BLS official website, further enhancing the efficiency of the visa application process.
With these initiatives, BLS International continues to demonstrate its commitment to enhancing global travel by making visa processes more accessible and efficient for travelers worldwide.
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