AI will make travel easier, but won’t decide who gets a visa: VFS Global founder | HTLS 2026
Asked if AI could ever replace the human element in immigration, VFS Global CEO Zubin Karkaria did not rule it out. It would come down to legislation, he said.
Artificial intelligence will streamline the visa application process, but it will not be responsible for determining whether travelers receive permission to enter a country, according to VFS Global founder Zubin Karkaria. Speaking at the 24th Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Karkaria explained that while AI will make the process frictionless, it will not replace the role of a visa officer.
Karkaria, whose company processes visa applications for 71 governments, noted that legislation currently prohibits AI from making such decisions. He further stated that until legislation changes, AI's role in immigration will be limited to making the process easier. Karkaria emphasized that borders are a sovereign matter, and security remains paramount for governments.
Despite the increased ease of the process, he noted that security measures will always be in place. Karkaria highlighted how the process has already become easier for Indians outside major cities, with more than 23 application locations and doorstep visa services now available. He also pointed to the UK's current process, where fingerprint appointments have largely replaced the previous method of submitting documents and passports.
Technology is also being used to prevent bots from grabbing appointment slots, with VFS claiming to have cut such traffic by nearly 50% using firewalls and facial recognition. The company receives about 200 million hits a month. For travelers, Karkaria's message is that they can expect faster checks and fewer trips to a visa center, but for now, the final yes or no will still come from a human.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
