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Most European citizens will likely never have heard of VFS Global. But across much of Africa, Asia + the Middle East, the visa giant has become notorious Our investigation finds VFS has made huge profits by exploiting people with 'weak' passports

Through FOI disclosure, financial records, source interviews + data analysis, we found that VFS – which is contracted by 71 govts to carry out visa administration – routinely misleads + pressures applicants to buy costly services that should be optional

Sales of extra services have become central to VFS’s business: our analysis of 2K+ Swedish visa applicant receipts from 16 countries indicates they account for 30% of its revenue The company's operating profits have surged from €31m to €172m in 7 years

We also uncovered evidence that VFS customers are sometimes pushed towards external agents soliciting bribes due to problems with VFS's appointment booking system, and that the company repeatedly mishandles applicants' personal data

This was a collaborative effort involving @indianexpress.com, @rfi.fr, Actualite.cd, @spiegel.de, @twalainfo.bsky.social, @lesreportersn.bsky.social, @initiumnews.nzcow.com, @lemonde.fr, @kisadalgamedya.bsky.social, @news24southafrica.bsky.social, The Nation Nigeria, Nation Africa, @politico.eu