VFS charges $25 while local company bid was for only $1
Controversy surrounds the newly introduced online visa system (e-Visa) which was awarded to VFS Global through a cabinet paper in December 2023. All foreigners arriving in the country, subject to on-arrival visa or on-arrival free-visa, are mandatorily required to pay US$ 25.77 (service fee $18.50 and convenience fee $7.27) through the e-Visa system.
Earlier a local mobile service provider, SLT-Mobitel had provided the system for the Department of Immigration and Emigration (DIE) for foreigners to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for more than 12 years, revamping the existing system with additional features along with the infrastructure at a cost of $ 1 per ETA application, a highly reliable source told the Business Times on Friday.
While nationals of India, China, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia and Japan are allowed free visas, they now have to pay the service charge of $25.77.
Following a number of events that occurred during the course of last week regarding the e-Visa system and the chaos that took place at the immigration section at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Wednesday night, the Business Times raised concerns with certain officials who wished to remain anonymous.
The DIEs’ ETA project was initially awarded to SLT-Mobitel through a cabinet paper in July 2021. Subsequently this was overturned and awarded to VFS Global in December 2023 following a cabinet decision based on a cabinet paper submitted by the Public Security Minister, Tiran Alles in September 2023. Awarding the project to VFS Global resulted in the visa fees to be paid by
foreign visitors increasing by $24.77 per application.
Sources also confirmed that there was a delay in implementing SLT-Mobitels’ new system due to COVID-19 and the economic crisis. It has now completed the development of the new system and is currently in the testing phase. Up to date SLT-Mobitel has provided the ETA system at almost zero cost to the government in the interest of the country’s economic development and tightening national security. SLT-Mobitel has also been providing hosting services and call centre services as a service to the nation on a non-profit making basis.
SLT-Mobitel’s new system has added many new features to increase user friendliness. The system will also assist to further strengthen national security by providing biometric verification features, risk assessment, integration to Interpol and other wanted lists, third party approvals (SIS approval) and so on.
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