Student visa application volume from Malaysia continued to stay strong in 2023 with easing of travel restrictions. According to VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, the number of student visa applications from Malaysia in 2023 was 11% higher than in 2022 across all major destinations.
When compared to the pre-pandemic numbers, student visa application volume from Malaysia in 2023 was still 23% below the 2019 volume.
“Student visa has historically been the predominant category for VFS Global in Malaysia and an increase in application numbers signals sustained momentum in outbound student movement. Given that more than 75% of student visa applications are for the United Kingdom, we continue to work closely with the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to ensure a seamless experience during the upcoming peak season. Considering the strong pent-up demand, we urge students to apply for their visa as early as possible to avoid the last-minute rush,” said Kaushik Ghosh, Head – Australasia, VFS Global.
More than 6,300 Malaysian nationals were issued a student visa to study in the UK in 2023[1].
VFS Global and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have also rolled out some dedicated measures to ease the student travel season. Ahead of the peak season, VFS Global will be opening Temporary Enrolment Locations in Sabah and Sarawak to make its services more accessible to students. Visa application centres will operate additional hours, along with being open on Saturdays, to accept applications as well for passports collection.
Other major destinations attracting students from Malaysia include Australia, Canada, Germany, and US.
Peak Season Travel Guide
Due to the expected high demand for UK student visas this summer, we recommend students to apply for their visa as early as possible – as soon as they receive their Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS) from their education provider.
Customers going to the UK can apply for their visa six months before their course start date.
Customers are reminded to check they’ve included all necessary information and documents with their applicaiton, including details of any gaps in study history. Your decision could take longer to be assessed if your application is incorrect or incomplete.
Check out www.gov.uk/student-visa for more details including how to start your applicaiton.
#DoNotFallForFraud
Visa applicants are advised to beware of fraudulent entities who charge fees from customers for scheduling appointments or providing any other services using VFS Global’s name or independently. VFS Global does not charge any fee for booking appointments on www.vfsglobal.com which is the official website catering to visa applications. However, some governments require pre-payment of the service fee at the time of booking the appointment. This payment will be reimbursed or deducted during the application process. This step is only to ensure genuine travellers use appointment booking and the system is kept safe from misuse by fraudulent entities. For any assistance, feel free to reach out to one of our staff and to report any instances of fraud, visit https://secure.ethicspoint.eu/domain/media/en/gui/108559/index.html.
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