The platform, which offers visa-as-a-service, is looking to address long-standing issues in the application process, where delays and rejections are common. The company said nearly 45% of visa applications are delayed due to human errors, often leading to financial losses for applicants.

In 2024, Indian travellers lost over Rs 136 crore due to rejected Schengen visa applications. The overall rejection rate stood at around 18%, with some European countries rejecting more than 38% of applications.

'India's outbound tourism is growing quickly, and international travellers are expected to number over 50 million by the end of the decade. But using old visa processes still costs travellers a lot of time and money. With AI, we cut a stressful process that usually takes three to six weeks down to just one to three days,' said Alena Iakina, founder of visarun.ai.

The company uses a mix of AI tools, including large language models and computer vision, trained on thousands of real cases. It checks documents uploaded by users against embassy requirements and flags errors. It can also improve images that do not meet the required standards.

Among its features is an approval calculator that estimates the chances of getting a visa based on past decisions and current migration trends.

Another feature, called 'Mira', acts as a mock interview tool. It simulates consular interviews through a webcam, analysing responses, confidence levels and facial expressions, and gives feedback to help users improve.

The company said that with automation handling most steps, users would only need human assistance for final formalities such as signatures and biometric verification.

As part of its India rollout, visarun.ai is focusing on e-visa automation for popular destinations in the MENA region and Asia, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Vietnam and Indonesia. It also supports applications for more complex visas such as US Tourist (B1/B2) and Schengen (Type C).

'Expanding into India is part of our larger plan to connect new travel hubs. As outbound travel spending in the MENA region grows quickly, travellers in these areas need reliable, fast, and automated solutions. visarun.ai acts as a bridge, making sure border rules do not hold back global ambitions,' Iakina added.

Industry estimates suggest India's outbound tourism market could reach $61.7 billion by 2033. However, visa processing remains a key hurdle for many travellers.