Dubai-based visa-as-a-service startup visarun.ai has expanded into India, marking its first market launch outside the United Arab Emirates. The company is targeting India’s fast-growing outbound travel sector, which is projected to reach $61.7 billion by 2033. Its entry into the market aims to address long-standing pain points in visa applications, including delays, documentation errors, rejection risks, and limited visibility for travellers.
India Expansion Targets a Growing Travel Market
The company has launched operations in Bangalore as it looks to serve Indian tourists, families, digital nomads, and business travellers. India is expected to become one of the world’s most active outbound travel markets, with international traveller numbers projected to exceed 50 million annually by the end of the decade. Despite this growth, visa processing remains a major friction point for many applicants, particularly for destinations with strict documentation and interview requirements.
Visa delays and rejections can also create substantial financial losses for travellers. According to figures cited by the company, Indian applicants lost more than ₹136 crore in 2024 due to rejected Schengen visa applications, while the overall rejection rate stood at 18%. In some European markets, rejection rates reportedly exceeded 38%, underlining the need for more accurate preparation and stronger application screening.
AI Platform Designed to Reduce Application Errors
visarun.ai says its platform uses large language models and computer vision to check uploaded documents against embassy requirements. The system reviews PDFs, passport scans, photographs, and other application materials, while automatically improving images that fail to meet official standards. By reducing manual errors, the company says it can shorten parts of the visa preparation process from three to six weeks to one to three days.
The platform also includes an approval calculator that assesses an applicant’s probability of success based on historical decisions and migration updates. This feature is intended to give travellers a clearer understanding of their application strength before submission. While final approvals remain with embassies and consulates, the tool is positioned as a way to improve transparency and reduce avoidable mistakes.
Mira Interview Simulator Adds Preparation Support
A key feature of the platform is Mira, an AI-powered consular interview simulator. The tool conducts practice interviews through webcam-based sessions and evaluates factors such as confidence, response logic, and facial expression. It then provides structured feedback to help applicants improve their answers before attending official interviews.
The company says this approach reduces the need for human support to the final stages of the process, including signatures and biometrics. For applicants facing complex visa categories, interview preparation can be a decisive part of the overall experience. By combining document screening with interview simulation, visarun.ai is positioning itself as an end-to-end support layer for travellers.
Initial Products Focus on MENA and Asia
In India, visarun.ai is initially focusing on e-visa automation for high-demand destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. Its first set of supported markets includes Saudi Arabia, Oman, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The platform also supports more complex visa categories, including Schengen Type C and US Tourist B1/B2 applications.
Pricing starts at $49 for the standard package, which includes auto-fill services and complete document checks. The company says its broader goal is to connect emerging travel hubs with faster and more predictable visa support. Founder Alena Iakina said the expansion into India reflects the company’s ambition to remove border-related friction from global mobility.
visarun.ai’s India launch comes at a time when outbound travel demand is rising but visa systems remain fragmented and heavily manual. By applying AI to document checks, image corrections, application scoring, and interview preparation, the company is seeking to modernise one of the travel industry’s most stressful administrative steps. Its success in India will depend on whether automation can consistently improve accuracy, reduce delays, and earn the trust of travellers navigating increasingly complex visa requirements.