Global visa services provider VFS Global says it is entering its next phase of sustainable growth, with its latest sustainability report highlighting expanded investments in responsible technology, environmental initiatives, and community programs alongside continued international business growth in 2025.
The company’s 7th Annual Sustainability Report, prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative Standards, is aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Global Compact, and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board standards for the Professional and Commercial Services sector.
The report outlines progress across VFS Global’s environmental, social, and governance priorities. Women accounted for 65% of new hires in 2025, corporate social responsibility spending increased 94%, electronic waste recycling rose 41% from 2024 levels, and more than 650,000 trees had been planted through reforestation initiatives by year-end. VFS Global also reported a 13% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions and a 97.6% customer satisfaction rate.
Zubin Karkaria, founder and chief executive of VFS Global, said: “2025 marks a landmark year where our sustainability commitments actively advanced our global growth and drove significant value creation. We have made meaningful progress by strengthening employee engagement, nearly doubling our CSR investments, and further reducing greenhouse gas emissions across our operations.”
He added: “Furthermore, by achieving a 41% surge in e-waste recycling and ensuring women represented 65% of our new hires, we have reinforced our commitment to environmental stewardship and to women empowerment. This progress is anchored by a stellar 97.6% customer satisfaction rate, demonstrating that deep societal impact and high performance go together.”
Supporting its next phase of growth, VFS Global expanded its responsible AI strategy by introducing enterprise-wide governance designed to ensure privacy-conscious AI systems with human oversight. The initiative earned the company the Dubai AI Seal, recognizing VFS Global as a Trusted AI Enterprise.
By the end of 2025, VFS Global had deployed six AI-enabled solutions, with at least one application in use by more than 20 client governments worldwide. The company also acquired a majority stake in CiX Citizen Experience, a Brazil-based provider of digital and physical citizen services, expanding its presence in government technology services.
“Our 2025 Sustainability Report highlights our progress in embedding sustainability across our business and driving responsible growth. Our second Double Materiality Assessment marks a key milestone, enabling us to better understand, prioritize, and manage our social and environmental impacts alongside business-critical factors. This approach strengthens our ability to anticipate risks, respond to regulatory expectations, and make informed decisions that support long-term resilience,” said Shireen Mistree, head of sustainability at VFS Global.
The company’s sustainability initiatives also extended to local communities. In the Philippines, VFS Global partnered with Makesense Asia on the RISE for Youth employability program to help bridge the gap between education and workforce demands. The initiative provided employability and life-skills training to more than 640 underserved young people. Job fairs organized with the Public Employment Service Office connected more than 500 job seekers with employers, resulting in 49 on-the-spot hires.
The report also highlights VFS Global’s approach to responsible technology through ethical AI development, regulatory compliance, in-house innovation, and collaboration with governments to strengthen data security and system integrity. Together with its environmental and community initiatives, these efforts position sustainability as a core driver of the company’s long-term growth strategy.
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