Britain has launched a new “super priority” same-day visa service for urgent travellers from India, the first-of-its-kind service to be launched by the UK anywhere in the world, PTI reported. The super priority visa service was announced by British Prime Minister David Cameron during his visit to the country in February this year. The service is open for appointment bookings in India from today.

“Opportunities arise at short notice. We want Indian entrepreneurs and businessmen to be able to seize these. The UK and India are already on course to double bilateral trade by 2015.  The new super priority visa will help make sure that we hit this target,” Sir James Bevan, the British High Commissioner to India said.

The service is optional and incurs an additional fee of 600 pounds besides the standard fee for the type of visa being applied for. Applicants are required to complete an online form and submit their applications, by appointment, before 9.30 am. If an application is successful, the visa will be ready for collection by 5.30 pm the same day in New Delhi or by 6.30 pm the same day in Mumbai.

The new service is available to customers applying for a six-month or two-year multiple entry visit visa (excluding student visitors) who have previously travelled to the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or a Schengen country within the last five years.

Read the full report here