India-Pakistan tensions: Visa applications to Türkiye, Azerbaijan fall 42%

Visa applications to Turkey and Azerbaijan fall after diplomatic support for Pakistan; Indian travellers shift focus to Southeast Asia, led by metros and younger users

There has been a 42 per cent drop in visa applications for Türkiye and Azerbaijan as the sentiment of Indian travellers shifted away from the two countries following their support to Pakistan when tensions escalated between India and Pakistan earlier this month, according to data by Atlys, a visa processing platform. 

 

Within 36 hours of the escalation, 60 per cent of users exited the visa application process midway for these two countries. 

 

Mohak Nahta, founder and chief executive officer of Atlys, said that the reaction was distinct. He noted that travelers shifted plans based on information and available alternatives. 

   

Atlys has paused all marketing efforts for Turkey and Azerbaijan. 

 

In the first quarter of 2025, visa applications saw a 64 per cent increase to Türkiye and Azerbaijan compared to the same period in 2024. 

 

Metro cities show a 53 per cent drop in Türkiye-bound applications from places like Delhi and Mumbai. Tier-II cities, including Indore and Jaipur, experienced a smaller decline of 20 per cent.

 

Group visa requests, including family trips, fell by 49 per cent. Solo and couple applications saw a 27 per cent decrease. This indicates that larger travel groups, which are often planning in advance, responded quickly than individual travellers.

 

Atlys’ data also shows that travellers aged 25-34 years accounted for over 70 per cent of mid-process application dropoffs for Türkiye. Women travellers were 2.3 times more likely to reinitiate applications for Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.

 

As Türkiye and Azerbaijan saw a decline in interest, other destinations gained popularity. Applications to Vietnam, Indonesia, and Egypt increased by up to 31 per cent. 

 

Atlys expects this trend to continue even as Southeast Asia-bound travel from India may see a rebound by June and July. Travellers from metros, younger age groups, and digitally savvy users planning short international trips can lead the rebound.

 

Business Standard had previously reported that travel portals and tour operators had stopped taking bookings to these countries, while cancellations of previous travel plans were up 260 per cent.  

Travel strain 

• 60% users exited the visa application process midway within 36 hours of the escalation
• 53%drop in Türkiye-bound applications in metro cities  
• 64%surge in visa applications to Türkiye and Azerbaijan in the first quarter of 2025
• 49%drop in group visa requests, including family trips

  Atlys expects this trend to continue