Inside the billion-dollar business of getting a visa episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 2, 2026 · 15 MIN

Inside the billion-dollar business of getting a visa

from The Take · host Al Jazeera

Getting a visa can be expensive, frustrating, and for many people, unsuccessful. So what happens when governments outsource that process to private companies? An investigation by Lighthouse Reports examines VFS Global, the world’s largest visa processing firm, revealing how billions in applications generate enormous profits, even when visas are denied. In this episode:  May Bulman (@maybulman), Investigative Editor, Lighthouse Reports Episode credits: This episode was produced by our guest host, David Enders, Sarí el-Khalili, and Catherine Nouhan. It was edited by Alexandra Locke.  Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Rick Rush mixed this episode. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

NOW PLAYING

Inside the billion-dollar business of getting a visa

0:00 15:34

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Take?

This episode is 15 minutes long.

When was this The Take episode published?

This episode was published on June 2, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Getting a visa can be expensive, frustrating, and for many people, unsuccessful. So what happens when governments outsource that process to private companies? An investigation by Lighthouse Reports examines VFS Global, the world’s largest visa...

Can I download this The Take episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!