What is TLScontact?
Definition
TLScontact
TLScontact is a European outsourced operator of Visa Application Centres (VACs). Consulates contract TLScontact to run the appointment booking, document collection and biometric capture for visa applications. Like VFS Global, TLScontact does not make the visa decision — the consulate does.
Key facts
| Founded | First visa application centre opened in Beijing in 2007. Part of the Teleperformance group since 2013. |
|---|---|
| Operates in | Over 140 visa application centres across four continents. |
| Government clients | France, Germany and Belgium among others. The exact list changes with each contract. UK visa applications are not among them: since December 2023 VFS Global is the sole overseas partner for UK visas. |
| What TLScontact does | Books the appointment, collects the application form, captures the biometric photo and fingerprints, ships the file to the consulate. |
| Service fee | Typically €30-50 on top of the consular visa fee, paid by the applicant. |
| Checked against primary sources. | |
TLScontact vs VFS Global
Both do the same job. Which one handles your application depends on the consulate and on the country you are applying from — and it changes when contracts are re-tendered. Germany, for example, uses TLScontact in some markets and a different operator in others. The consulate website always names the current operator, and that is the only list worth trusting.
How a TLScontact appointment works
Book through the TLScontact website for your consulate. Fill the application form online. Pay the service fee plus consular fee. Attend the appointment in person. The TLScontact officer captures a biometric photo and fingerprints (first-time applicants), checks documents, and ships the file to the consulate. The consulate decides; TLScontact returns the passport to the applicant.
Can I bring my own photo?
No. TLScontact (like VFS Global) captures the biometric photo on-site using a calibrated capture device. The applicant cannot use a photo brought from outside. A printed photo on the application form is separate from the biometric capture.
Frequently asked questions
01Does TLScontact decide whether I get the visa?
No. TLScontact is an administrative middleman. The visa decision is made by a consulate officer who reviews the file after TLScontact ships it. TLScontact staff cannot tell you the result during the appointment.
02Why does TLScontact cost extra on top of the visa fee?
The consular fee pays the consulate. The TLScontact service fee pays for the application centre infrastructure — appointment system, biometric capture, secure courier. Together they typically add €30-50 to the consular fee.
03Can I switch from TLScontact to VFS Global for the same visa?
No. The consulate decides which operator handles applications in your market. You must use the operator your consulate has contracted.