VFS Global has released its 2025 Sustainability Report, highlighting progress in responsible AI adoption, environmental initiatives, workforce diversity, and community investments as the company expanded its global operations.
The report, the seventh in the company’s sustainability series, follows the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) framework.
AI and digital transformation drive growth
During 2025, VFS Global strengthened its digital transformation efforts by introducing enterprise-wide governance for Responsible AI, ensuring privacy-conscious and human-supervised AI deployment across its operations.
The company also received the Dubai AI Seal, recognizing it as a Trusted AI Enterprise.
By the end of the year, VFS Global had deployed six AI-powered solutions, with at least one application being used by more than 20 client governments worldwide. The company also expanded its digital services portfolio through the acquisition of a majority stake in CiX Citizen Experience, a Brazilian provider of digital and physical citizen services.
Customer satisfaction remains high
VFS Global reported a 97.6% customer satisfaction rate while continuing to expand its local partnerships, with 98% of its suppliers sourced locally.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer Zubin Karkaria said sustainability initiatives have become a key driver of the company’s growth.
“2025 marks a landmark year where our sustainability commitments actively advanced our global growth and drove significant value creation,” Karkaria said.
He added that the company nearly doubled its CSR investments, increased electronic waste recycling, improved gender diversity in hiring, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining strong customer satisfaction.
Workforce diversity, CSR investments improves
The report also highlighted gains in workforce diversity and employee development.
Women accounted for 65% of all new hires during 2025, while the company’s overall workforce maintained a 60:40 female-to-male ratio across 165 nationalities. VFS Global also recorded 56,980 training person-days to support employee development.
Community investment remained a key focus during the year.
The company increased its CSR spending by 94%, implementing 151 CSR initiatives across more than 30 countries and benefiting 37,481 individuals. Employees also contributed 6,743 volunteer hours, while the company’s CSR efforts earned two awards during the year.
Environmental initiatives expand
VFS Global continued reducing its environmental footprint throughout 2025.
Environmental achievements included a 13% reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2024, a 41% increase in electronic waste recycling by tonnage, 80% of electricity consumption shifting to green energy through Renewable Energy Certificates, and the planting of 650,000 trees through reforestation initiatives.
According to Shireen Mistree, Head of Sustainability at VFS Global, the company’s second Double Materiality Assessment strengthened its ability to identify environmental and social priorities while supporting long-term business resilience.
