A platform to simplify the visa application process is launching in the UK.

Atlys’s digital platform features predictive visa approval technology which aims to help millions of travellers satisfy complex requirements. 

The San Francisco firm’s expansion to the UK follows a fresh $20m funding round from marquee global investors.

The firm has also acquired Artionis, a visa services company which adds 40 specialists across offices in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. It plans to double headcount to 80 employees in the UK this year. 

It says the acquisition strengthens Atlys’ expertise in specialised visa routes that will cater to 36% of the UK population made up of non-UK passport holders as well as those who prefer a DIY approach to visa applications.

Atlys

“Expanding to the UK represents more than just market growth – it’s about creating a more equitable travel ecosystem,” said Mohak Nahta, founder and CEO of Atlys. 

“Our platform is designed to make international travel accessible to everyone, regardless of their passport strength, and the UK’s strategic position will help us extend this impact across Europe.”

Since its inception in 2021, Atlys has processed over 2m visas for people, transforming a traditionally complex process through intelligent automation. The platform’s unique predictive engine provides exact visa approval timelines and backs this certainty with refund guarantees for rejected or delayed applications.

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It says users can complete applications in under five minutes and upload documents once to become visa-ready for more than 100 countries, eliminating redundant paperwork. Within six months of its launch, Atlys rapidly became the largest visa processor in India. 

The idea for Atlys was born when Nahta, while working at Pinterest, faced a stark contrast in travel preparation compared to his American colleagues. As the only Indian team member planning a five-country work trip, Nahta had to secure multiple visas, each requiring him to submit the same documents over and over again. 

This frustration led him to envision a platform where travellers could upload documents once and instantly become visa-ready for multiple countries. What started as a side project quickly gained traction among friends, with word-of-mouth driving rapid adoption. 

He says he began visiting San Francisco’s international airport wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the words ‘Got Questions on Turkey e-Visa?’, helping confused travellers navigate recent rule changes – until security eventually banned him from the premises. 

This grassroots approach and clear market need convinced Nahta to leave Pinterest and pursue Atlys full-time.

“Since our initial investment, Atlys has demonstrated exceptional growth, processing over two million visas while maintaining strong user satisfaction,” said Shraeyansh Thakur, principal at Peak XV.

“Their data-driven approach and focus on user experience set them apart. The UK expansion represents a significant step toward becoming the definitive platform for global travel enablement.”

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