Atlys introduces two visa support services designed to help Indian travellers before applying and after facing a visa rejection. (canva,com)
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Atlys launches Assure and Rejection Recovery, helping Indian travellers assess visa chances, protect trip costs and strengthen rejected applications.
A visa rejection can hurt twice. First comes the disappointment of not getting the visa, followed by the money already spent on application fees, flights and hotels. Atlys, the travel technology startup founded by Mohak Nahta, is now trying to address both sides of that problem with two new services, Atlys Assure and Rejection Recovery.
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The timing is significant for Indian travellers. In 2024, rejected visitor visa applications are estimated to have cost Indian applicants around ₹662 crore in application fees alone. Data from the European Commission for 2025 also shows that more than 1.81 lakh Indian Schengen applications were rejected, with roughly ₹155 crore spent on fees that did not lead to a visa.
And those numbers do not include the cost of a cancelled holiday.
What is Atlys Assure and how does it work?
Atlys Assure comes into play before a traveller submits a visa application. The service assesses the application and compares the case with Atlys' own approval history to estimate the chances of success.
If the application appears weak, travellers are told what could be improved before they spend money on flights and accommodation.
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For applications Atlys considers highly likely to succeed, there is another layer of protection. If the visa is still rejected, Atlys will cover booked flight and hotel costs up to ₹5 lakh per application.
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For applications Atlys considers highly likely to succeed, there is another layer of protection. If the visa is still rejected, Atlys will cover booked flight and hotel costs up to ₹5 lakh per application.
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Service
When it helps
What travellers get
Atlys Assure
Before applying
Approval assessment and flight and hotel protection up to ₹5 lakh
Rejection Recovery
After rejection
Explanation of the refusal and support for a fresh application
Atlys Protect
After rejection
Refund of the visa application fee
Atlys Assure is available for eight visa markets:
Schengen countries
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
China
Japan
South Korea
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There is no separate charge for Assure. It is included with the application.
What happens if your visa has already been rejected?
This is where Rejection Recovery comes in. The service is open to travellers who have been refused a visa, including those who applied independently or through another service.
The traveller uploads the rejection letter, and Atlys explains the reasons in simpler language. That could mean breaking down terms such as US Section 214(b) or Schengen Article 32 and showing what needs attention in the next application.
The application is then assessed across areas such as financial strength and ties to the home country. Atlys specialists help rebuild the application, followed by a structured week-by-week plan for reapplication.
Atlys says the aim is less uncertainty
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“At Atlys, we're always trying to take friction out of the visa journey,” said Mohak Nahta, Founder and CEO of Atlys.
His point is fairly simple. Travellers need clearer answers before they spend money, and practical help after something goes wrong.
With Assure, Atlys is putting its money behind selected applications. With Rejection Recovery, it is helping applicants understand what went wrong and prepare again.
For Indian travellers dealing with expensive visa applications, that could make the process feel a little less stressful and a lot more transparent.
Neha Khandelwal
Content Lead, HT Travel | Travel & Lifestyle Journalist
With over 10 years of content writing experience, Neha Khandelwal is a lifestyle journalist and the Content Lead at HT Travel. She specialises in destinations, hotels, aviation, luggage, travel gear, and practical guides that help readers plan smarter and travel better. Her work combines first-hand experience, expert insights, and extensive research to create stories that are informative, useful, and easy to follow. Career Journey & Experience
Neha began her writing career as a freelance journalist in 2010 before entering mainstream media with The Times of India in 2022. She later joined Hindustan Times, where she has written extensively across travel, lifestyle, home, and consumer trends. Her professional background extends beyond journalism. Before moving into digital media full-time, she spent nearly a decade in interior design, managing residential projects from concept to execution. She also trained in visual merchandising with Shoppers Stop and Pantaloons and worked with women-led startups across design and operations. These experiences continue to shape her storytelling, especially in how she evaluates hotels, design-led stays, hospitality spaces, and travel experiences. A naturally curious learner, Neha has completed beginner certifications in pottery, scuba diving, baking, creative writing, and other creative pursuits. She has read more than 2,000 books, trained in Bharatanatyam for 8 years, and ghostwritten a book on Ladakh tourism. Subject Expertise
Travel is at the heart of Neha's work. She covers destinations, hotels, airlines, luggage, packing strategies, travel accessories, and emerging travel trends through a mix of reporting, product testing, and conversations with industry experts. A frequent traveller herself, she approaches every trip with a journalist's curiosity and a planner's mindset, focusing on experiences that readers can realistically recreate. From choosing the right cabin bag to decoding hotel openings and destination trends, her writing prioritises practical advice over promotional claims.
Her background in interior design also gives her a distinct perspective on architecture, hospitality design, boutique hotels, luxury stays, and thoughtfully designed spaces. Education & Professional Background
Neha holds a Master's degree in Interior Design. Her early experience in interior design, visual merchandising, and design operations gives her a unique understanding of aesthetics, functionality, and user experience, adding depth to her coverage of hotels, resorts, and travel spaces. Editorial Philosophy
"As an avid, research-driven traveller, my goal is simple. To answer the questions you actually have before booking a trip. I cut through the promotional noise with honest reporting and expert insights. Making travel planning seamless, smart, and reliable so you always know where to go next."
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