What Visum Centrale does

Visum Centrale, operating under the legal entity CIBT VisumCentrale GmbH, is a Germany-based visa and travel document service provider founded in 1989 and headquartered in Berlin. The company functions as the German subsidiary of CIBT Inc., a global visa and immigration services group, and offers a portfolio centered on visa application processing for outbound travel, complemented by add-on modules such as a Premium/Concierge Service for personalized application support, a Pre-Check document review service, a Digital Photo Service for visa-compliant photos, US ESTA processing, and document legalization including apostille and authentication services. The platform also bundles immigration services for corporate clients via a deep integration with Newland Chase, a sister CIBT entity.

The technology layer is a web-based self-service portal with an online ordering system, a Visa Quick Check tool, a Travel Visa Widget for embedding on third-party sites, and a status/order tracking module, supported by a client portal that exposes organization-specific pricing for corporate accounts. Analytics are handled in-house via the privacy-focused Matomo platform alongside third-party Google Analytics, and document logistics are outsourced to GO! General Overnight courier. Distribution is a hybrid of direct online self-service for individuals and SMBs and inside/field sales for enterprise, corporate, cruise line, and tour operator accounts.

Revenue mechanics combine transaction fees on visa processing (which include pass-through consular fees plus service mark-ups), professional services fees for premium/concierge handling, document legalization fees, and digital photo service fees, with disclosed add-on pricing in the €46–€49 range (including/excluding VAT) for specific premium destinations such as Russia and Uzbekistan. Customer segmentation is horizontal — individual leisure/business travelers form the primary base, with secondary segments in corporate mobility, cruise lines, and tour operators — and customer acquisition relies on organic search, content marketing, and a monthly newsletter (CIBT Connect) rather than paid performance channels. The entity itself reports 11–50 employees locally but sits within a CIBT network of 1,600+ immigration and visa experts across 20 countries.

Name

Visum Centrale

Legal name

CIBT VisumCentrale GmbH

Website

https://visumcentrale.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Visum Centrale is the German operating subsidiary of CIBT Inc., providing outbound visa application processing, document legalization, and concierge travel-document services to individual travelers, corporates, cruise lines, and tour operators through a web-based self-service platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Visa Processing Service Fees: Fees charged for processing visa applications on behalf of customers, including government/consular fees passed through plus service fees
2. Premium/Concierge Service: Enhanced service offering with personal consultation, timely reminders, and step-by-step support throughout the visa application process
3. Document Legalization: Services for legalizing documents for international travel
4. Digital Photo Service: Photo processing service for passport/visa photos meeting specific requirements

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VisumCentrale facilitates visa applications for international travelers, offering end-to-end processing across business, tourist, and transit visa categories, complemented by a Premium/Concierge service for personalized step-by-step support. The company also provides document legalization, digital passport photo services, US ESTA processing, and a client portal that delivers organization-specific pricing for corporate clients.

Product overview

VisumCentrale operates as a visa and travel document service platform offering a unified portfolio centered on visa application processing. The core product is the visa application processing service, which is complemented by several add-on modules including Premium/Concierge Service for personalized assistance, Pre-Check Service for document verification, Digital Photo Service, Travel Visa Widget for website integration, US ESTA Processing, and Document Legalization Services. Additional supporting services include online order tracking and a monthly newsletter (CIBT Connect). The company also offers global immigration services through its Newland Chase partnership. The platform serves both individual travelers and corporate clients, providing visa services for destinations including Vietnam, Egypt, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Russia, Mongolia, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Syria, Iran, and the USA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Visa Application Processing Service Core service that facilitates visa applications for international travel, covering business, tourist, and transit visas to numerous destinations including China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Vietnam, the US, and many others.
• Premium Service (Concierge Service) Full-service, paid add-on offering that provides expert guidance, document preparation review, step-by-step support, and quality control checks throughout the visa application process.
• Pre-Check Service Specialist document review service that verifies application materials are consulate-ready before submission, reducing risk of rejection.
• Digital Photo Service Digital photo upload and processing service where specialists ensure passport/visa photos meet destination-specific requirements for printing and submission.
• Document Legalization Services Services for legalizing documents for international use, including authentication and apostille services.
• US ESTA Processing Electronic System for Travel Authorization processing for US entry, including application submission and status notifications.
• Global Immigration Services Immigration services offered through partnership with Newland Chase for corporate clients requiring global mobility solutions, including immigration and visa support.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Newland ChasecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewland Chase provides immigration services as part of the CIBT group. VisumCentrale offers Newland Chase immigration services on their website, indicating a deep integration within the corporate structure for comprehensive global mobility services including immigration and visa processing.
• GO! General OvernightminorOthersCourier service used for shipping processed passports and documents to customers. Standard delivery method unless otherwise specified.
• Flight, Hotel, and Travel ProvidersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious travel providers including airlines, accommodations, transportation companies, attractions, tour operators, travel insurance, and other booking services that VisumCentrale works with to provide comprehensive travel services and may share customer data with for booking fulfillment.
• Travel AgenciesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel agencies that may refer customers to VisumCentrale or work in partnership for travel documentation services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CIBTVisas: Direct sister brand under CIBT Inc., offering the same visa and travel document services to US and other non-German markets. Operates on shared CIBT platform infrastructure and corporate accounts.
• VFS Global: World's largest visa outsourcing and consular services provider, operating as the primary outsourced visa processing partner for dozens of governments. Directly competes with VisumCentrale/CIBT for both consumer and corporate visa processing mandates globally.
• VisaHQ: Online visa and passport services platform serving individual and corporate travelers across multiple countries with self-service ordering similar to VisumCentrale. Competes for the same digital-first customer base.
• Travel Visa Pro: US-based visa and passport services agency offering expedited visa processing, concierge services, and corporate travel documentation. Closely comparable product mix to VisumCentrale's premium/concierge offering.
• Newland Chase: Sister company within the CIBT group providing global immigration services (work permits, residence permits, global mobility). VisumCentrale resells Newland Chase services, making them both partner and adjacent competitor for high-value immigration cases.
• Entriva: Sister CIBT subsidiary focused on immigration compliance and technology. Part of the same consolidated CIBT group serving overlapping enterprise compliance use cases.

Emerging players

• iVisa: Digital-first visa application platform focused on online processing for tourist visas and e-visas. Targets the same end consumer as VisumCentrale's self-service portal with a more streamlined, app-centric experience.

Broad incumbents

• CIBT (parent corporate): Parent company operating the global CIBT visa and immigration network. Sets platform standards, technology, and corporate strategy that VisumCentrale executes locally in Germany.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CIBTGlobal
• Facebookfacebook.com/CIBT-1549291535285735
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cibt

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Visum Centrale