The fix for the last minute foreign currency scramble

The Essentials

• Atlys has integrated Thomas Cook’s foreign exchange services directly into its digital visa application process.
• Travellers can choose from prepaid Visa cards supporting 28 global currencies, physical notes, or overseas remittances to over 120 countries.
• You can now complete your mandatory video KYC on your phone and receive physical foreign currency at your doorstep.

The Pulse

Atlys just solved one of the most tedious administrative hurdles of international travel by bringing Thomas Cook’s forex services onto its platform. Instead of securing a visa and then making separate trips to a bank or currency exchange, you can sort your foreign cash while waiting for your passport to be stamped.

This integration targets both holidaymakers and students heading abroad. It answers a common travel question: how do you get foreign currency safely before a trip? You simply opt for forex during your Atlys visa journey, complete Thomas Cook’s video KYC digitally, and wait for doorstep delivery of your travel card or physical cash notes.

The service covers the most practical payment methods for Indian travellers. You can select the One Currency Card with zero cross-currency conversion fees, standard currency notes for immediate taxi expenses, or multi-currency cards for crossing borders. By combining two distinct travel planning stages, the process cuts out the middleman and reduces the days spent running errands before a long flight.

The Snapshot

The Big Picture

The travel tech sector is racing to bundle services, moving away from fragmented bookings. While platforms like MakeMyTrip offer forex as an add-on, integrating it directly into the initial visa application stage is a structural shift. Atlys is positioning itself as a comprehensive pre-departure hub rather than just a visa processor. By tapping into Thomas Cook’s deep offline distribution and physical currency reserves, a digital-first startup instantly gains decades of logistical infrastructure to serve Indian travellers who still want hard cash alongside their digital wallets.

The India Prospective

This partnership specifically tackles the Indian traveller’s preference for a hybrid wallet. While UPI works in a few international markets, most destinations still require cash or Visa-backed cards. Thomas Cook’s pan-India doorstep delivery means you do not need to live near a major forex branch in Mumbai or Delhi to secure foreign notes safely. The inclusion of the Study Buddy card specifically addresses the massive outbound Indian student demographic needing secure overseas funds.

The Inside Intel

While Thomas Cook feels like a quintessential British heritage brand, having been established in 1881; the Indian entity is actually controlled by Canadian investment firm Fairfax Financial Holdings, which holds a 63.83% stake. It operates completely independently of the defunct UK travel group, meaning its local operations remain highly secure and insulated from global market shifts.

The Unboxed Truth

Unbox Daily HQ. suggests using this integration if you are already relying on Atlys for your visa processing. It simply makes sense to knock out two travel chores at once, especially since Thomas Cook remains a highly regulated and reliable forex provider. The zero cross-currency conversion fee on the One Currency Card is the real draw here, saving you from hidden markups when swiping abroad. If you already have a zero-forex markup credit card, you might just want to use this for ordering your emergency physical taxi cash.

Best for: Frequent international leisure travellers and students heading abroad who want to minimise pre-trip errands.

Who Is This For: Perfect for 22 to 45-year-old Indian tourists and international students in tier-1 and tier-2 cities who value digital convenience and safe doorstep delivery.

The Checkout

Atlys – India Page

The Source

Thomas Cook India