Privacy Notice
Privacy Notice – Mainstay Abroad
1. Introduction
At Mainstay Abroad, we are dedicated to protecting and respecting your privacy.
This Privacy Notice outlines how we ("Mainstay Abroad," "we," or "us") manage your personal information. It does not aim to contradict any local privacy laws, and in the event of a conflict, local laws will take precedence.
We may update this Privacy Notice periodically. The most recent version will always be available on this page, and any updates will take immediate effect.
In relation to the services provided by Mainstay Abroad, this Privacy Notice covers:
Who we are
The services we provide
Our role as Data Controllers
How we collect your personal data
The legal basis for processing your personal data
How your personal data is used
Data retention periods
Sharing your personal data
International data transfers
Your rights concerning your data
How we protect your personal data
Monitoring and technology used
How to contact us with questions or privacy concerns
Last updated date of this Privacy Policy
2. Who are we?
Mainstay Abroad is a travel agency offering various services related to visas, travel, and other citizen-related documentation. We handle administrative tasks, such as collecting and submitting visa applications, managing travel documents, and facilitating identity management services. These services allow client governments to focus on critical decision-making processes.
We provide logistical support for visa, permit, and travel document applications on behalf of client governments, strictly following the contracts we have with them. In addition to visa processing, Mainstay Abroad also offers Value Added Services (VAS), which are optional services available for an additional fee.
3. Services provided by Mainstay Abroad
a. Visa, passport, and identity management processing:
Mainstay Abroad acts as an outsourced partner for client governments, managing administrative aspects such as collecting visa applications, biometric data, and other necessary documents. We are not involved in decisions about which documents are required or how applications are assessed.
b. Additional services for customers:
We also provide Value Added Services (VAS) directly to customers, which may vary depending on the country. These services, which include courier services, document tracking, and appointment scheduling, are optional and have no impact on the outcome or processing time of your visa or travel document application.
4. Data Controllers
a. Visa, passport, and identity management processing:
The government or diplomatic mission you are applying to is responsible for the use and processing of your personal data during the visa application process. Mainstay Abroad only manages administrative tasks and forwards the data to the responsible government.
b. Value Added Services:
When you request additional services such as appointment scheduling or courier delivery, Mainstay Abroad becomes the Data Controller for the personal data collected to provide these services.
5. How do we collect your personal data?
We collect personal information when you use our services, whether for visa processing or to purchase Value Added Services (VAS). This may include your name, contact information, passport number, and other details needed for specific services.
If you apply for a visa through a Visa Application Centre (VAC), a Mainstay Abroad staff member or authorized partner will collect the required personal data from you, your guardian, or your representative.
6. Legal basis for processing your personal data
a. Visa and identity management processing:
For visa applications, the processing of your personal data is authorized by the government or diplomatic mission of the country you are applying to. Consent may be required as part of the application process, depending on the country’s regulations.
b. Value Added Services:
If local data protection laws allow, we use "performance of a contract" as the legal basis for processing your personal data when providing Value Added Services. In countries where this legal basis is not recognized, we will seek your consent for processing.
7. How is your personal data used?
a. Visa and identity management processing:
Your personal information is forwarded to the relevant government or diplomatic mission as part of the visa application process. Mainstay Abroad does not influence the decision-making process.
b. Value Added Services:
For additional services, your personal data is used to arrange appointments, deliver documents, and track application progress, among other tasks.
8. Data retention
Visa applications:
After submitting your visa application to the respective government or diplomatic mission, Mainstay Abroad retains your personal data only for the time necessary to arrange appointments and return your documents. Depending on the country, data is deleted 5 to 30 days after the completion of the application process.
Value Added Services:
For optional services, we keep your personal data for up to 30 days after service completion to handle any follow-up queries or issues.
9. Sharing your personal data
a. Visa processing:
Your personal data is shared with the government or diplomatic mission responsible for processing your visa application.
b. Suppliers and partners:
In cases where third-party services are required (e.g., courier services), we share your contact details with trusted partners to fulfill your requests.
10. Transferring your personal data offshore
Visa processing:
If required, your personal data may be transferred to the country of the government or diplomatic mission responsible for processing your application.
Value Added Services:
We may transfer personal data to our data centers in Europe, Canada, or Russia to provide additional services, following international data protection guidelines.
11. Your rights
Depending on your local data protection laws, you may have rights to access, rectify, erase, or restrict the processing of your personal data. You may also object to how your data is used or request data portability.
12. How we protect your personal data
We take strong measures to secure your personal data. Sensitive information is encrypted, and secure browsing is enforced on our website. We continuously work to protect your information from unauthorized access.