Guwahati: VFS Global has opened its first Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Assam, in Guwahati, giving applicants across the northeast a local option for visa services for the first time.Located at ISBT, Khanapara, the facility spans about 3,200 sq ft and is accessible by public and private transport. It serves applicants from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.The centre will process applications on behalf of 14 countries: Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malta (D-Visa applications only), Morocco, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.The facility will also accept applications for Schengen visas, enabling eligible travellers to visit 29 European countries covered by the schemeThe centre was jointly inaugurated by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, tourism minister Ajanta Neog, transport minister Charan Boro and Chief Operating Officer (South Asia) of VFS Global, Yummi Talwar.Speaking at the function Chief minister Sarma said the opening of the state’s first VFS Global visa application centre here would make overseas travel more accessible to people across the northeast, sparing many applicants the expense and inconvenience of travelling to distant cities for visa-related services.Sarma said the centre’s significance extended beyond Guwahati as it would serve applicants from all eight northeastern states, including students pursuing higher education abroad, professionals seeking international exposure, entrepreneurs exploring business opportunities and families planning overseas travel.“Until now, many applicants from the northeast have had to travel to distant cities to access visa application services for certain countries. This can mean extra expenses, time away from work or studies, and avoidable inconvenience. With this centre in Guwahati, applicants will be able to access this service closer to home,” he said.However, he clarified that VFS Global would only facilitate the visa application process, while the decision to grant or refuse a visa would remain solely with the respective governments and diplomatic missions.“The value of this facility lies in making access to the process easier while maintaining the required procedure,” Sarma said.“With growing aspirations around education, business, tourism and global mobility, reliable access to visa services is central to turning ambition into opportunity,” Talwar said.The company said Guwahati is its third VAC in Eastern India and cited the city’s air, rail and road connectivity. As VFS Global marks its 25th anniversary, it provides visa services for 53 governments across 561 centres in 20 cities in India. VFS Global is headquartered in Zurich and Dubai and is majority owned by Blackstone.
