Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma cut the ribbon on the Northeast's first dedicated Visa Application Centre in Guwahati on Thursday. The facility, operated by VFS Global, handles applications for 14 countries, a list that includes heavy hitters like the United Kingdom, France, Japan, and Switzerland.
For years, residents of the Northeast had to make costly trips to Kolkata or New Delhi just to submit a passport for a stamp. That logistical headache ends here. Sarma noted that the center will forward applications to respective embassies and serve as the pickup point for stamped passports, keeping the entire process local.
Diplomatic missions from Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Italy, and France were present at the inauguration, signaling immediate buy-in from key European partners. VFS Global South Asia COO Yummi Talwar emphasized that the move strengthens access for applicants across Assam and the wider region. "We will continue to offer an efficient and convenient visa application experience," Talwar said, highlighting the company's reliance on secure, technology-led processes.
The center is part of VFS Global's broader network, which currently serves 53 sovereign governments across 561 centers in 20 cities. For the average traveler in Guwahati, this means shorter queues, lower travel costs, and faster turnaround times for international travel.