Bhubaneswar: VFS Global, a leading global outsourcing and technology services provider for governments and diplomatic missions, is set to open a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Bhubaneswar.
The facility will become operational starting April 1, delivering a major advantage to residents of the state and neighbouring areas who regularly need to apply for international visas. Currently, people from Odisha have to travel to Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad for the same.
“The centre was much-needed in Bhubaneswar for providing world-class, convenient, time-effective and efficient visa facilitation services to people of Odisha who otherwise had to travel to Kolkata to meet their visa requirements. Commencement of visa facilitation from Bhubaneswar will save time and cost, boost international mobility and connectivity and also create local employment opportunities,” Union Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan informed through a post on X on Saturday.
Stating that the initiative aligns with the government’s ‘ease-of-living, vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dharmendra expressed gratitude to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and VFS Global Group CEO Zubin Karkaria for considering his request for operationalising a visa application centre in Odisha capital.
The new centre’s opening coincides with Utkal Dibasa on April 1, adding symbolic importance to the launch.
In the letter to the Union Minister, VFS Global Group CEO informed about operationalisation of the visa application cent
re with visa application services for the United Kingdom and select Schengen countries in the initial phase. “As approvals are granted and the center develops, we anticipate gradually including additional client government countries based on demand. Our objective is to steadily increase the number, which will significantly reduce the need for the aspiring youth and residents of Odisha to travel to other cities for visa formalities, thereby saving time, cost, effort, and providing convenience, particularly for students and business travellers working against critical timelines,” he noted.
Along with the visa application centre, the centre will provide visa concierge services that will assist applicants with form filling, document guidance, travel insurance, and other visa-related support services. “This will make the application process more efficient, convenient, and seamless for citizens, especially first- time travellers, students, and families,” he further stated, adding that this initiative will also generate employment opportunities for local youth in Bhubaneswar.
Karkaria also invited Dharmendra as the chief guest to the official inauguration ceremony.
The initiative follows earlier approvals from the Odisha government. In December 2025, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi greenlit the proposal for a ‘Global Visa Application Centre’ in Bhubaneswar. The centre will operate from the Babasaheb Ambedkar Bus Terminal building at Baramunda, where the state government will provide 3,000 square feet of space.
This development is expected to streamline the visa process for thousands in eastern India, particularly benefiting the growing number of students pursuing higher education abroad and professionals seeking international opportunities. Applicants will now be able to book appointments, submit documents, and provide biometrics locally, eliminating lengthy travel and associated costs.