GUWAHATI | The Northeast has got its first Visa Application Centre in Guwahati, with VFS Global opening a new facility aimed at making overseas travel-related visa services more accessible to people across the region.

The centre was jointly inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Tourism Minister Ajanta Neog, Transport Minister Charan Boro and VFS Global South Asia Chief Operating Officer Yummi Talwar. Representatives of the diplomatic missions of Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Italy and France were also present at the ceremony.

The facility will process visa applications for 14 countries – Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malta for D-Visa applications, Morocco, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

VFS Global’s first visa application centre in Assam, the facility will serve applicants from Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. It is expected to benefit people travelling abroad for education, tourism, business and other purposes.

Located at the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) in Khanapara, the centre is accessible by road and connected to Guwahati’s wider transport network, including air and rail links. Yummi Talwar said the centre would improve access to visa services for applicants across Assam and the wider Northeast, where interest in international education, business and tourism continues to grow.

“With growing aspirations around education, business, tourism and global mobility, reliable access to visa services is central to turning ambition into opportunity,” Talwar said, adding that the company would focus on secure, technology-driven processes and a convenient application experience.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the facility would strengthen the region’s international connections and create opportunities for young people, businesses and the tourism sector. He described the initiative as a step towards making the Northeast more connected and accessible, and expressed confidence that the centre would benefit applicants across Assam and neighbouring states.

The opening expands VFS Global’s visa application network in India as the company marks its 25th anniversary. For applicants in the Northeast, the Guwahati facility is expected to provide more convenient access to services that may otherwise require travel outside the region.