Bhubaneswar: VFS Global will open a new Visa Application Centre in Bhubaneswar on 1 April 2026, coinciding with Utkal Divas, Union Education Minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan announced today.
The development was confirmed in a letter from Zubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO of the VFS Global Group, to Minister Pradhan. The centre will initially process visa applications for the United Kingdom and selected Schengen countries, with plans to expand services to additional countries in phases.
The facility is expected to be a boon for the people of Odisha, who previously had to travel to Kolkata for visa-related formalities. It aims to reduce travel time, expenses, and logistical challenges, particularly for students, business professionals, and families.
In addition to visa processing, the centre will offer value-added services such as form-filling assistance, document guidance, travel insurance support, and other concierge services. It is also expected to generate employment opportunities for local youth.
Taking to the social media platform X, Minister Pradhan described the move as a “much-needed” step towards providing world-class, convenient, and time-efficient visa facilitation services in the state. He expressed his gratitude to External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Zubin Karkaria for supporting the proposal to operationalise the centre in Bhubaneswar.
The Minister added that the initiative aligns with the Government’s “ease-of-living” vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasising improved global connectivity and access to public services for citizens.
