Guwahati, 15 October (HS): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday inaugurated the Northeast’s first visa application centre in Guwahati, bringing visa application services for 14 countries closer to residents of Assam and other northeastern states.

Set up by VFS Global, the facility is expected to ease the process for people planning international travel by reducing the need to visit cities outside the region to submit their visa applications. The centre will cater to applicants travelling abroad for tourism, education, business and other purposes.

Visa application services will be available for Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malta, Morocco, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Tourism Minister Ajanta Neog, Transport Minister Charan Boro and Yusmi Talwar, VFS Global’s Chief Executive Officer for South Asia, attended the inauguration. Representatives of the diplomatic missions of Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Italy and France were also present at the event.

The new facility is expected to enhance Guwahati’s role as a regional centre for international travel services, offering greater convenience to applicants across the Northeast.

However, the centre will only facilitate the visa application process. The authority to approve or reject applications will remain with the respective countries and their designated authorities.

Applicants can obtain information regarding appointments, required documents and service charges through VFS Global’s authorised channels.----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash