Bhubaneswar, 21 February (H.S.): Bhubaneswar is set to host a VFS Global Visa Application Centre, according to a communication from Jubin Karkaria, Founder and CEO of VFS Global, to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The centre will become operational on April 1, 2026, coinciding with the celebrations of Odisha Day.

The initiative aims to facilitate students and professionals from Odisha who are seeking higher education or business opportunities abroad.

Notably, last year, on September 2, 2025, Minister Pradhan had written to Union Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, requesting the establishment of a local visa centre in Bhubaneswar. He also engaged in direct discussions with VFS Global CEO Jubin Karkaria regarding this proposal.

The VFS Global CEO has accepted the proposal and confirmed that the visa application centre will begin operations from April 1, 2026. In the initial phase, the centre will process visa applications for the UK and select other countries, with plans to expand to additional destinations based on demand.

The centre will also provide training to local youth and create employment opportunities. Additionally, a Visa Concierge Service will be available to assist applicants with form submission, insurance, and other procedures, making the process more convenient.

Expressing his happiness over this development, Minister Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Minister of External Affairs, and VFS Global CEO Jubin Karkaria for this significant step. The initiative will save time, money, and effort for students and professionals from Odisha, who will no longer need to travel to Kolkata or other cities for visa services. It will also create new employment opportunities for local youth and strengthen Odisha’s international connectivity.

Minister Pradhan has been invited as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the centre.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda